Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5.
Summary
- Ahsoka's new white costume symbolizes her growth and allegiance to the Force, reflecting her journey and brushes with death.
- Ahsoka's transformation into Ahsoka the White parallels Gandalf's transformation in Lord of the Rings, drawing inspiration from the character.
- The appearance of Ahsoka the White in Star Wars Rebels has been retconned, and her return in Ahsoka signifies a new chapter and a journey into the unknown.
Ahsoka's costume in Ahsoka has undergone a major change, reflecting the journey her character has endured. Ever since her live-action debut, Ahsoka has been clothed in gray, from her appearance in The Mandalorian season 2 to her own series. This has been cited as a major change from her appearance in the Star Wars Rebels epilogue, where she was clothed in white. The latest episode of the Star Wars series finally sees Ahsoka trading her gray robes for the familiar white, which is a transformation that goes much deeper than mere clothing.
Ahsoka earns her white clothing after spending Ahsoka episode 5 in the World Between Worlds with a representation of her master Anakin Skywalker, who helps her undertake a journey that prepares her for all that's to come. He brings her back through some of her memories of the Clone Wars, an experience that forces Ahsoka to relive the events of her past she's been trying to hide from. This undertaking in the mystical netherworld of the Force is what acts as the catalyst for Ahsoka's costume change, starting with her death at the end of Ahsoka episode 4.
Why Ahsoka's New Costume Is White & What It Means
This isn't the first time Ahsoka has died and been resurrected, and each brush with death has brought Ahsoka through a new transformation and lesson. Ahsoka's first death was on the planet of Mortis in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where she was resurrected by the Daughter - the Force goddess who embodied the light side of the Force and gave her life for Ahsoka's. Ahsoka's second death was at the hands of Darth Vader in Star Wars Rebels, but Ezra Bridger's own experience in the World Between Worlds saved her when he pulled her from that moment in time. Ahsoka learned from these resurrections that she embodies the light side of the Force thanks to the Daughter and she couldn't have saved her master, but there was always still one thing left to overcome: Ahsoka's past.
The Clone Wars affected Ahsoka deeply by making her think she was only a warrior, rather than a keeper of the peace, and thus she thought she could only cause chaos, destruction, and death. Confronting her past after so many years through the eyes of her master has taught her to think differently, and Ahsoka's clothing turning to white is a symbol of that growth. The color white aligns itself with allegiance - likely to that of the Force and her place within its balance. It also could be acting as a deeper tie to the Daughter and Ahsoka's connection to the Force goddess, which has also manifested through Ahsoka's closeness with the convor Morai.
Ahsoka's New Costume Draws Inspiration From Gandalf The Gray
Dave Filoni has often drawn inspiration from Lord of the Rings, especially where Gandalf is concerned. Ahsoka being clothed in gray and changing to white is a mirror of Gandalf the Gray, who also transformed into Gandalf the White after dying and being resurrected. Gandalf gave his life to fight off the Balrog, just as Ahsoka did with Baylan Skoll. Both characters even have a long fall that leads to their deaths in each of their respective moments. Gandalf, however, is sent back from the afterlife to complete the mission he first embarked on, and the white of his appearance is a symbol of the transformation he underwent during his resurrection. Ahsoka has undergone a similar experience, being sent back from the World Between Worlds to complete her mission with the same color to reflect her clean slate and powerful abilities.
Just as Gandalf the White's return was a symbol of hope for those he fought alongside, so is Ahsoka's to those who wish to help her but cannot. Hera Syndulla is able to put her full trust in Ahsoka's effort to bring back Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren while also diminishing the threat of Grand iral Thrawn's return, and because of her journey to becoming Ahsoka the White, Ahsoka can believe the very same of herself. Both Ahsoka and Gandalf then serve as the spirit of hope to those around them, but also the servants of those from which their powers derive in order to further the missions that have been placed upon them.
Star Wars Rebels Set Up Ahsoka The White - But It's Been Retconned
Ahsoka the White was first seen in the Rebels epilogue, in which she met up with Sabine to go on their journey to find Ezra. This was the official confirmation that Ahsoka had gotten off Malachor following her rescue from Darth Vader, and her appearing in white had symbolized how that resurrection had changed her. This, however, has since been retconned due to the events of Ahsoka, even before Ahsoka's white costume change was made. The Rebels epilogue ending scene was repeated in Ahsoka episode 2, during which Ahsoka still appeared as Ahsoka the Gray. This decision by Filoni, then, has been foreshadowing Ahsoka's eventual transformation into Ahsoka the White in Ahsoka ever since the change was made.
Ahsoka the White has officially returned to Star Wars, but there's still a lot left for her to undertake. The journey she and Huyang are embarking on will be Star Wars' very first intergalactic adventure, and a new galaxy could mean many new threats. It's appropriate, then, that Filoni decided to make Ahsoka's transformation occur before she headed to this new galaxy. Ahsoka will need whatever strength and clarity she gained in the World Between Worlds to handle what awaits her outside the bounds of the known galaxy. With Ahsoka the Gray already having been quite powerful, it will be exciting to see exactly how Ahsoka the White tackles the hunt for Thrawn and the rescue of Ezra and Sabine in the three Ahsoka episodes still yet to come.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET on Disney+.
