Summary
- Ahsoka introduces new villains Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, whose origins are mysterious but connected to previous events in Star Wars canon.
- Baylan knew Anakin Skywalker and is an Order 66 survivor, which may affect his dynamic with Ahsoka as their roles are uncovered.
- Shin wears a Padawan braid, indicating she is Baylan's apprentice; the duo are mercenaries working for Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth in the search for Thrawn.
Ahsoka is introducing two brand-new Star Wars villains: Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. But who exactly are they? Promotion for Ahsoka has kept Baylan and Shin’s origins rather mysterious, just as the circumstances of Grand iral Thrawn’s (Lars Mikkelsen) return and the extent of Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth’s (Diana Lee Inosanto) role have been kept tightly under wraps. With Ahsoka essentially acting as a sequel to the animated series Star Wars Rebels, as well as being a continuation of The Mandalorian, one might wonder why the show needs to introduce two new villains this late in the game – but it seems there’s more to Baylan and Shin than meets the eye.
There are, after all, a few shots and lines of dialogue in the trailers that provide an idea of who these new villains are, where they came from, what their motivations may be, and how they might affect Ahsoka’s (Rosario Dawson) narrative. Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati may be entirely new characters created specifically for Ahsoka, but they are seemingly connected to previous events from the Star Wars canon, and it will be interesting to witness Ahsoka’s dynamic with them as their role in the show is slowly uncovered over the course of eight episodes.
Baylan Is An Order 66 Survivor Who Knew Anakin Skywalker
The official Ahsoka trailer revealed that Baylan actually knew Ahsoka’s Jedi master, Anakin Skywalker, and that Anakin had spoken highly of her, presumably during the Clone Wars. If these conversations happened before Ahsoka left the Jedi Order, there’s a chance she has already met Baylan herself, but considering there were thousands of Jedi in the Order at the time, it’s possible she may not him. His knowing Anakin ties in with the confirmation that Baylan is another Order 66 survivor, making it entirely plausible he served alongside Anakin during the war, and like a handful of Jedi before him, survived Palpatine’s attacks but became a new, twisted version of his former self as a result of the trauma.
Shin Wears A Padawan Braid, Meaning She Is Baylan's Apprentice
There are several shots in the Ahsoka trailers that showcase Shin Hati sporting a Padawan braid. These braids were a centuries-old tradition in the Jedi Order, signifying a Padawan’s apprentice status, cut off when Padawans rose to the rank of Jedi Knight. As Baylan and Shin are a package deal, Shin’s Padawan braid proves that she is Baylan’s learner, though how and when they met is still unclear. It’s also a mystery as to why Shin wears the Padawan braid at all when Baylan specifically says in the official Ahsoka trailer that they “are no Jedi.” Why adhere to such a prominent Jedi tradition after rejecting their core beliefs and ideals?
Baylan & Shin Are Now Mercenaries Working For Morgan Elsbeth
Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth was first introduced in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 5 “The Jedi” – the same episode in which Dawson made her live-action debut as Ahsoka Tano. Elsbeth, a prominent Imperial Naval officer who may have worked closely with Thrawn, hired the Mandalorian Din Djarin to eliminate Ahsoka Tano on the planet Corvus. This didn’t stop Ahsoka from challenging the Magistrate herself and questioning her connection and loyalty to Grand iral Thrawn, however. As Thrawn is making his live-action debut in the Ahsoka series, too, Elsbeth’s return is certainly warranted and also sets the stage for Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati’s character introductions.
The official Ahsoka trailer confirmed that Elsbeth, Baylan, and Shin are working together. More specifically, Elsbeth has hired the two non-Jedi as mercenaries to help her find Thrawn and, presumably, hunt down anyone who might stand in their way – Ahsoka and other of Star Wars Rebels’ Ghost crew are likely to be targets. Baylan and Shin being so closely involved in the search for Thrawn means they’re about to play a large role in the Ahsoka series, and they might even be the main antagonists, as Thrawn’s part is likely only setting up a larger future for his character as the Mandoverse continues to evolve.
Baylan & Shin's Orange Lightsabers Explained
Though both Baylan and Shin have already proven themselves to be quite imposing figures, one character detail stands out. They each wield an orange-bladed lightsaber, a color mostly unheard of in Star Wars canon. Technically, Cal Kestis from the Star Wars Jedi games can wield an orange lightsaber should players choose to customize his weapon that way, and those games are considered part of Disney’s Star Wars canon. In the Star Wars Legends continuity, however, orange lightsabers were most often wielded by those who considered themselves Gray Jedi; Jedi who didn’t fully commit to either the light side or the dark. As such, orange was the middle ground between the red of the Sith and the yellow lightsabers wielded by the Jedi Temple Guards.
Baylan and Shin’s orange lightsabers are likely meant to symbolize their relationship with the Force. They are neither Sith nor Jedi and have a more complicated connection to the Force, perhaps as a result of trauma after the harrowing events of Order 66. There is one other explanation, however. In Claudia Gray’s novel Master & Apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi briefly wields a lightsaber with an orange blade. This was the result of his kyber crystal being secretly swapped out for a kohlen crystal, otherwise known as “the kyber that is not kyber” to those familiar with ancient prophecies. Though the orange blade was weaker than Obi-Wan’s standard lightsaber, Baylan and Shin’s weapons being powered by a different type of crystal may explain the unusual color choice.
Who Plays Baylan & Shin In Ahsoka
Baylan Skoll is portrayed in the Ahsoka series by the late Ray Stevenson, who sadly ed away in May 2023. Stevenson wasn’t a newcomer to the Star Wars franchise, however, having voiced the Mandalorian character Gar Saxon in two episodes of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and two episodes of Star Wars Rebels. Viewers may also recognize Stevenson from his role as Volstagg in Marvel’s Thor movies, his portrayal of the pirate Blackbeard in Black Sails, his turn as Frank Castle in the 2008 film Punisher: War Zone, his role in RRR as Scott Buxton, or his stints in shows such as Reef Break, Vikings, and Das Boot.
Ivanna Sakhno, a Ukrainian actress, plays the role of Shin Hati in the Ahsoka show. Sakhno is a newcomer to the Star Wars universe but has had roles in several Ukrainian productions, as well as in some Hollywood projects. Audiences may recognize her from Pacific Rim: Uprising, in which she portrayed Cadet Viktoria, or a two-episode stint in the show High Fidelity – a new adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel of the same name – alongside Zoë Kravitz. Both Stevenson and Sakhno are sure to make their marks on the Star Wars franchise in the Ahsoka series as the mysteries of their characters are finally unraveled.
Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka release Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+.