Prior Episodes | 7942 (35 BBY) | Next Episodes
Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Life and Death (2022) [E1]
A child goes through a rite of passage with unexpected results.




CONTINUITY
This episode is the first of three loosely connected stories about Ahsoka, followed by 'Practice Makes Perfect' (E5) and 'Resolve' (E6).
The prologue before the title takes place 4 years before Episode I, and the main story after the title takes place about a year later,
which is 3 years before Episode I. The planet Shili is seen for the first time, and is the only world seen in this episode:


This brief series was a refreshing return to Lucas-style SW storytelling, however in disney tradition the Ahsoka story arc contains two
episodes, this being the first, which rely on large time jumps to tell their tale. This lazy storytelling method is not necessarily forbidden
by Lucas' rules for creating SW material, however this is a not a proper SW story element and it is one that disney has already worn out.


Prologue events take place in 7941 (36 BBY) - about 1 year prior to the main story.


- Shili is a terrestrial planet located in the Ehosiq Sector, within the Northern Dependencies of the Expansion Region. It has breathable atmosphere,
an active water-cycle, and an extensive native ecosystem. The planet has large oceans and seas, but its surface is more land than water. Much
of the land area is covered in plants, mainly grasslands, forests, and jungles. Shili is the homeworld of the Togruta, a humanoid species who
are carnivorous and physically notable for their head-'horns' called montrals and semi-prehensile head-'tails' called lekku. Shili's ecosystem
also includes a wide variety of native plants and trees, bird-like creatures, squirrel-like creatures, and large predatory cats called akul.
The planet is also home to kybucks, hoofed creatures found on other planets. This appears to be another example of parallel evolution.
Shili has several moons, six according to supplementary material. The capital city called Corvala has not yet been seen in canon.
The Togruta spoken language is called Togruti, and is presented for the first time in this episode.


- Ahsoka is born in 7941 (36 BBY), and will be 13 years old in her debut in The Clone Wars film. Her mother is Pav-ti, and her father is Nak-il.


Events jump forward about 1 year from 7941 (36 BBY) to 7942 (35 BBY).


- The Togruta are a spiritual people with strong cultural traditions, which are treated with respect, to varying degrees, by the Togruta people, at
least in isolated settlements like Ahsoka's hometown. As with any culture, there are always some who minimize the importance of traditions
as "old ways for the old." The Togruta recognize and respect the spirits of all life, including plants and animals, however place the greater
importance in not insulting the spirits of their ancestors. Their ethical teachings and philosophy are approximate to those of the Jedi,
teaching that "everywhere there is life. Value it. Honor it", and that death must be faced and not feared. They also respect nature by not
over consuming, as they "never take more than we need." The Togruta face painting is sometimes done "for luck."


How much of her mother's teachings and these events did one-year-old Ahsoka actually retain? If she were a Human
child, the answer would be little to nothing. Her mother's teachings would be meaningless noise, and any memories
formed at this time would be unclear impressions buried deep in her psyche. As a Togruta, her lifecycle compared to
a Human is slightly accelerated, as Togruta appear to hit developmental milestones about a year or so earlier than
a Human would, however this would make little to no difference on memory retention by a one-year-old. As a Force
sensitive being, visions and impressions gained through the Force as a very young child may indeed remain with her
much more than anything would for a mundane child, as is evident from Leia's dialogue with Luke in Episode VI.
Regardless, these events are really about the Togruta discovering Ahsoka's powers, not her formative experiences.


- As a child, young Ahsoka does not really comprehend fear, and so her connection to the Force is very clear. The akul attempts to intimidate
her with its size, roar, and threatening posture, but Ahsoka is not old enough to compute these things. She does however get a strong
sense from the akul in the Force, which focuses her mind on the animal, leading to her connecting with it through the Force.

- Gantika, the village elder, states confidently that Ahsoka is Jedi, after witnessing the impossible return of the child by a dangerous predator.
This planet has been within Republic dominated space for a very long time, and although this planet is not known to be heavily colonized
by non-Togruta, its people are not ignorant of technology or culture from off-world. There have been many Togruta Jedi in the past,
including some in recent time, however this is probably the first time that anyone from this particular town has ever encountered such
abilities, which are exceedingly rare. Quick identification of Jedi abilities suggest that what a Jedi can do is well known on this world.
Main Article: Awareness of the Jedi and the Sith

ANALYSIS
Ahsoka's native planet and culture are connected to nature and the living Force to a very high degree, to the point that removing Ahsoka
from this world was a disruption of nature and the will of the Force. The Force's will is that nature live in balance, and that creatures with
reason and free will maintain this balance, and even use their powers to make life a better than it is in its unaltered balance. This power
which the Togruta have to make the light side stronger than it is in its natural balance is magnified whenever a child is born to them who
has the power to wield the Force. Such children are scattered like rare jewels amongst the galaxy and its peoples, and can act as shepherds
to nature and their people, using their gifts to the benefit of all. The teachings needed to wield the Force without selfishness and dark
intentions are fostered by the Togruta culture, since it developed out of a necessity and desire to respect the environment and history which
sustains their lives and prosperity. It is true that without Jedi teachings, her abilities were unlikely to develop to any level approaching what
she will become, and it is possible that without Jedi religion her abilities could have made her arrogant, perhaps even in a dangerous way.
Nevertheless, taking her out of her natural setting which is in balance with the Force into the ambiguous galaxy at large was probably
a disservice to the Togruta and to Ahsoka herself. The Jedi do not see it this way, as they believe that together they can make the biggest
difference for the most people and therefore the galaxy, and that the Jedi can still be there for Shili if they are needed. This is a fine
argument which holds a certain truth, however it ignores the day to day ways in which the presence of a Force sensitive individual could
positively affect life on Shili. The Togruta will eventually surrender her to the Jedi, not necessarily out of any loyalty to the Jedi, but out
of respect for the power of a Force sensitive individual, and out of a certain fear that they will not be able to teach her what she will need
to know. They may also wisely fear what would happen if such an individual were not raised to be well-adjusted to their powers.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
Report Pending