Ahsoka and Sabine continue on the trail of Elsbeth’s forces while Hera is forced to tangle with New Republic bureaucracy.
Tropes:
- The Ace: Ahsoka takes down starfighters on foot in space.
- Ace Pilot:
- Ahsoka flies up to the Eye of Sion, narrowly dodging turbolaser blasts, and manages to get close enough that when her ship is finally hit and disabled, it drifts into the ring and out of weapons range.
- Sabine takes the cake, too, as she's the one piloting to escape Shin, Marrok, and the others during the purrgil sequence.
- Actor Allusion: This is not the first time Ivanna Sakhno has had to deal with giant aliens (although these ones are decidedly less antagonistic).
- Actually Pretty Funny: After he wakes up, Ahsoka and Sabine tell Huyang that they almost died multiple times. His response is how that is "standard Jedi procedure". Both women just smile.
- Armor-Piercing Question: When Senator Xiono accuses Hera of just wanting an excuse to find Ezra, Hera asks if he participated in the war, then accuses him of fence-sitting and siding with the winner. That shuts him up until the subject is changed.
- Asteroid Thicket: A variant. Sabine loses Shin and Marrok in a pod of purgill, hugging close to their bodies and diving just under and between their massive tentacles.
- Be Yourself: This is Ahsoka's goal with her training Sabine, wanting her not to be just any Jedi, but herself.
- Brutal Honesty:
- Discussed; Huyang insists that he only spoke the truth in telling Sabine that she had the lowest aptitude for the Force of any Padawan he'd ever met. Ahsoka is irritated that he'd actually tell her that, since it clearly had a negative impact on Sabine's confidence, and she chews him out for it in private.
- While discussing Sabine's training, Huyang bluntly admits that the Jedi Order would never have admitted her, citing standards that were in place for a millennium. Ahsoka is equally blunt in reminding Huyang that those standards ultimately failed.
- Call-Back:
- Shin and Marrok are using Belbullab-22 heavy starfighters, mixed with parts to make them look like old-school dogfighters. Such a ship is not unlike the Soulless One used by General Grievous during the Clone Wars.
- Huyang compares the Eye of Sion to the hyperspace rings used by the Jedi during the Clone Wars, though far larger and capable of intergalactic travel. Given they have to pop over to another galaxy and possibly pick up a Star Destroyer, this would explain why it's designed as such.
- Call-Forward: Senator Hamato Xiono's stinginess about the blatant evidence Hera has presented to the New Republic Senate about Thrawn's loyalists in the shipyard on Corellia is what would later define his stance that the Empire's successor state, the First Order, can be negotiated with despite them rebuilding their strength, decades later, leading to the very enemy his own son, Kazuda, would later fight against.
- Continuity Nod:
- Huyang explains to Sabine that dropping out of hyperspace at a distance from a target location helps avoid enemy surveillance. This calls to mind how Admiral Ozzel bungled the attack on Hoth by dropping out of hyperspace too close to the planet.
- Huyang takes Sabine through the forms as Kanan did with her in "Trials of the Darksaber" and as The Armorer did with Din Djarin in "Return of the Mandalorian." Ahsoka also tells Sabine how the Force is in all living things like Kanan said in the former episode.
- Ahsoka has Sabine train with a visor on as Obi-Wan did with Luke. To complete the homage, Sabine even exasperatedly says she can't see with the visor on.
- Huyang remarks that, historically, few Mandalorians ever had the aptitude to become Jedi; only two such individuals has been confirmed in canon; Tarre Viszla, who was mentioned by Fenn Rau and the Armorer; and young Din Grogu, who started as a Jedi, briefly restarted his training, but ultimately chose to embrace becoming a Mandalorian.
- Hera mentions Thrawn being responsible for the deaths of many of her friends and allies, up to and including people she considered family, no doubt still hurting over Kanan's death.
- The Senate Committee believes the Imperial Remnants are too scattered and disorganized to truly pose a threat to the New Republic. This is exactly what Pellaeon advised the Shadow Council in "The Spies", insisting they must not draw attention to themselves to preserve this illusion.
- The same scene also shows an inverse of Moff Gideon's request for reinforcements to deal with Din Djarin and the Mandalorians coming to take back their homeworld, with Hera asking for reinforcements to stop the Eye of Sion's construction. Unlike Pellaeon, who granted Gideon's request, Mon Mothma and the New Republic Senate refuse to do so, since they don't want to fight again and would rather strengthen their own worlds.
- Once again, Mon Mothma is unable to provide direct aid to the good guys due to the bureaucracy of her organization, like how she was unable to give any substantial resources to Ezra's mission to retake Lothal and how she couldn't authorize any action towards Scarif in Rogue One.
- Ahsoka has a note of bitterness in her voice as she remarks on the ultimate failure of the Jedi Order's standards, clearly recalling her own experience with the Order's failings.
- Sabine recalls seeing purrgil the day Ezra disappeared.
- Huyang notes that Ahsoka taking on Sabine as an apprentice is part of a long line of non-traditional Jedi. At the very least, there's Yoda —> Dooku / Darth Tyranus —> Qui-Gon —> Obi-Wan —> Anakin / Darth Vader —> Ahsoka —> Sabine.
- The return of the purrgil is integral to the plot, as, once again, their hyperspace travel is the inspiration for a new form of extreme travel. In Rebels, they were the inspiration for the development of hyperdrive. Here we learn they were also the inspiration for the extreme hyperspace travel between galaxies in the legendary Path of Peridia, and explain where Ezra and Thrawn went when the former asked the purrgil to remove the latter.
- Damned by Faint Praise: Huyang notes that, in her training, Sabine was "Not bad. But also not good." His not-lightsabers record where her strikes went and note when she was on target and when she missed.
- The Ditherer: The Senate Committee is truly uninterested in considering the Imperial loyalists a threat even after learning that Thrawn's return is in the works, constantly Moving the Goalposts in response to any of Hera's claims, with Xiono refusing to allow any resources to be diverted that could supposedly strengthen the New Republic.
- Doomed by Canon: Despite Hera and Mon Mothma's objections, the New Republic Senate refuses to even consider that the Empire will rise up again seeking revenge, thinking them to be scattered and helpless. As the lead-up to the Sequel Trilogy shows, they would continue to believe this until it was too late, and would pay dearly for it.
- Enmity with an Object: Played for Laughs; Sabine tries to use the Force to draw a cup to her hand, but when her attempt is interrupted by Ahsoka calling her to the cockpit, Sabine dryly tells the cup, "you win this round", followed by a Reaction Shot from the cup.
- Failed a Spot Check: When asked about her son Hera turns around expecting to see him but he is nowhere in sight. It appears that Jacen was supposed to be following her but slipped away with Chopper at some point on the way to the briefing.
- Game of Chicken: Ahsoka splits up two Belbullab-22 heavy starfighters attacking head-on by rolling the wings to intersect with them, forcing the pair to break off lest they crash into her. Sabine then splashes Marrok's wingman when he's caught in a predictable turn.
- Head-in-the-Sand Management: Senator Xiono believes Hera is using Thrawn as an excuse to procure more resources in her search for Ezra, and his comrades in the Senate Committee refuse to believe Thrawn's loyalists pose any threat, insisting that the resources she's asking for to investigate them could be put to better use towards helping stabilize the New Republic internally. Mon Mothma is clearly sympathetic and wary of Hera's warnings, but can't overrule the rest of the Committee and is unable to provide New Republic aid to Ahsoka's mission.
- High Hopes, Zero Talent: What Huyang bluntly considers Sabine to be, stating her abilities are simply not enough to be a Jedi. Ahsoka doesn't disagree about Sabine's lack of Force talent, but insists that while talent plays a role, training and discipline make the real difference in being able to use the Force.
- Homage: Ahsoka suggests that Sabine be instructed in the Zatochi (zah-tow-chee) technique before handing her the blinding helmet, the name a Shout-Out to Zatoichi (zah-tow-ee-chee) the Blind Swordsman.
- Horrible Judge of Character: One of the New Republic Senators believes that since the former Imperial workers took an oath of loyalty to the New Republic they are automatically trustworthy. Hera quips that "Long live the Empire!" is not the kind of oath that inspires confidence.
- Innocently Insensitive:
- After Chopper tells him about Sabine's Jedi training, Jacen cheerfully tells his mother that he wants to be a Jedi too, not realizing why such a wish would trouble her.
- Huyang remarks on Ahsoka coming from a long line of "unconventional" Jedi; he clearly meant no offense, but Ahsoka's expression shows that she feels uneasy being reminded of her former master.
- Ironic Echo: After Huyang's frequent reminders of standard Jedi procedure, Ahsoka justifies shutting him down to hide from Shin and Marrok as "standard procedure"; Huyang is a good sport about it as he's shut off.
- Jerkass Has a Point:
- Senator Hamato Xiono notes that Hera still hopes to find Ezra; while he's wrong about her priorities (she primarily wants to prevent Thrawn's return from causing an Imperial resurgence), he's right about her hopes, as Hera implicitly admits in her response.
- Huyang isn't wrong about Sabine not being up to par with regular Jedi, as Ahsoka's lesson proved she was nearly hopelessly outmatched while blind. However, he does have the Old Republic Jedi Council attitude toward those who don't have the natural talent of Force wielders, thinking that those who don't have it shouldn't train to be Jedi. Ahsoka acknowledges that talent does play a factor, but to only acknowledge talent seems short-sighted, according to her.
- Kick the Dog: After being called out for not participating in the Galactic Civil War, Xiono bites back against Hera and voices a viciously rude opinion that Ezra is dead alongside Thrawn just to spite her.
- Latex Space Suit: Ahsoka wears a form-fitting spacesuit (complete with a helmet to accommodate her lekku) when she goes outside to take down the fighters with just her lightsabers.
- Like Parent, Like Child: Jacen, having been told about Sabine's Jedi training, expresses a desire to be a Jedi himself. While the comparison goes unsaid, Hera clearly sees a lot of Kanan in their son during that moment and is visibly emotional at the reminder of her lost love.
- Master-Apprentice Chain: Huyang remarks that the questionably Force-sensitive Mandalorian Sabine is a rather fitting addition to the long line of unconventional Jedi that Ahsoka descends from.
- Mentor in Sour Armor: Huyang comes off as this, with his Brutal Honesty toward Sabine combining with the previous episode where he insists she is a Padawan and needs to continue her training. He saw the Jedi Order at its height, he saw it destroyed, and now he sees Sabine.
- Moving the Goalposts: One of the senators insists that the former Imperials swearing an oath of loyalty to the New Republic means they can't possibly still be loyal to the Empire. When Hera reveals those same former Imperials still swore loyalty to the Empire, the senator then quickly insists that the problem must be solved since Hera arrested them.
- My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours: Mon Mothma falls victim to this. She recognizes the threat Thrawn's return represents and she recognizes the value of recovering Ezra, but she feels bound to the rules of the New Republic and won't move against the Senate's decision.
- Mythology Gag: Jacen Syndulla expresses his desire to become a Jedi, nodding not just to his father, but his Legends namesake, Jacen Solo.
- Never Found the Body: The Senate Committee insist that Ezra and Thrawn died in the Battle of Lothal, even though they were only whisked away by the Purgill through hyperspace and their ships were never located.
- Not Helping Your Case: Although the Senate Committee had likely already made up their minds, Hera snapping at Xiono for stating his belief that Ezra was dead only helped his case that she was trying to use New Republic resources to find Ezra and using the threat of Thrawn as an excuse.
- Not So Stoic: Marrok is rendered pretty stoic by his helm and armour, and acts even more so, but even he is distracted by the Purrgil and apparently fascinated by them for a moment, even in the midst of an aerial chase.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: The New Republic Senate, as primarily represented by Senator Hamato Xiono, deny Hera permission to take the fleet to Denab and hunt for Thrawn, believing it to be a waste of Republic resources just to find Ezra. To make matters worse, some of the Senators dismiss any idea that the Empire could possibly be any threat, setting the stage for their mistake to bite them in the rear decades later. Mon Mothma isn't any help either, as she has to abide by the Senate's decision despite her personally disagreeing with their willingness to turn a blind eye.
- Offscreen Teleportation: Ahsoka has Sabine wear a blinding helmet to train her in fighting blind. She stands by Huyang and asks Sabine where she is in the room. Sabine seemingly answers correctly, only for Ahsoka to say "Are you sure?" The camera then pans slightly, showing Ahsoka has silently moved to the opposite side of the room.
- Oh, Crap!: As soon as Hera mentions Thrawn, Mon Mothma is visibly horrified, the implications of him still being alive clearly hitting her like a ton of bricks.
- Only Sane Woman: Hera and Mon Mothma both clearly recognize that the threat of Thrawn's return is a real possibility, especially since it would unite the entire Imperial remnant under his leadership (which they've already been shown eagerly awaiting), but the New Republic still thinks they're no threat now that they've been beheaded and crippled. Both would be right, but it would be nearly 30 years before the galaxy realized how horribly wrong they were about the Empire rebuilding itself.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Hera is not known for her temper, but Xiono insulting her by dismissing Ezra as having surely died alongside Thrawn purely to spite her works at getting under her skin and causes her to lash out.
- Out of Focus: Baylan Skoll only appears in the last scene of the episode.
- Plot Armor: Marrok and his Scout Guard wingman are tricked by Ahsoka's Game of Chicken maneuver, but since Marrok has a name and unique appearance, the nameless mook is the one that bites the dust.
- The Power of Hate: Discussed. Ahsoka tries to train Sabine to fight blind, but Ahsoka is both too silent and too skilled for Sabine to do much more than react to being touched. Sabine gets frustrated and eventually manages to anticipate Ahsoka's next move, only for Ahsoka to then easily trip her. Ahsoka explains that anger is a quick way to power, but leaves one unbalanced.
- Seen It All: After being informed that the trio nearly died "several times" while he was inactive, Huyang idly remarks that it's "standard operating procedure".
- Shout-Out: Huyang gripes, "This is intolerable!" while being chased and fired at by fighter craft.
- Small Universe After All: It's thought that the Hyperspace Ring is meant for Intergalactic travel and Ahsoka says the Jedi have records of Hyperspace Lanes used by Space Whales.
- Space Whale: As if anybody needed further confirmation, Huyang even refers to the Purgill as "star whales".
- Standard Hollywood Strafing Procedure: Shin, Marrok, and their wingman strafe Ahsoka multiple times while her ship is dead in space, but she manages to deflect every shot and even manages to take down the wingman.
- Suddenly Voiced: Marrok and Jacen both speak for the first time.
- Surrounded by Idiots: Hera and Mon Mothma both have shades of this during their holo-call. Hera is incredulous that basically nothing she says is getting through to the Senators, and Mon Mothma just as clearly believes Hera but can't unilaterally overrule them.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Elsbeth and Shin clearly don't like each other, snarking at each other throughout the confrontation with Ahsoka, Sabine, and Huyang.
- The Day the Music Lied: Sabine tries using the Force on a coffee cup, with the music building dramatically... only for Ahsoka to interrupt her before anything else can happen.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Before heading into the meeting with the senators, Hera's specifically informed that Senator Hamato Xiono is with them, suggesting the two have a history of mutual dislike.
- Turn Out Like His Father: Hera gets a sad look on her face when Jacen mentions that he wants to be a Jedi like Kanan before him.
- Understatement: Huyang mentions that Ahsoka descended from a long line of unconventional Jedi.note
- Un-Paused: Huyang completes his scan of the Eye of Sion and at the moment he says "Scan complete", the ship is hit by turbolaser fire and a power surge knocks him offline. After a harrowing battle, his backup battery kicks in and he repeats "Scan complete" before realizing that he's been offline and the ship is now in atmosphere.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: One of the New Republic senators, Rodrigo, is laughably naïve about the loyalty of ex-Imperials, believing that simply having them take oaths of allegiance to the New Republic is enough to make them trustworthy. The possibilities of lying or subterfuge don't seem to occur to her for a second.
- Wham Line: "Out there?! Out where?!"
- Wham Shot: Purrgil make their live action debut and they are amazing.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Hera calls out Hamato for not directly fighting in the war but being willing to condescend to her for looking out for Imperial remnants after Emperor Palpatine's defeat, accusing him of simply waiting to see who won.
- Hera's own adjutant gives Hera a small one as she pretty much lost her cool during the meeting, as Hamato managed to bait her using Ezra to spite her.
- Ahsoka calls out Huyang for his Brutal Honesty which has only served to shake Sabine's confidence in herself.
