Ahsoka struggles against the loadstone of destiny, pulling tight the shackles of fate. But can the will of any one Jedi, any one being at all, prevail against a darkness bred in 10,000 years of hatred, ignorance, and suffering? It is true that in blackest shadow is the Imperium cradled... yet it is also true that the darker the night, the brighter the flame of hope that burns within it.
Against the gray that calls itself black in this new universe, can the guttering flames of hope held within the faith of the suffering be released into a star, a heralding light of a new dawn? Or are the grim clouds of the far future, too heavy to breach, even from within the light of the past? Can any will ever hope to challenge such imbalance?
Tropes found in this episode:
- Barehanded Blade Block: When an injured Ahsoka swings her lightsaber at the Electro-Priest, he casually catches the blade of her lightsaber with his bare hand and drains the lightsaber of its energy.
- A Day in the Limelight: This whole episode is focused on Ahsoka and her conflict with the Electro-Priest Current-82 Vellen aboard Trench's captured Separatist dreadnought.
- Fantastic Radiation Shielding: While finishing off a Skitarii Vanguard trooper armed with a blade bathed in radiation, Ahsoka uses the Force to fend off the gamma waves coming off the Skitarius's body.
- Finishing Stomp: During a pause in Ahsoka's duel with the Electro-Priest, Ahsoka finishes off a nearby downed Skitarius by crushing his face with a stomp of her foot.
- Holding in Laughter: While talking with the Electro-Priest, Ahsoka tries to stifle her chuckling when she hears him explain that the Imperium's homeworld was originally called Earth, which she views as an Unfortunate Name since it's a synonym for dirt.
- If I Wanted You Dead...: Ahsoka and the 501st have gained the upper hand on the Electro-Priest and his Skitarii guards, and have them surrounded and outnumbered. While trying to convince the Electro-Priest to surrender, Ahsoka points out how easy it would be for her to have them all killed if that was what she truly intended.
- Internal Reveal: Ahsoka learns why the Imperium fears droids during an impromptu Q&A she has with a captive Electro-Priest, who tells her all about the history of 40K humanity all the way up to the Cybernetic Revolt that led to the Age of Strife.
- It Only Works Once: At one point during her duel with the Electro-Priest, Ahsoka tries to use her strongest Force push to send a crowd of Skitarii flying back. The narration notes that "unlike the last time" (implying that Ahsoka successfully pulled this off against the Skitarii earlier in the offscreen battle) the Skitarii were prepared and came equipped with Sticky Shoes that kept their feet anchored to the floor panels.
- Mistaken Identity: During Ahsoka's fight with the Electro-Priest, a Skitarii Vanguard trooper mistakes Ahsoka for a Slaaneshi Daemonette he had encountered in the past. Ahsoka could tell from reading that Skitarius's dying thoughts that there was no difference between her and that Daemonette in his mind.
- Mythology Gag: When asked by Ahsoka if his people ever managed to find peace, Electro-Priest C-82 says a slightly altered variation of the famous 40K opening line "for in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war."
- Sticky Shoes: The Skitarii fighting aboard Trench's former flagship all have footwear or feet that keep them attached to the floor panels, either through magnetics or other devices like clamps and drills. This keeps them from being sent flying across the room when Ahsoka hits them with her strongest Force push.
- Tap on the Head: Ahsoka defeats the Electro-Priest by kicking him in the jaw hard enough to knock him unconscious while he was falling to the ground mid-air. In the scene that follows this, the Electro-Priest is awake and seemingly fine if not extremely unhappy at being taken prisoner.
- Unfortunate Name: Ahsoka is unable to keep herself from chuckling when Electro Priest C-82 reveals that the Imperium's homeworld was once called Earth.Ahsoka: Your homeworld's name is dirt!? I mean, is that just me misunderstanding the translation?
C-82: [embarrassed] It is a humble name! We are a humble people!
