This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 6.
Summary
- Ahsoka episode 6 reveals the live-action debut of Ezra Bridger, a Jedi Padawan who went missing in Star Wars Rebels’ finale.
- Sabine successfully tracks down Ezra on the distant world of Peridea, leading to a touching reunion between old friends.
- Sabine has been using Ezra’s lightsaber and continues to mourn his loss, but his holo-recording and teachings will guide her on her own Jedi path.
Ahsoka features the live-action introduce of Ezra Bridger, a Jedi Padawan who disappeared in Star Wars Rebels‘ finale. Ahsoka Tano has traveled the pathway to Peridea because she fears the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, but her friend Sabine Wren has a much more personal motive. She’s eager to rescue her long-lost friend Ezra Bridger, a Jedi Padawan who’s been missing for at least nine years.
Sabine’s quest comes to a conclusion in Ahsoka episode 5, as she successfully tracks down Ezra on the distant world of Peridea. The reunion is a touching and emotional one, and will mean a lot to anyone who’s watched Star Wars Rebels. But viewers who’ve only checked out the live-action Star Wars Disney+ TV shows may be a little more confused. Here’s all you need to know about Ezra Bridger to understand this epic scene.
Ezra Bridger Was The Hero Of Star Wars Rebels
Voiced by Taylor Gray, Ezra was introduced as a street rat living on his own in an abandoned communications tower on the planet Lothal. Orphaned after his parents were arrested for speaking out against the Empire, Ezra taught himself to survive by stealing from the Empire and local food vendors. He eventually crossed paths with the Lothal rebel cell, however, and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus – an Order 66 survivor who worked as part of this rebel group – recognized he was Force-sensitive. Ezra swiftly proved himself worth teaching, and agreed to join the Ghost crew.
Ezra possessed a unique ability to bond with creatures and people through the Force. Sometimes this caused him problems, with Darth Maul using the dark side to manipulate him, but over the years Ezra learned to commit to the light side of the Force. A more mature Jedi by the end of Rebels, Ezra suffered his greatest loss when Kanan died in a fuel explosion, sacrificing himself to save his crew. With the help of Ahsoka Tano, Ezra learned the ultimate lesson his master was teaching him in the World Between Worlds: to let go. Enlightened, Ezra used that knowledge and his acceptance of the will of the Force to liberate Lothal with the aid of every ally made along his journey.
Ezra Sacrificed Himself In Star Wars Rebels’ Finale
While the Liberation of Lothal was successful, it came at a cost: Ezra sacrificed himself to ensure that Grand Admiral Thrawn and his fleet would be driven away from the world. The moment was Ezra’s biggest test as a Jedi Padawan, forcing him to make a difficult choice that would benefit everyone else but lead to further difficulty for him. Like Kanan, Ezra chose to be selfless, putting the needs of Lothal above his own. Calling on the purrgil for assistance, the space whales took Ezra and Thrawn away via hyperspace, where they’ve remained lost for nearly a decade.
Ezra Returns In Ahsoka Episode 6
Ahsoka episode 6 reveals the purrgil took Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn on the pathway to Peridea, a planet in a distant galaxy. Ezra evidently succeeded in escaping Thrawn, living in the wilderness among creatures he befriended – likely through his Force powers, which allowed him to bond with them. He has lived on Peridea for at least nine years (the Star Wars timeline is unclear on this point), and has apparently flourished in spite of the best efforts of Thrawn and his allies.
Who Plays Ezra Bridger In Ahsoka?
Ezra Bridger is played by Eman Esfandi in Ahsoka. Best known for his roles in The Inspection and King Richard, this is Esfandi’s biggest role to date. He immediately impresses in Ahsoka episode 6, showing all the warmth and charm of Ezra in Rebels. There’s also an excellent dynamic between Esfandi and Natasha Liu Bordizzo, which helps sell the brother-sister relationship between Ezra and Sabine – his closest friend in the rebel cell on Lothal, who has sacrificed so much to bring him home.
Sabine Is Using Ezra Bridger’s Lightsaber In Ahsoka
Sabine Wren has been using Ezra Bridger’s second lightsaber as her own. She previously received instruction from Kanan and Ezra in Rebels to fight with the Darksaber, giving her a strong foundation for lightsaber combat alongside her natural skills as a warrior. What’s more, Ahsoka Tano has taken on Sabine as her apprentice, teaching her the ways of the Jedi in a messy, complicated relationship. Sabine continues to mourn the loss of Ezra – though he isn’t dead, they were separated by fate, leaving her without someone she viewed as a sibling – or perhaps something more.
Ezra left behind a holo-recording for Sabine prior to his sacrifice in Rebels. While there was a general message for the entire Ghost crew, an extended version in Ahsoka depicts Ezra explaining the difficult choices a Jedi has to make. This is something that will serve as a lesson for Sabine as she pursues her own Jedi path, with Ezra’s words and weapon on hand to see things through. Sabine made a few modifications to Ezra’s lightsaber, but it otherwise remains the same and maintains its green blade. It will be fascinating to see who winds up owning Ezra’s lightsaber as the story of Ahsoka continues.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.
