This artiicle contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 6.
Summary
- A chilling theory suggests that Ahsoka is bringing back Abeloth, the most powerful dark side being from Star Wars Legends, as the true villain.
- Baylan Skoll believes that Peridea holds the key to changing the balance of the Force forever, and he is drawn to a powerful presence calling him there.
- The possibility of Abeloth returning in Star Wars would be thrilling, as she is a being more powerful than anything viewers have seen before and would be a perfect enemy for Ahsoka.
A chilling new Star Wars theory suggests Ahsoka is bringing back the most powerful dark side being from Legends, Abeloth. The Ahsoka Disney+ TV show has centered on the quest for Grand iral Thrawn, a villain unlike any other in Star Wars history. Where most Star Wars foes are powerful in the dark side of the Force, Thrawn stands apart as an enemy who is notable for his tactical genius. He's finally made his live-action debut in Ahsoka episode 6, played by Lars Mikkelsen.
And yet, as exciting as Thrawn's return may be, it increasingly feels as though Star Wars is pulling something of a bait-and-switch - as though Thrawn isn't the true villain at all. Ray Stevenson's Baylan Skoll has his own agenda; he clearly saw Thrawn as a means to an end, believing he would find something else once he has found his way to Peridea. Having been trained by the Jedi, Baylan knows many of the legends of Peridea, and he clearly believes he can change the fate of galaxies through this mission. A new Star Wars theory suggests he's traveled to Peridea to find a being from Star Wars Legends, the most dangerous dark side foe the Jedi could ever face.
Baylan Skoll Believes Peridea Is The Key To Changing The Balance Of The Force Forever
Baylan believes in keeping his cards close to his chest, refusing to tell even his dark Jedi apprentice Shin Hati more than he feels she needs to know at any one time. He finally explains a little about his agenda in Ahsoka episode 6, revealing he believes galactic history is locked in a cycle of light and dark that has existed for millennia. According to Baylan, this cycle began at Peridea, and he hopes to find something that would break it forever.
Baylan seems completely unconcerned about the possibility of being stranded in Peridea, largely because he seems to believe this is where the most important events are taking place. He senses something stirring, a powerful presence calling to him, and it is presumably this that has driven him to work for Morgan Elsbeth in the first place. What's more, Baylan is confident the Nightsisters at least know what is stirring on Peridea. He believes Thrawn and the Grand Mothers are fleeing a power even greater than themselves.
Is Baylan Sensing Something That Has Called Out To Others?
It's entirely possible Baylan isn't the only one sensing this call. In Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" trilogy, one of Palpatine's advisers noted he too sensed something calling to him through the Force. The Emperor believed it came from the Unknown Regions, prompting his attempts to explore this vast tract of space, but it's quite possible it came from somewhere far beyond. If that's the case, then the little Palpatine divulged to his advisers suggests Baylan is seeking a very dark presence indeed.
"Outside the known galaxy is an unexplored infinity, Palpatine explained, one closed off by a labyrinth of solar storms, rogue magnetospheres, black holes, gravity wells, and things far stranger. Any who tried to conquer that maze did not survive. The ships were obliterated, or returned to the galaxy devoid of travelers.Communications from those explorers were incomprehensible, either shot through with such static as to make the content useless, or filled with enough inane babble to serve as a perfectly clear sign that the explorer had gone utterly mad out there in isolation."
It's even possible the entity Baylan senses has also been manipulating Sabine, twisting her through the Force. This would explain the increasing sense of urgency Sabine felt to find Ezra, and it would mean her betrayal of Ahsoka was influenced by an outside force. Ahsoka episode 6's Grand Mothers - Aktropaw, Klothow, and Lakesis - are named after the three Fates of Greek legend (Atropos, Clotho, and Lahkesis, respectively), and they talked about the "thread of destiny"; Huyang too suggested to Ahsoka that, to Sabine, the decision to give up the starmap to Peridea was the only choice she could make. Some dark presence could well be manipulating events, imposing its will on others to ensure it is freed from Peridea.
Is Star Wars Bringing Back Abeloth, Legends' Most Powerful Dark Side Being?
Naturally, Star Wars viewers are combing through the franchise's history in search of clues to the nature of this dark side power. One of the most chilling possibilities is that Star Wars is bringing back a being called Abeloth, one of the most powerful entities ever seen - in either canon or Legends. Known as the Bringer of Chaos, in Legends Abeloth was once a servant of the Mortis Gods who became the Mother, helping keep the balance between the light and dark sides that they embodied. Abeloth sought immortality, and though successful, the quest tragically led to her corruption.
In Legends, the Mortis Gods imprisoned Abeloth in the Maw, the black hole cluster near Kessel seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It's entirely possible the canon version of Abeloth was instead exiled to Peridea, a place from which she could not return; even purrgil only come to Peridea to die. Just as in Legends, Abeloth could have been affected by changes in the balance of the Force, notably by the rising dark side as Palpatine ascended to power. If this is indeed the case, then she is stirring, reaching out with her power to ensure she is freed from her prison.
This would be a thrilling direction for Star Wars, because it would mean Ahsoka isn't just introducing another dark side cult; rather, it is introducing a being so powerful she dwarfs anything viewers have seen before. Abeloth would also be the perfect enemy for Ahsoka Tano, who has herself links to the cosmic beings known as the Mortis gods. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka was one of three Jedi who encountered them; she was killed by the Son, the manifestation of the dark side, only to be resurrected by the light side avatar known as the Daughter. If this is indeed Abeloth, then presumably Ahsoka has inherited the Mortis Gods' role in ensuring she remains imprisoned. This is only a theory - but it's an exciting one, and it shows just how much could happen if Star Wars doubles down on Baylan's ominous hints.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET on Disney+.
