Is Ahsoka A Jedi Or Not?
Fans tuning in to the premiere of the Disney+ series Ahsoka may have been surprised to hear the titular character claim that she is not a Jedi: after all, she is a master of the Force, she’s an expert with lightsabers, that certainly seems like Jedi resume material. Her claiming she’s not a Jedi in this show reignited fan debate that stretches back to The Clone Wars cartoon regarding whether this former padawan of Anakin Skywalker is still a Jedi or not. No debate is really necessary, though, for the simple reason that Ahsoka isn’t a Jedi, no matter how angry that fact makes fans.
Some of the most direct evidence that Ahsoka is not a Jedi comes from the opening crawl to the first episode of her show. In that crawl, she is clearly identified as a “former Jedi Knight.” Honestly, this alone should be enough to end the debate, especially because we are getting confirmation she is no longer any kind of Jedi directly from her own show rather than having to piece together clues from various comics, stories, and games.
Additionally, the first episodes of Ahsoka make it clear that she isn’t a Jedi for another reason: that she never completed her training under Anakin Skywalker. It’s a bit of a fine line, but Ahsoka confesses to Hera that her incomplete training would preclude her from calling herself a Jedi.
No debate is really necessary, though, for the simple reason that Ahsoka isn’t a Jedi, no matter how angry that fact makes fans.
It’s a bit like if Luke Skywalker never returned to Dagobah after running off to Cloud City: even having access to the Force and its fantastic abilities, Luke wouldn’t be a Jedi without completing his training, and Ahsoka seems to feel the same way about her own checkered past.
Of course, the reason why Ahsoka never completed her Jedi training is a bit complex. Back in The Clone Wars cartoon, she was falsely accused of bombing a Jedi Temple and drummed out of the order; she soon cleared her name, but she was now disillusioned with the Jedi and refused an offer from the High Council to return.
Speaking of the Force, Ahsoka isn’t necessarily missing out on any special insights or abilities she would have automatically gained had she stayed with the Jedi Order.
This was a big deal because the Jedi Master Plo Koon and the rest of the Council claimed what she went through would effectively count as her great trial, and since she successfully completed it, she could have come back as a full Jedi Knight rather than as Anakin’s Padawan learner.
Even though Anakin Skywalker personally tries to convince Ahsoka to rejoin the Jedi, she explains that she must find her own path. This ends up being a very tangled path: she seemingly continued to work on her Jedi abilities even as she eventually helped fight against the Galactic Empire.
This is something we see in Star Wars: Rebels as she helps to coordinate fighters like Hera and Sabine Wren into an organized fighting force to be reckoned with.
Even though Anakin Skywalker personally tries to convince Ahsoka to rejoin the Jedi, she explains that she must find her own path.
Ultimately, the question of whether Ahsoka is a Jedi or not is largely moot because there is no functional difference in her status aside from a title. She seemingly has powers and abilities beyond that of other Jedi we have seen, and her connection to the Force is stronger than ever.
Speaking of the Force, Ahsoka isn’t necessarily missing out on any special insights or abilities she would have automatically gained had she stayed with the Jedi Order. It’s possible to gain more insight into the Force over time, but she has clearly managed this without completing her training with Anakin Skywalker.
There are still some questions we have about Ahsoka and her Jedi status, particularly given the surprising revelation that she once tried to train Sabine Wren in the ways of The Force. It’s not immediately clear what Ahsoka’s goal as a non-Jedi was when she decided to train someone else in the ways of the Jedi, though it’s entirely possible she felt she could pass on lessons in the Force without the authority or blessing of remaining Jedi.
If that’s the case, then we can’t help but conclude that the rule-breaking Ahsoka ended up much more like her mentor Anakin Skywalker than she is likely to ever admit.
