By George Bate & Josh Bate
Ahsoka‘s third episode is filled to the brim with exciting references and easter eggs. Check out all of the easter eggs, references, and trivia facts we noticed in Ahsoka – Part Three: Time to Fly.
Sabine trains wearing a sight-impairing helmet similar to how Alec Guinness’ Ben Kenobi trained Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars. This is a version of the fictional combat training technique known as Zatochi, which comes from author Kam Shimozawa. Shimozawa wrote of a man named Zatoichi, who, despite losing his sight, trained to be a master swordsman.
Huyang notes that there have been “few” Mandalorian Jedi. In canon, the only Mandalorian Jedi known to date are Tarre Vizsla and Grogu, who Huyang likely is unaware of. Tarre Vizsla was the Jedi who forged the legendary Darksaber and has been previously referenced in The Clone Wars and Rebels.
The Senate Committee that consults with Hera Syndulla includes Mon Mothma. Genevieve O’Reilly, who played the character in a deleted scene of Revenge of the Sith and more recently in Andor, reprises her role of Mon Mothma, who is now Chancellor of the New Republic.
Also a part of the Senate Committee is Senator Hamato Xiono, the father of Star Wars: Resistance star Kaz.
Hera makes the case that the New Republic must be aware of Imperial remnants’ motives to rebuild the fallen Empire. Her warnings remain unheard by the Senate Committee in a manner similar to various other stories about the rise of the First Order, including Leia in the novel Bloodline by Claudia Gray. The other character in canon trying to raise attention to the rise of a new Empire is Paul Sun-Hyung Lee’s Carson Teva in The Mandalorian.
Making his live-action debut in Part Three is Jacen Syndulla, the son of Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus. Jacen first appeared in the series finale of Star Wars Rebels and (thankfully) gets a bit of a makeover for live-action. Jacen also shares the same first name as Jacen Solo from Legends / Expanded Universe.
Jacen says that he wants to be a Jedi, which means Jacen would follow in the footsteps of his father Kanan Jarrus.
“Time to Fly” expands Star Wars lore in the conversation between Ahsoka and Sabine. Although not stated explicitly, it becomes clear that “talent” is clearly a factor in whether someone can wield the Force, but that it is ultimately individual determination and training that are important in forging a Jedi.
Huyang comments that Ahsoka comes from “a long line of non-traditional Jedi.” Ahsoka was trained by Anakin Skywalker. Anakin was trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was trained by the unconventional Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon was trained by Count Dooku, who also was not a traditional Jedi.
Ahsoka and Sabine discover that Morgan Elsbeth is constructing a Hyperspace Ring called the Eye of Sion to travel to the exiled Grand Admiral Thrawn. Much smaller versions of hyperspace rings have featured in Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars.
Ahsoka wears a space suit to survive fighting Morgan Elsbeth’s henchmen on the outside of their ship. Similar space suits were worn in the Season 3 finale of Star Wars Rebels.
Purrgils, the hyperspace-traveling space whales, appear in “Time to Fly.” It is revealed in this episode that purrgils not only have the ability to travel through hyperspace, but that they can travel between galaxies.
Stay tuned to The HoloFiles and Star Wars Holocron for continued coverage of Ahsoka!