1 Heartbreaking Moment in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Had a Major Music Callback To ‘Revenge of the Sith’
Back in May, the moment a lot of Star Wars fans have been waiting for finally came: Ahsoka and Rex’s final moments in the war. Thanks to Star Wars Rebels and other media, fans knew that both of them survived Order 66, but not how. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and more got their Clone War conclusions in Revenge of the Sith, which marks the end of the Jedi Order.
But after The Clone Wars was canceled in 2013, fans didn’t know if they’d ever get a glimpse into how Ahsoka survived Order 66. And Season 7 gave that. With that insight, one scene stands out, for many reasons but specifically because of the music used in it, which makes it all the more heartbreaking. [Spoilers ahead for Season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars].
Season 7 of ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ finally showed Order 66 from Ahsoka and Rex’s point of view
Star Wars: The Clone Wars premiered in 2008, a few years after Revenge of the Sith came out. But, in the timeline, the show is situated between Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones and Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. For six seasons, the series gave an in-depth look at how the main characters handled the war and the politics within it all. Fans of the prequel trilogy love this show because it really fleshes out these characters in a way that the movies couldn’t.
With that said, it was a bummer that the final season couldn’t happen after its cancellation. So when Disney+ brought it back, fans couldn’t wait to see what was in store.
In addition to Order 66 from this new perspective, fans also wanted to see what Ahsoka was doing now that she’d left the Jedi Order in Season 5. There was also Anakin and Ahsoka’s reunion that viewers looked forward to. And Season 7 delivered all the highs and lows fans expected.
1 scene highlighted how connected Ahsoka’s tragedy is to Anakin Skywalker’s
Ahsoka can sense a lot more during Order 66 than previously thought. Other than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, not a ton of time is spent on the Jedi that die in Revenge of the Sith. The Clone troopers turn on them so quickly that they don’t have time to react, leading to the Jedi Purge.
However, whether it’s because of her deep connection to the Force or to Anakin, Ahsoka can hear and feel the pain her former master is going through as turns. And the audience can hear the original audio from Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin asks, “What have I done?” in agony.
Another difference in the Clones in charge of killing Ahsoka is that Rex visibly fights his orders to kill her. He instead gives her the warning to run and look into Fives.
What really ties this whole moment together is that “Anakin’s Dark Deeds” plays over this scene. As Ahsoka fights off the Clone troopers shooting at her, and tries to get more information out of Rex, the intense song is beating over the fight. Most notably, right before she heads up into the ceiling to escape, the music is the exact same that plays as Anakin is crying on Mustafar.
After Anakin starts doing Sidious’ bidding in Order 66 — you know, killing younglings and all that — he heads to Mustafar to kill the Separatist leaders so that it’s just Palpatine at the helm of the Galactic Empire. And, despite his turn to the Dark Side, Anakin is crying. For all that he’s lost, for what he’s done, and more reasons, tears are running down his face. And that’s one of the most impactful moments in Revenge of the Sith. So to have that playing while Ahsoka tries to escape is powerful.
Why is this such an important moment?
There could be a lot of reasons why “Anakin’s Dark Deeds” is playing over this scene. For one, the reasons Ahsoka even has to deal with this is because of Anakin’s actions. Ahsoka isn’t even a Jedi at this point. But because she helped out the people of Mandalore, she’s in this position.
Kevin Kiner, the composer for all the seasons of The Clone Wars, said in the past that he wanted to make it his goal to keep the same “classical sensibility” that John Williams created in the movies. While also moving the series along in his own way. So, while Kiner created a gorgeous score for Season 7 as a whole, having this one callback to one of the most devastating moments in Revenge of the Sith is a perfect move.
Ahsoka does end up having a faceoff with Darth Vader later on in Star Wars Rebels. However, in this moment, she thinks her master’s dead. So, again, this musical callback is nothing short of devastating and spot on. Because, while the audience might be able to pinpoint the song and its tragic meaning, it’s playing over Ahsoka’s fight to survive her master’s new Empire.
