Qui-Gon Jinn and Ahsoka Have a Lot More in Common When It Comes to Selflessness in ‘Star Wars,’ According to Dave Filoni
The Clone Wars fans are experiencing some bittersweet feelings right now. The show is in its final season and things are ramping up, but will soon come to an end in four episodes. While fans are excited for what’s to come, it’s nearing a finish line on this series that’s more than a decade in the making, which can be tough for viewers. But Ahsoka has been a beacon of hope for many, and supervising director Dave Filoni shared how she relates a lot to respected Master Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn.
Ahsoka, like Qui-Gon Jinn, is on a ‘selfless path’
Leaving the Jedi Order was one of the toughest decisions Ahsoka ever had to make. She grew up with the Order and knew nothing else. However, just because she left, doesn’t mean she’s Dark; in fact, she’s using her powers for good in a way that she couldn’t as a Jedi.
“For me, with Ahsoka, it was always important that as a young person she’s asking questions, and she’s not just following,” Filoni said in the newest “Clone Wars Download” video for Friday’s episode. “That she can make up her own mind, and that she can even go against what Anakin thinks. She has to be an individual.”
This reminds him a lot of another, well-respected Jedi. Before his death, Qui-Gon Jinn was one of the most honored Jedi around. However, he wasn’t your stereotypical master, either. He didn’t always adhere to the Code fully and was known as a maverick among his peers for his take on being a Jedi. And for Filoni, Ahsoka is on a similar road.
“When you look at the Jedi in the prequel era, the one Jedi who has it most right is Qui-Gon,” Filoni said. “Because Qui-Gon understands that you can still love someone as long as you don’t try to possess them. As long as you can let them go. He is selfless. Ahsoka is on a selfless path.” You can easily see Ahsoka’s selflessness when she stays behind to let her friends, the Martez sisters, escape the Pykes.
Ahsoka was taught by so many Jedi, making her one of the best
Filoni then went on to talk about why Ahsoka has elements of Qui-Gon in her, and it’s because she’s a mixture of all different teachers.
Because Qui-Gon taught Obi-Wan, taught Anakin, taught her, that teaching is in her. She gets the benefit of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Both of them teach her throughout the course of her life. So she has kind of a nicely balanced view of things where a lot of Jedi, I don’t think have that. So Ahsoka’s tied to all of that but she’s making her own decisions outside of those character arcs. But I have to look at the whole thing and piece it together and bring it to a conclusion here, in these last 12 episodes.
Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka, said something similar to this on the Jabba The Pod Podcast from SYFY WIRE. She called Ahsoka a “melting pot” of all different masters and their gifts.
“Oh, I absolutely think Anakin was the best master for Ahsoka,” she said when asked if Skyguy was the best person to teach the Togruta. “Ahsoka… has — I shouldn’t even say the best of both worlds. She has the best of so many Jedi. She has the spontaneity of Anakin. He taught her to think outside of the box. She doesn’t think in black and white. Whereas we’ve seen other Jedi; they’re very black and white. Ahsoka thinks in shades of grey and I think she learned that from Anakin.”
Ahsoka can’t ignore her inherent desire to do good
In the “Clone Wars Download” video, Eckstein also said that Ahsoka’s sacrifice in the latest episode aligns with who she is as a person and her morals.
“That is the Ahsoka that we know and love, and that’s one thing that I love about Ahsoka,” she said. Filoni agrees and states, again, that even though Ahsoka isn’t a part of the Jedi Order, she’s still a good person.
“At the end of the day for Ahsoka… she cannot, in my opinion, deny, that she was raised [as a Jedi] and it has made a profound impression on her,” Filoni said. “She’s going to do the right thing. She cannot just look at people that are in peril and walk away from it. There’s just no way she can do that. It’s not who she is.”
As Ahsoka said in this arc, when she sees people in trouble, she’ll always help no matter what. And that’s the Ahsoka Tano fans have grown to know and love.
