By Sophia Doshi
As seen on the 'Star Wars' homepage, Ahsoka Tano is my favorite character. She's stubborn, feisty, and loyal, and has seen a thousand lifetimes of battles, hardships, and teachings. Her famous quote, "I am no Jedi", shook me to my core when I heard it. She continues to make an incredible impact on my life, and for that, she will always be my favorite Star Wars character—and maybe even fictional character in general—ever.
In case you're new to Star Wars universe, Ahsoka Tano was the Padawan of the (in)famous Anakin Skywalker, who was later turned to the Dark Side by the manipulative Emperor Palpatine. Yet before she was granted the rank of Padawan by Master Yoda, she was discovered by Plo Koon at age 3 and accepted into the Jedi Order. Plo was like a father figure to Ahsoka, so when she lost him during Order 66, it was like losing her father.
Ahsoka and Anakin were inseparable. He took on a role of 'older brother with questionable ideas', and she looked up to him unlike anyone else she'd ever looked up to. They were like two little gremlins flying around the galaxy. Sure, they helped hundreds of people with their actions, but most of those actions were reckless and based off of their personal morals rather than the morals of the Jedi (hmm... I sense some foreshadowing...). Obi-Wan Kenobi was also with them a lot, and he acted as a father to Anakin and Ahsoka, keeping them in line and making sure what they were doing didn't get them killed.
Ahsoka is such an empowering figure, because she grows to become a critical thinker and a strong, independent woman who fights for what she believes in, not just for a cult that has took it upon themselves to protect a whole galaxy (look, I love the Jedi, but they are a cult. So is the Dark Side!). She is also a beloved character because she is relatable—even as a Jedi Master, she still doubts herself and struggles with conflicts that are both old and new (for example, when her parents betrayed her when she was just a toddler, and then the decision she made to not kill Rex during order 66 even though he could have killed her).
I am also super excited for the TV series about her that is being released around early 2023. Rosario Dawson will be playing her (like she did in The Mandalorian). and she will hopefully do a great job. It's probably a tough job, knowing that the entire Ahsoka and Star Wars fanbase is on your shoulders. However, she was good in The Mandalorian so I am not too worried.
Cover photo from pxfuel