Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 6.
Summary
- Ahsoka episode 6 unveils a major retcon by revealing that the Nightsisters originated from the planet Peridea in another galaxy, rewriting their history in the Star Wars universe.
- The show explains the difference between Nightsister Magick and Jedi/Sith powers, attributing it to the fact that Magick comes from an intergalactic variant of mystical abilities from Peridea.
- The episode also sheds light on why the Sith coveted Nightsister Magick, as they sought alternative powers in the Force to dominate their ancient enemies, and explains why Palpatine trained Darth Maul.
Ahsoka episode 6 has made a huge Star Wars retcon to the planet which holds a connection to Darth Maul and the Nightsisters: Dathomir. Since before Ahsoka began, many have been theorizing that the planet of Dathomir would play a part in the series. The reason for this came from Morgan Elsbeth, with a long-held theory being that Elsbeth is a descendant of the Nightsisters of Dathomir after it was mentioned in The Mandalorian season 2 that her people were massacred during the Clone Wars.
Ahsoka's earlier episodes eventually confirmed that these theories were well-founded, with Elsbeth herself revealing to Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati that she was once a Nightsister of Dathomir. With Ahsoka episode 6, the development of the Nightsisters in the Star Wars universe was changed like never before. Aside from huge moments like the return of Thrawn and Ezra Bridger's Ahsoka debut, Ahsoka episode 6, "Far, Far Away," has completely rewritten the history of the Nightsisters, bringing with these developments a Star Wars retcon pertaining to the planet of Dathomir.
The Nightsisters Came From Peridea - A Planet In Another Galaxy
Ahsoka episode 6 finally delivered on the promise of a second Star Wars galaxy that was teased in the first half of the show. Aside from a brief opening scene highlighting Ahsoka and Huyang's long journey in the mouth of the Purrgil, Ahsoka episode 6 takes place entirely on Peridea. Peridea was first teased in Ahsoka episode 2 as a planet from early legend within the Star Wars galaxy and was supposedly the planet on which Grand iral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger have been stranded since the end of Star Wars Rebels. Ahsoka episode 6 confirmed this with Thrawn and Ezra making their long-awaited debuts in the series.
Interestingly though, Ahsoka episode 6 revealed that Thrawn's survival has been greatly aided by three so-called "Great Mothers." These Great Mothers seem to be the current leaders of the Nightsister people based on the sense of authority they evoke and the way in which Elsbeth revered them upon her arrival to Peridea. Furthermore, one reveal from the Great Mothers drastically changed the history of the Nightsisters in the Star Wars galaxy completely. The Nightsisters confirmed that the witches of Dathomir originally hailed from Peridea meaning the race was born in an entirely different galaxy.
This completely changes the history of the race in Star Wars with Ahsoka episode 6 going on to explain their founding of Dathomir. According to the Nightsisters in Ahsoka episode 6, the witches of Peridea utilized the Purrgil to travel to the Star Wars galaxy and eventually settled on Dathomir which explains the planet being their home in previous stories. The Purrgil - dubbed Travelers by the Nightsisters - allowed them to move from Peridea to the prime Star Wars galaxy with the Nightsisters apparently being the first to utilize the Purrgil in this capacity.
Star Wars Finally Explains Why Nightsister Magick is Different To Jedi & Sith Powers
Another development in Ahsoka episode 6 is the show's explanation of why Nightsister Magick is so different compared to Jedi and Sith powers. While Ahsoka episode 6 does not delve into this explicitly, the reveal that the Nightsisters come from Peridea is enough to explain why their Magick is so different from other uses of the Force. Oftentimes in Star Wars' past, Magick has been explained as a subset of the Force, yet it was presented with notable differences. For the most part, Jedi and Sith Force powers are unseen aside from notable exceptions like Force lightning. With Magick though, the Nightsister's power has often been visible via green energy.
The reason for this is that the Magick hails from another galaxy entirely. While Magick could still be a subset of the Force, the explanation for its different look is that the Force simply presents itself differently through the Nightsisters of Peridea. Rather than be identical to the Force utilized by the Sith and Jedi of the prime Star Wars galaxy, the Nightsister powers look so distinct due to being an intergalactic variant of the mystical power that binds Star Wars together.
The Sith Always Coveted Nightsister Magick - Explaining Why Palpatine Trained Darth Maul
Through these huge Nightsister reveals, Ahsoka episode 6 also explains why the Sith coveted Nightsister Magick. Given that the Sith have been embroiled in a centuries-old war with the Jedi, they have always been seeking new ways to destroy their ancient enemies. As such, it would make sense for the Sith to look beyond the powers of the Jedi in order to achieve dominance over them. After Ahsoka episode 6's reveal, it now makes sense as to why Sith s like Palpatine began coveting other Force powers like Nightsister Magick. If the Sith had heard whispers of Magick from another galaxy, they would naturally seek out these abilities.
The Sith seek power above all else, and the promise of intergalactic abilities that could be harnessed through the Force likely appealed to their dark nature. Furthermore, Ahsoka episode 6 also explains why Palpatine trained Darth Maul as his apprentice. Maul was born on Dathomir, the son of Mother Talzin, the Nightsister's leader during the Clone Wars. If the Sith had heard rumors of the Nightsister's origins, it could explain why Palpatine took Maul as his apprentice in a bid to harness intergalactic powers the latter may possess.
The Nightsisters Aren't Extinct After All
Finally, Ahsoka episode 6 revealed that the Nightsisters are not entirely extinct. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, Palpatine ordered Count Dooku and General Grievous to destroy the Nightsisters as a means of destroying Dooku's former apprentice Asaaj Ventress, and ensuring the Nightsisters posed no threat to Palpatine's plans for the Empire. This led to a genocidal attack on Dathomir by Separatist forces which resulted in the near extinction of the Nightsister people. After the massacre of the witches, it was assumed that the Nightsisters were completely wiped out barring a few outlying survivors like Merrin from the Star Wars Jedi video games or Morgan Elsbeth herself.
However, Ahsoka episode 6 revealed that some Nightsisters, like the Great Mothers, were exiled to Peridea and now reside there. While it is unclear how many Nightsisters are active in Peridea, it is clear that the Great Mothers still wield a great deal of power. They still have servants like Elsbeth and even have an alliance with Thrawn that seems to confirm the Nightsisters are now aiding the resurgence of the Empire. Given that two episodes of Ahsoka remain, it will be interesting to see what other reveals, story points, and retcons the show makes regarding the planet of Dathomir and its intergalactic inhabitants.
New episodes of Ahsoka release every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.