Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 4.
Summary
- Ahsoka episode 4 ends in the "World Between Worlds," a significant realm in Star Wars lore that connects different points in time and space.
- The World Between Worlds is the Netherworld of the Force mentioned by Yoda in Star Wars: Episode III and is where people go after becoming one with the Force.
- Ahsoka's previous experience in the World Between Worlds was due to Ezra saving her from Darth Vader, suggesting she is likely not dead now. Stay tuned for more explanations in Ahsoka episode 5.
Ahsoka episode 4 "Part Four: Fallen Jedi" ends with Ahsoka Tano trapped in a mysterious world, which will have significant ramifications for the second half of the series. This ethereal realm is crucial to Star Wars lore and opens many possibilities for Ahsoka's story, especially now that she has encountered the spirit of her former master, Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka last saw him on Malachor when he was still Darth Vader, and while she will have learned of his redemption, the two never got to make amends while he was alive. Their reunion in Ahsoka is an opportunity fifteen years in the making.
However, Ahsoka episode 4's ending also raises several questions and may alter the direction of the entire narrative. It's unclear how Ahsoka ended up there after Baylan Skoll threw her off the cliff, an act that raises additional questions. However, this turn of events may allow Dave Filoni and the team to create an engaging episode that fans have been waiting years to see, resolving plot threads from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Ahsoka's history in this place may reveal more about what will happen in the remaining episodes and what it means for her future in Star Wars.
Ahsoka Is In The World Between Worlds
Ahsoka episode 4 ends in the World Between Worlds, a Force nexus that connects various points across space and time. Ezra Bridger first entered the World Between Worlds in Star Wars Rebels season 4 when Emperor Palpatine was attempting to seize its power for himself. Although he did not know who they belonged to, Ezra heard voices from across the Star Wars saga, including Jyn Erso, Kylo Ren, and Rey. The World Between Worlds was the embodiment of the Force binding the galaxy together, showing how connected the franchise's separate stories and characters really are.
It also had a connection to the Force gods of Mortis, as seen by the murals in the Jedi Temple on Lothal. The images of the Father, the Daughter, and the Son would activate when touched by a Force-wielder and reveal the entrance to the World Between Worlds. Its nature meant it was known as a "Vergence Scatter," and it appeared as a collection of doors along a series of pathways. The Sacred Jedi texts on Ahch-To also spoke of the World Between Worlds as part of the Chain Worlds Theorem. To prevent Palpatine and the Empire from abusing its power, Ezra and the Ghost crew destroyed the entrance on Lothal.
The World Between Worlds Is The Netherworld Of The Force
In addition to making time travel possible in Star Wars, the World Between Worlds is also the Netherworld of the Force that Yoda mentioned in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. This is essentially the afterlife of the Star Wars universe where people go after becoming one with the Force, and it explains Anakin Skywalker's appearance at the end of Ahsoka episode 4. This was first retconned in The Star Wars Book in 2020, which referred to it as a "netherworld between worlds," and Star Wars: Timelines also referred to the realm in this manner. Gaining power of life and death itself would have been irresistible for Palpatine.
Ahsoka's Connection To The World Between Worlds Explained
The World Between Worlds is the reason that Ahsoka survived her duel with Darth Vader in the season 2 finale of Star Wars Rebels. Ezra came across a portal that showed their duel, and just as Vader was about to strike her down, he pulled her through and saved her life. He was prompted by a creature that Ahsoka identified as Morai, an old friend of hers that may have served as the manifestation of the Daughter from Mortis. The Daughter transferred the last of her life Force to Ahsoka when they were both dying in The Clone Wars season 3, intricately linking the two from that moment onward.
Ahsoka's experience in the World Between Worlds was also the start of her story in Ahsoka. As she returned to her own time, she promised Ezra that she would come and find him when she got back. Unfortunately, Ahsoka was trapped on Malachor and presumed dead, and by the time she found a way off world, Ezra and Grand iral Thrawn had disappeared into hyperspace. Ahsoka cheated death in a way that few others had, realized that she could not save her master, and set out on a mission to save her friend. All of these events have come full circle in Ahsoka episode 4, but this raises an important question.
Is Ahsoka Dead?
Ahsoka was thrown off the cliff and woke up in the World Between Worlds, and because it is a netherworld, it's possible that she may have been killed. However, it is unlikely that Ahsoka is dead, since Star Wars Rebels showed that living beings can enter it. More likely, the ruins on Seatos contained another entrance to the World Between Worlds, or Ahsoka is seeing it in her mind as Anakin's spirit attempts to communicate with her. Whatever the reason, Ahsoka episode 5 will explain how she got there and what Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker return means for the Star Wars franchise.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.
