Star Wars: Ahsoka is a show built for cartoon fans. If you like all seven seasons of Clone wars and made it to the end Rebels, then you’re probably following just about everything that happens so far in the latest live-action Star Wars series. If you’re a Star Wars movie fan who’s dived in The Mandalorian However, because it was known, things may have been a little more confusing.
An earlier episode gave us a perfect example of a potential “huh?” scene where Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) spent a few quiet minutes talking to a young boy named Jacen (Evan Whitten). For longtime fans, it was a touching moment, and the first time we saw Jacen grow up a bit. For everyone else, it probably raised more questions than it answered. How is Jacen? A lot – and if you know what you’re looking for, he also has a not-so-secret connection to Star Wars Legends lore. Literally not that secret: In episode 5, Huyang (David Tennant) comes out and says exactly who Jacen’s father is and what makes him so special.
Who is Jacen Syndulla?
Despite what their appearance suggests, Jacen is actually Hera’s son. He is a half-Twi’lek, half-human child with a genetic predisposition to the Force, thanks to his father, Kanan Jarrus. Rebels fans will recognize Jacen from that show’s final episode, where he appeared briefly. But let’s go back even further.
Who is Kanan Jarrus?
Kanan is one of the main characters of Star Wars Rebels, and Hera’s romantic partner. The character, voiced in the animated series by Freddie Prinze Jr., was also the Jedi who trained Ezra Bridger, and he has previously worked with Ahsoka on numerous missions. Unfortunately, if you’re hoping for a Kanan/Hera reunion, you’ll have to stop. Kanan died saving Hera in season 4 of Rebels. The good news is that Jacen is here to continue Kanan’s legacy, as he likely possesses the Force and, as he says in Ahsoka episode 3, wants to become a Jedi.
Who is Jacen Solo and how does he fit into all of this?
Jacen Solo is one of the most important and interesting characters in the Star Wars Legends universe, the collection of books, comics, and other media that was released before Disney acquired Lucasfilm (and has since been considered non-canonical). The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa-Solo, Jacen grew up to become a powerful Jedi and eventually a Sith Lord who attempted to take over the galaxy to better protect it. If you haven’t noticed yet, he’s also the broad inspiration for Kylo Ren.
He believes Jacen Syndulla’s name serves as an Easter egg for longtime Star Wars fans Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni. Sure, Jacen Syndulla probably won’t follow his namesake all the way to the Dark Side, but the way he keeps nagging his mother certainly isn’t helping his case…