Ahsoka Tano’s live-action debut was met with a mixed yet welcome reception as she was one of the characters fans have wanted to see in The Mandalorian from the beginning. In this edition of Behind-the-Scenes, we wanted to discuss the scene where Ahsoka refuses to train the former Jedi Youngling, Grogu. This scene occurs in The Mandalorian Season 2’s “The Jedi”, which marks the beloved character’s first step into live-action and the first indirect reference to her late former master, Anakin Skywalker, in the series.
In this Behind-the-Scene post, we’ll discuss the scene and why Ahsoka had her reasons for not training Grogu in the Force and handing him over to someone more capable. Let’s begin with the refusal.
Why Ahsoka Refused To Train Grogu
Grogu might look innocent, but as Ahsoka points out to Din in “The Jedi”, he had a deep attachment to his adoptive father. Knowing first-hand what this did to Anakin, she knew this wasn’t healthy for any Jedi.
Din, incredulous, demands to know why she’s saying “no.” Ahsoka doesn’t give him a full explanation. But she does say that she has seen what emotion can do to fully trained Jedi, making an indirect reference to Anakin, she states, “the best of us.”
You can hear the apparent devastation in her voice as she speaks. She feels remorse and sadness as she couldn’t stop what happened to him all those years. Even during The Mandalorian, the implication is that she fears history repeating itself if Grogu is adequately trained.
Ahsoka’s fear is entirely warranted. Having been at Anakin’s side during the Clone Wars, he shaped who she became. He became more than her master and served as a big brother. This is also visible in Star Wars Rebels after it is revealed that Vader and Skywalker are the same. She lies to Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus when they question her as she awakens from her fainting spell.
The deep love and respect she had for Anakin back then are evident, which is why she lied to Kanan and Ezra. When she faces Vader in “Twilight of the Apprentice”, the Rebels Season two finale, a part of her hopes her master is still there.
What Ahsoka Could Have Seen When She Connected With Grogu Via The Force
In “The Jedi”, Ahsoka connected with Grogu several times via the Force. That was how she learned his name. She could have experienced many things going on with him. Moreover, she could’ve seen what Luke saw when he tapped into the child’s mind in the Book of Boba Fett episode “From The Desert Comes A Stranger.”
Ahsoka stated in “The Jedi” that she felt Grogu’s fear and his attachment to Din, so there is every possibility she saw the same thing Luke did. For those who don’t know or haven’t seen the episode of TBoBF, Luke tapped into the Force to access Grogu’s locked-away memories, and he saw (from Grogu’s perspective) Jedi battling the 501st Clone Battalion and being slaughtered during Order 66.
It would be odd if we didn’t say that Ahsoka didn’t develop some degree of PTSD. She had to fight for her life during Order 66 and not kill one of her best friends in the process. So, being asked to train a former Jedi would’ve been triggering for her, given her experiences.
This might explain why Ahsoka told Din to go to Typhon with Grogu and have him put on the seeing stone at the top of the mountain.
Why Did Ahsoka Send Grogu To Luke For Training?
The last point we want to discuss is why Ahsoka sent Grogu to Luke (thanks to the seeing stone). It’s obvious why she did this. He doesn’t have the same experience she does regarding attachments to the old Jedi Order.
Ahsoka, having been Luke’s father’s apprentice, experienced first-hand what it was like for a Jedi at that time. She experienced Anakin’s tumultuous ups and downs when Luke didn’t. Not to mention, she let go of her Jedi life long ago. Luke’s journey to redeem his family name in the eyes of the galaxy was only beginning.
Not to mention, Luke has no connection to Grogu, whereas Ahsoka does since they shared the experience of being Jedi during the Clone Wars and having experienced Order 66.
