r/starwarsspeculation

I'm thinking something in the vein of Jet Lee's Hero. Maybe it was a really messed up galaxy. Constant infighting between planets, rife corruption, hyper-inflation due to overprinting of fiat currency to pay off galactic debts, etc. etc. Maybe the Empire just figured that through sheer strength and iron-fisted rule, they could bring stability, prosperity, and enduring peace to the entire galaxy. Maybe the rebels were just a bunch of ideological radical separatists, spreading sedition and discontent 🧐

The more I think about this, the more I feel like somebody has already done this, or at least proposed it. Maybe I heard it in one of the movies?

Just finished doing a rewatch of Ahsoka this week after Maul Shadow Lord, I have some speculation on where things might be going.

Ahsoka S1 leaves us in a very particular place:

1. Baylon is off the board, whatever has been calling to him has changed his perspective on the galaxy and he has no concern with returning home. He, along with whatever he finds on Peridea may be a threat to Ahsoka and Sabine in the near-term. But his ambition seems to be focused on his own ideas of what he considers to be a higher calling than the focuses of Thrawn and the Empire/New Republic. Whatever he finds, it is likely to be some nexus in the force that ultimately destroys him while simultaneously giving Ahsoka and Sabine a way back home.

2. Thrawn is already outnumbered by Jedi. With or without Ahsoka, Thrawn was taken out the first time by just Ezra alone. Now, he is back in a galaxy where both Luke Skywalker and Ezra are in their primes as Jedi. (Not to mention, however many potential others may still exist like, Cal Kestis that would oppose him.) And all he has in defense is a scattered group of Imperial remnants, and three witches. His genius as a tactician won’t matter long against them, and if Ahsoka makes her way back to the known-galaxy to confront him alongside the others, it’s over. Just like Baylon and Shin kept the Jedi busy while Thrawn executed his escape in the first season, another force user who aligns themselves with him will have to do the same this time.

3. We conclude Ahsoka S1 with Thrawn and the Great Mothers arriving at Dathomir. This is where they will presumably raise their army of dead Nightsisters and restart their civilization.

So now, we come to this point where we have another show, Maul Shadow Lord, that takes place many years prior. We see Marrok, an Inquisitor who may or may not have been being controlled by Nightsister magic who we’ve now learned was once leading the hunt for Maul. We also see Maul gain an apprentice, Devon, who most probably is the canon adaptation of Darth Talon.

Here’s where the speculation gets interesting;
The whereabouts of Devon are unknown past 5BBY, that’s when Maul is introduced in Rebels, and at this point, Devon and Maul have parted ways with Maul being stranded for however many years on Malochor.

The question becomes whether or not she lives through the fall of the Empire, and what her motivations become after that regime falls. We know Devon aligns herself with Maul to seek revenge against the Inquisitors and Vader, what we don’t know is how far being an apprentice to a former Sith will push her into seeking power the way Maul does.

I think Dathomir may be relevant, this is also the home world of Maul. (And no, I do not expect Maul will come back from the dead, his death in Rebels was fitting and concluded his story.) But what if Devon is still alive, trying to find Maul? Or simply hiding out on her master’s home-world plotting where she can take power in the new post-Empire galaxy?

I think everything may begin to tie together from Dathomir. What if Devon and Thrawn cross paths on Maul’s homeworld, Thrawn gains her allegiance by convincing her of an impending threat from the outer rim and a need for strength in defense that the New Republic cannot provide. Furthermore, what if Thrawn is actually well-enough informed that he knows Palpatine isn’t actually going to stay dead? Convincing Devon that she must work with him to seize control of the Imperial remnants before the Sith Eternal do (which we know ultimately fails), and take out the remaining Jedi, who at this point, she probably sees as weak and naive zealots who failed to protect themselves.

I think if this happens, it sets up “Darth Talon” as an interesting foil for Ahsoka and Ezra in particular, during this new Heir to the Empire era. And if Shin makes it back from Peridea, I could even see her becoming an apprentice to Devon.

Again, speculation more than theory.