The following contains spoilers for Ahsoka, Season 1, Episode 1, "Master and Apprentice," and Episode 2, "Toil and Trouble," now streaming on Disney+.
One of the most intriguing facets of the Star Wars TV shows is how they're building on the movies' foundation. Fans are now seeing exactly what brought the Rebellion and Empire to life outside of the Jedi and Sith feud. It's been a deep dive into politics, even after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, as well as the socioeconomics of the galaxy.
Ahsoka continues this in the time of the New Republic. The Emperor has fallen and the second Death Star has been destroyed. But as fans of the sequel movies know, this period is when the First Order begins to secretly rise up. In the process, the first two episodes adjust a major theme seen in Andor regarding allegiance and why people have chosen certain sides.
Ahsoka Confirms Money Has Always Been a Deciding Factor
Ahsoka finds Rosario Dawson's titular character working with Hera Syndulla after learning Imperialists still exist. Killer droids have been dispensed to find a relic that will lead to recovering Thrawn, which takes Ahsoka to a machine factory on Corellia. There, the heroes are shocked to learn droids are operating there under the directive of Imperialists. More so, citizens are also doing the same, acting as spies.
Andor had spies on either side, with those wanting freedom from oppression siding with the rebels, while those who wanted power leaning towards the Empire. In that series, however, it came off as if these dissidents made their choices due to politics, personal beliefs and what they wanted the galaxy to be. They envisioned their peaceful lives, even if it cost other human lives. However, Ahsoka and Hera are told by a supervisor, Myn Weaver, that no one really cares about politics -- it's all about money.
Whoever opens more factories, pays people more, and has more money circulating throughout the cosmos is who the layman will turn to. It's a fascinating sub-surface examination of greed and capitalism, confirming people weren't necessarily tricked or manipulated. They made their choice because of credits, which is why Myn and some of his workers have been covering for Imperialists. To that point, they're supplying Thrawn's followers with weapons, ships and other resources. It may well explain how easy it was for Palpatine to build his new fleet as well on Exegol, where finances seem to have been the key to success.
Ahsoka Reveals the New Republic Shot Itself
Ahsoka affirms that no one really kept infidels and spies in check. Not proactively, at least. Hera Syndulla, for example, just assumed these factories would be cleaned out, Imperialists would be fired or imprisoned, and the system would be a better one. Granted, higher-ups would be distracted and won't micromanage. But Hera and Co. should have done a better job at ensuring they had people monitoring and weeding out people like Myn.
This issue doubles down on the fact these roots are eternal in a philosophical sense, which means neither side would win. It's a vicious cycle where one crew emerges victorious, but the other has already begun poisoning things and stirring insurrection. The rebels lost the most, and with bright minds around, one has to wonder why they'd presume things -- like Hera did -- and not take the threat of spies existing seriously. It's as if they thought once the Empire died, people would automatically shift to their side, which was a grave mistake.
Taking the war for granted like this really lacks foresight. After all, war isn't just battles, militaries and dogfights. Seeing this unfold in Ahsoka is a great insight Andor was light on. Admittedly, it did show the early rebels as arrogant, but now, they're haughty and sloppy. A dangerous combination that could have been offset if they didn't operate in this lazy manner. Hera had definitely been shaken up after Myn's crew was eventually arrested, so one had to hope she, Ahsoka and their superiors would understand the rebuilding of the new era was going to take a lot of work on the ground. Especially because it's human to understand why citizens just wanted to back whoever enables them to support their families long term.
Ahsoka Is Proof the Problem May Never Be Fixed
Corruption within the galaxy will always be hard to root out. It's something no government can ever truly do because people will always find a way to work finances into their ambitions. Compassion and empathy has to be shown, but the rebels will surely ask: is the sacrifice worth it? This brings fans right back to how both the Empire and in time, the Resistance, always underestimate each other.
This rivalry is a big machine, so it'll always be tough to needle out every traitor across the galaxy. It's an inherent problem that just can't be cured, and with all these star systems, it's completely unpredictable. Some people can be reasoned with on a different level, making loyalty and trust very hard to finesse. It's why the bounty hunter industry thrived, and why Boba Fett struggled to bring peace to Tatooine. People are selfish, but in this galaxy where poverty reigns, slavery and exploitation are rampant, and suffering is huge, one has to at least relate to why citizens would operate like low-level mercenaries.
Ultimately, the return of Palpatine, his lab and cult growing in the shadows, and the First Order armada being built are testament to a harsh reality. There will never be true peace in the galaxy once money, influence and power are dangled in the game. Ahsoka knows it, which is why she doesn't mind working with Sabine Wren to at least remove one cog in Thrawn. It won't fix the galaxy, but it's a necessary treatment and bandage over a wound that will never properly heal due to the vastness of space ,and how many people just want their bank accounts filled.
New episodes of Ahsoka are available to stream every Tuesday on Disney+.