A Star Wars update from an unlikely source has raised more questions about Ahsoka's mysterious antagonist, Baylan Skoll. The late Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll was one of the most fascinating parts of Ahsoka. As an Order 66 survivor, one with alleged links to Ahsoka Tano’s former Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker, Baylan’s allegiance to Morgan Elsbeth – and by extension, Grand Admiral Thrawn – makes for an intriguing characterization. How far had Baylan strayed from the Jedi path? And why did he carry an orange lightsaber while making his apprentice wear a Padawan braid?
As Ahsoka finally revealed, Baylan had aligned himself with Morgan Elsbeth for personal gain – he wanted to travel to Peridea because he was searching for something; something he didn’t even want to share with his apprentice. Now that Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes’ character kit for Baylan Skoll has confirmed that Baylan is, in fact, an “unaligned Force user” who wields the dark side, Baylan’s motives have become even more confusing. What is he after, and what is his relationship with the Force?
If Baylan Is A Dark Sider, Why Does He Have An Orange Lightsaber?
When the trailer for Ahsoka first premiered, one detail stood out. Baylan Skoll’s lightsaber wasn’t the brilliant red of the Sith and the Inquisitors or the cool, soothing, and familiar blue and green tones of the Jedi. Instead, it was orange, a deliberate choice that separated his character from the other Force users operating in the galaxy during the New Republic era.
Before Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, only Star Wars Jedi’ s Cal Kestis could wield an orange lightsaber in canon, if the player chooses to customize his weapon.
Orange lightsabers aren’t common in Star Wars canon. Star Wars Legends had more experience with orange blades, however. Interestingly, in the Expanded Universe, orange lightsabers were most often associated with those who called themselves Gray Jedi, never wholly affiliated with either the light or the dark. While the easiest assumption was that Baylan’s orange lightsaber was meant to put him somewhere in the middle, too, in limbo between the light side and the dark side, that’s no longer the case. Baylan is a dark sider.
Is A Gray Jedi Even Possible In Star Wars?
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic The concept of a Gray Jedi is controversial, for more reasons than one. Though some see it simply as Jedi who defy the will of the Jedi Council and forge a unique path, that’s not what being a Gray Jedi truly means. Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn and Quinlan Vos are often referred to as Gray Jedi under this definition, but it’s simply unrealistic. Obeying the orders of the council is not what it means to be a Jedi. Being a Jedi is choosing to be connected to the light side of the Force, no matter what.
Ultimately, the idea that a Jedi could straddle the line between the light and the dark, dabble between both sets of powers, is a fallacy. It’s impossible – a Jedi actively chooses, every day, to commit themselves to the light side of the Force. They may stumble and falter because the dark side is temptation, but they ultimately always either return to the light or fall to the dark side entirely. There is no in-between. The idea that a Gray Jedi can somehow co-exist between the two, picking and choosing an allegiance goes against the very essence of the Jedi’s beliefs.
Ultimately, the idea that a Jedi could straddle the line between the light and the dark, dabble between both sets of powers, is a fallacy. It’s impossible – a Jedi actively chooses, every day, to commit themselves to the light side of the Force.
Even if Gray Jedi were accepted in Star Wars canon, Baylan Skoll would not be one. It doesn’t matter that he is unaffiliated with the Sith, the Inquisitors, the Jedi, or another Force-wielding faction. Baylan is a dark sider – he does not shift between the two. However, his affiliation with the dark side is especially interesting because Baylan explicitly claimed that he wanted to end the cycle of light and dark. Why does he believe the dark side will better help him accomplish that goal than the light? What is Baylan searching for on Peridea?
What Exactly Is Calling To Baylan From Peridea?
Baylan believed he was being called to Peridea by some unknown, ancient, cosmic, force, one that could help him break the cycle between the light side and the dark. This explains why Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Great Mothers were so eager to leave; a greater power is at play. Given the three statues of the Mortis gods on Peridea – the Son, who represents the dark, the Daughter, who represents the light, and the Father, who represents the balance between the two – it’s clear the planet is steeped in history and the power of the Force.
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7 Theories About Ahsoka's True Villain Who's Calling To Baylan
Ahsoka episode 6 revealed Baylan has traveled to Peridea because he senses something very dangerous there - what's calling out to him in the Force?
The most prevalent and exciting theory is that the entity that lured Baylan is Star Wars Legends' Abeloth, a servant of the Mortis gods who later took on the role of the Mother. Abeloth wanted to achieve immortality, a dangerous and ancient dark side power, and she succeeded, becoming one of the most powerful dark side beings of all time. She was corrupted by that power and later imprisoned – she may have been manipulating Baylan Skoll, hoping to finally be unleashed on the galaxy.
If Baylan Skoll truly wants to break the cycle in Ahsoka season 2, relying solely on the power of the dark side will likely be his downfall.
Other possibilities include links to the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order game, which introduced ancient Force-wielding beings called the Zeffo. The Zeffo ruled the Nightsisters on Dathomir eons before the emergence of the Jedi. It’s possible they had a presence on Peridea as well, which would explain why the Great Mothers were there, and why they were so eager to finally escape that ruling power.
There are other possibilities too, many drawn from Legends and deep Star Wars canon, including the Yuuzhan Vong, a race of banished Star Wars creatures cut off from the Force, and the Malmourral, an ancient mythical creature that could be the source of the Nightsisters’ powers. There are plenty of options, but if Baylan Skoll truly wants to break the cycle in Ahsoka season 2, relying solely on the power of the dark side will likely be his downfall.
Baylan Skoll
A mysterious and enigmatic Jedi Master, Baylan Skoll survived Order 66 and took on Shin Hati as his apprentice. He operated in the galaxy's shadows for years, only emerging when he took on an assignment for the Imperial Morgan Elsbeth - a mission that took him to the distant planet Peridea. There, he continues to advance his own mysterious agenda.
Alliance Dark Jedi
Race Human
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