Ezra Bridger: Ahsoka’s Missing Jedi & The Owner of Sabine’s Lightsaber

The new live-action series Ahsoka features the introduction of Ezra Bridger, a Jedi Padawan who disappeared in the finale of Star Wars Rebels. Ahsoka Tano has traveled to the planet Peridea because she fears the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, but her friend Sabine Wren has a much more personal motive.

She is eager to rescue her long-lost friend Ezra Bridger, a Jedi Padawan who has been missing for at least nine years.

Sabine’s quest comes to an emotional conclusion in Ahsoka Episode 5 when she finally locates Ezra in the distant world of Peridea. Their reunion is a touching moment that will resonate with anyone who has watched Star Wars Rebels.

However, viewers who have only seen the live-action Star Wars Disney+ shows may be confused about Ezra Bridger’s backstory. Here is the critical information to understand who Ezra is and why this scene is so meaningful:

Ezra Bridger was introduced in “Star Wars Rebels” as a Force-sensitive orphan who becomes Kanan Jarrus’ Jedi apprentice. He joins the crew of the Ghost and helps the early rebellion against the Empire.

 In the series finale, Ezra sacrifices himself to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn, using hyperspace-capable creatures to disappear along with Thrawn to parts unknown.

Ezra’s friend Sabine then embarks on a quest to find him, finally concluding when she locates Ezra on Peridea after years of searching. Their emotional reunion in Ahsoka provides closure for Sabine’s journey and brings back a fan-favorite Jedi to the story.

For audiences new to Ezra Bridger, this scene represents the payoff to a years-long mission to rescue a lost friend.

Why Ezra Bridger was the hero of Star Wars Rebels?

Voiced by Taylor Gray, Ezra Bridger was introduced in Star Wars Rebels as a street urchin living alone in an abandoned tower on the planet Lothal. Orphaned after his parents were arrested for speaking out against the Empire, Ezra taught himself to survive by stealing from the Empire and local merchants.

He eventually crossed paths with the Lothal rebel cell and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, an Order 66 survivor working with the rebels. Recognizing Ezra’s Force-sensitivity, Kanan agreed to train him, and Ezra quickly proved himself a worthy Jedi apprentice, joining the crew of the Ghost.

Ezra possessed a unique Force ability to connect with creatures and people. Though this sometimes caused problems when manipulated by Darth Maul and the dark side, Ezra grew over the years and committed himself to the light side of the Force.

By the end of Rebels, a more mature Ezra suffered a significant loss when Kanan died sacrificing himself for the crew. With guidance from Ahsoka Tano, Ezra learned the ultimate lesson Kanan taught to let go. Enlightened, Ezra used this acceptance of the Force’s will to liberate Lothal, uniting all the allies he had made on his journey.

How did Ezra sacrifice himself In Star Wars Rebels Finale?

The Liberation of Lothal succeeded but came at a tremendous personal cost for Ezra Bridger. He sacrificed himself to ensure Grand Admiral Thrawn and his fleet would be driven away from Lothal forever.

This moment was Ezra’s biggest test as a Jedi Padawan, forcing him to make a tough choice that would benefit everyone else while leading to further hardship for himself.

Like his master Kanan, Ezra was selfless by putting Lothal’s needs before his own. Calling on purrgil for help, the space whales transported Ezra and Thrawn away via hyperspace jump.

Ezra has remained lost for nearly a decade since his brave sacrifice. His decision exemplified how far Ezra had come in his Jedi training, willing to give anything, even his freedom, to protect his homeworld.

Does Ezra return in Ahsoka Episode 6?

In Ahsoka episode 6, it is revealed that the purrgil transported Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn to the planet Peridea, located in a distant galaxy far away.

 After arriving on Peridea, Ezra escaped from Thrawn and lived alone in the wilderness among the local creatures. He likely used his Force abilities to bond with and befriend the animals in this remote world.

According to the unclear Star Wars timeline, Ezra has survived on Peridea for at least nine years. Despite the ongoing efforts of Thrawn and his allies to locate him, Ezra has endured and even flourished living in isolation on this distant planet.

His survival speaks to his resourcefulness and connection to the Force after sacrificing himself to save Lothal. Even when isolated across the galaxies, Ezra’s Jedi training has allowed him to persist.

Who Plays Ezra Bridger In Ahsoka?

Eman Esfandi plays Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka. Best known for his roles in The Inspection and King Richard, this is Esfandi’s most significant role to date. He immediately impresses in Ahsoka episode 6, showing all the warmth and charm of Ezra in Rebels.

There’s also an excellent dynamic between Esfandi and Natasha Liu Bordizzo, which helps sell the brother-sister relationship between Ezra and Sabine – his closest friend in the rebel cell on Lothal, who has sacrificed so much to bring him home.

Sabine Is Using Ezra Bridger’s Lightsaber In Ahsoka

Sabine Wren has been using Ezra Bridger’s second lightsaber as her own since his disappearance.

She previously received training from Kanan and Ezra in Rebels on fighting with the Darksaber, giving her a strong foundation in lightsaber combat. Additionally, Ahsoka Tano has taken on Sabine as a Jedi apprentice, further teaching her the Jedi ways in their complicated relationship. Sabine still deeply mourns losing Ezra, whom she saw as a sibling or maybe something more.

Before his sacrifice in Rebels, Ezra left a holo-recording for Sabine, explaining the hard choices a Jedi must make, as seen in an extended version in Ahsoka. This lesson will guide Sabine on her own Jedi path with Ezra’s words and weapon in hand. Though Sabine modified the lightsaber a bit, it remains the same, including its green blade.

It will be fascinating to see who ultimately wields Ezra’s lightsaber as Ahsoka’s story continues. His gift represents his faith in Sabine’s development as a Jedi.

About Ahsoka

Ahsoka is an American limited series developed by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni for Disney+.

It is part of the Star Wars franchise and a spin-off from the series The Mandalorian, taking place in the same timeframe as that series and its other interconnected spin-offs after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), while also serving as a continuation to the animated series Star Wars Rebels.

The series follows Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to the galaxy following the fall of the Empire.