Ahsoka: Baylan Skoll Has the Potential to Change the Star Wars Universe

The Star Wars universe has introduced several notable characters since the franchise’s revival by Disney, but few hold the potential to be quite as legendary as Ahsoka‘s Baylan Skoll.

When Disney+ first started advertising Ahsoka, Skoll stood out as the sole wild card of the series.

While the show brings back numerous familiar faces from the Star Wars animated universe, Skoll is the most significant original character introduced.

In the excitement to welcome back Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and more, it may have been easy to gloss over the one character with no Star Wars history behind his name. However, Skoll refuses to be upstaged by previous Star Wars legends.

Baylan Skoll Was Always Going To Be a Star Wars Legend

When the first character posters, teasers, and trailers dropped, it didn’t take long for viewers to take notice of Skoll.

He made history in the Star Wars universe even before the series premiered. Marketing materials revealed he would be the first character in a canon Star Wars TV show or film to wield a lightsaber with a unique orange color.

This rare color has only ever appeared in canon in the Jedi: Fallen Order video game. It is particularly intriguing because it signifies Skoll’s complexity as a character.

The orange color aligns with his backstory. It slowly came out during Ahsoka‘s pre-release that he was once a Jedi but became disillusioned with Order after surviving Order 66, leaving it to become a mercenary.

Hence, the orange color signifies that he’s not Jedi but also not Sith. His mere existence challenges the Star Wars universe’s tendency to see things as black-and-white and categorize everyone strictly as Sith and Jedi.

Skoll’s lightsaber also breaks tradition by boasting a longer hilt and greater weight than traditional lightsabers.

The breaking of tradition with Skoll’s lightsaber was enough to garner attention, but there is another more significant reason why this character demands attention.

Baylan Skoll’s Portrayal by the Great Ray Stevenson

Skoll also garnered attention when it was revealed Ray Stevenson would portray him. Even before Ahsoka, Stevenson had made a name for himself in the Star Wars universe by voicing Gar Saxon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

Stevenson’s influence expanded far beyond the Star Wars universe. He had roles in countless hits, including the Divergent series, Thor: Ragnarok, and RRR.

He boasted a ferocity, passion, and intimidating presence that made him perfect for brave warriors or cunning antagonists.

With Skoll, though, he could mix his two strong suits by portraying an antagonistic character with great complexity due to the passion and bravery he still holds within.

While Stevenson witnessed some of the excitement and anticipation for his second Star Wars role, he sadly would never get to see just how well-received his masterful performance would be.

Stevenson passed away unexpectedly on May 21, 2023, with Ahsoka being one of the final works he completed before his passing.

In addition to his skill as an actor, countless colleagues and co-stars remembered Stevenson for his gentle, kind, and gracious spirit. Tributes painted him as a true joy to be around.

Skoll’s role became even more important as a celebration and illustration of Stevenson’s talent and spirit. Stevenson left behind an enormous legacy, and Ahsoka is just one piece of that.

Even so, Skoll beautifully captures Stevenson’s immense skill and proves that the artistic world is truly less for his absence.

Baylan Skoll’s Impact on the Star Wars Universe

Skoll’s importance in the Star Wars universe goes beyond his portrayal by Stevenson, complexity, and non-traditional lightsaber. Skoll truly challenges how viewers see the Star Wars universe.

In many ways, Skoll is the antithesis of Tano. Both share an origin story, as they started within the traditional Jedi Order, yet both became disillusioned by its shortcomings and chose to forge different paths.

What’s particularly interesting about Skoll is that he still respects many of the Order’s traditions. His most considerable disillusionment lies not in the Jedi’s ways but in the infinite cycle of violence between the Jedi and Sith.

He challenges viewers to consider his perspective that both the Jedi and the Sith are the problem in the galaxy. He speaks of a great power hiding in Peridea, which he believes can finally end Star Wars’ most significant problems.

Such power, though, surely holds dangers. And if Skoll’s senses are correct, this character may soon have the most devastating power in the Star Wars universe.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka‘s season finale reveals that he may have already found that power. Skoll gets one of the most memorable final scenes in the season.

He is seen standing on the arm of the statue of the Father, one of the Mortis gods. The Father points ahead, with Skoll looking in that direction as if it might hold the power he searches for.

Behind him are statues of the other Mortis gods, the Son and the Daughter. The Mortis gods are among the most potent Force-wielders in the Star Wars galaxy.

If Skoll has found some connection to the Mortis gods or their planet Mortis, he could change the entire galaxy and manipulate the balance between the light and dark side of the Force.

As the finale ends, one can’t shake the feeling that Skoll will be one of the most important Star Wars characters from now on. However, no one will be able to portray the character as Stevenson did.

While it’s unclear how Skoll’s story will continue in a way that honors Stevenson, no one will ever forget that he originated a truly legendary character.

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Ahsoka Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+.

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