Anakin Always Has To Have Revenge: One Ahsoka Easter Egg Shows He Still Can't Help Himself, Even Now He's Been Redeemed

One Star Wars Rebels Easter egg in Ahsokaepisode 5 proves that, even after his redemption, Anakin Skywalkerstill needs to get revenge. Anakin's return in Ahsoka was met with considerable fanfare, especially because this was the first time Anakin Skywalker and young Ahsoka Tano were shown together in live-action (and in the Clone Wars era, no less). This was made possible through the World Between Worlds, which bends the rules of space and time.

It wasn't entirely clear whether this was truly Anakin, as his appearance in the World Between Worlds seemed quite distinct from his appearance as a Force ghost in the Ahsoka finale. However, Rebels proved that Ahsoka Tano was able to travel through time in the World Between Worlds because Ezra Bridger saved her from Malachor. Whether this was the 'real' Anakin or not, though, one Anakin Skywalker scene in Ahsoka confirms that he never really overcame the need for revenge.

Anakin Used Ahsoka's Own Move Against Her In The World Between Worlds

Anakin Replicated Ahsoka's Move From Rebels

Ahsoka Confronted By Anakin's Lightsaber in the World Between Worlds

Ahsoka's first encounter with the World Between Worlds was in Rebels, which also happened to be her very first face-to-face confrontation with Darth Vader. On Malachor, Ahsoka faced off against her former master, at first trying to appeal to what little of Anakin remained within him and then conceding and engaging in a lightsaber duel with him. All signs pointed to this battle claiming Ahsoka's life; however, Ezra was able to pull Ahsoka out from this moment long after, through the World Between Worlds.

Before Ezra pulled her out, though, Ahsoka tried one trick in particular: she used her lightsaber to destroy the ground beneath Darth Vader's feet, leaving him to fall to depths unknown. If that move sounds familiar, that's because it is. This is precisely what Anakin did to Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds when he slashed the pathway out from underneath her, sending her into the Clone Wars flashback.

This is precisely what Anakin did to Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds when he slashed the pathway out from underneath her.

This Move Was So Typical Of Anakin

This Tit-For-Tat Behavior (However Playful) Is Just Like Anakin

Ahsoka doesn't confirm that Anakin did this to get Ahsoka back for what happened in Rebels, although the similarities would be a bit too coincidental. This is also simply typical Anakin behavior, and feels an awful lot like the personality he showcased throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars—notably, the only other show that really depicts Anakin's relationship with Ahsoka. Even when Anakin was largely considered one of Star Wars' most powerful Jedi and was training Ahsoka as his Padawan, he still had a tendency to seek revenge.

The most unsettling example before his complete fall to the dark side is of course his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. This was incredibly gruesome, but Anakin saw it as little more than revenge for their torture of his mother, which resulted in her death. Even in more playful scenarios, though, Anakin wasn't one to simply let things slide. It seems almost certain that when Anakin slashed the path out from under Ahsoka's feet in Ahsoka, he was getting her back for that move in Rebels.

Not Even Death Has Changed Anakin's Personality

Ahsoka Proved Anakin Remains The Same In Many Ways, Even Now

Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Episode 5 smiling and holding his lightsaber

As mentioned, it isn't entirely certain whether Anakin Skywalker was really himself in the World Between Worlds, especially because he was flashing between Anakin and Darth Vader in ways that made him seem much more like an illusion Ahsoka was seeing than like the true Anakin. Even so, it's clear that even after his redemption, Anakin hasn't changed all that much. While he may not be Vader anymore, he retained his sense of humor, his penchant for taunting, and, evidently, his need for payback as well.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in Ahsoka season 2. Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker isn't yet confirmed, but it seems very likely he will be back, not only because Christensen has been clear he remains interested in returning, but also because the Ahsoka ending confirmed that Anakin is on Peridea with Ahsoka as a Force ghost. It would be odd (and a massive wasted opportunity) for Ahsoka season 2 to not include Anakin, given that.

What makes this especially interesting is that this Force ghost is confirmed to be Anakin after his redemption. Ahsoka season 2 may therefore elucidate who exactly Anakin has become following the events of the original Star Wars trilogy, his redemption and death in particular. For now, though, this Rebels Easter egg in Ahsoka suggests that Anakin Skywalker has maintained much of his personality, even now.