Star Wars Actor Defends Sabine's Controversial Force Use In Ahsoka
One of the more surprising developments on Disney+'s live-action "Ahsoka" series was Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) tapping into the Force after becoming a Jedi Padawan under the training of Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson). While Sabine's transformation into a Padawan might appear controversial for some, Bordizzo is fighting back against the idea the transition was too easy.
Unlike Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Rey (Daisy Ridley), and Ahsoka herself, who all prove Force-sensitive with potential for Jedi greatness soon after their introductions, Sabine undergoes a much longer on-screen journey to being one with the Force. In "Star Wars Rebels," Sabine doesn't show Force-sensitivity, and when she returns in "Ahsoka," it's revealed she trained under Ahsoka but was not deemed ready to become a Jedi. However, throughout the series, Sabine eventually restarts her training, tapping into the Force like never before. She uses her newfound powers to help Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) get onto Grand Admiral Thrawn's (Lars Mikkelsen) ship as it escapes Peridea.
On EW's Dagobah Dispatch podcast, Bordizzo pushed back against any controversy about Sabine becoming Force-sensitive. "There was some feedback [online] that the Force was too easy for Sabine, and I was like, 'What do you mean?'" she said. "The concept of the Force being this difficult to attain but attainable state of being that people could access with hard work and dedication, I think, is a really honorable concept that feels very ["Ahsoka" creator Dave Filoni]. And George Lucas had originally also said that."
Sabine Wren's journey is messy, but that's the point
Sabine Wren's immediate struggles with the ability to use the Force after agreeing to re-train under Ahsoka Tano shows that not every Jedi's path is linear. Sabine's failure to harness the Force in her training and encounter with Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) while holding onto the map showing Grand Admiral Thrawn's location emphasizes that despite trying her best, becoming the Jedi she desperately wanted to be is not guaranteed.
However, Sabine's continued struggles to use the Force make it that much more exciting when she actually does later in "Ahsoka." Natasha Liu Bordizzo said it was important for Sabine's journey to be messy as it slowly built up the character: "I think it's awesome that it was a journey ... You get to see her fail, and you get to see her try again and again," the actress said on EW's Dagobah Dispatch podcast. "Mind you, she's not always cool and finishing the fight in a cool way and having the last word. It's messy. And then finally, when the stakes are so high, she's able to harness it in the time she needed to most."
Ultimately, Sabine coming into her Jedi powers was a powerful moment, showing that all of the ups and downs of training paid off for the hero. Sabine still has a long way to go to one day becoming a Jedi Knight or Master, but there's little question she's on the right path to doing so in the "Star Wars" universe.