Live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn has finally arrived on “Ahsoka”

Warning: This story contains major spoilers for Ahsoka episode 6: “Far, Far Away.”

Well, it took six episodes, but Grand Admiral Thrawn finally made his entrance on Ahsoka. And what an entrance it was.

This week’s episode of the Disney+ Star Wars series took place almost entirely in a new galaxy as Morgan Elsbeth and Co. finally arrived at their destination of Peridea, an ancient homeworld of her ancestors, the Dathmiri. There, the villains (and their captive, Sabine) were greeted by the Great Mothers, who assured them the big bad character the entire series has been leading up to would be arriving shortly, and sure enough, a massive Star Destroyer soon came into view.

Making his way dramatically down a line of chanting Night Troopers led by a dude in a creepy gold mask named Captain Enoch, the blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss alien known as Thrawn (or Mitth’raw’nuruodo, if you want to get super technical) finally came to a stop and announced his presence with a chilly proclamation: “What was first just a dream has become a frightening reality for those who may oppose us.”

Grand Admiral Thrawn

Disney+ Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn on ‘Ahsoka’

That scene and that line mark the live action debut for a character first introduced in Timothy Zahn’s 1991 landmark Star Wars expanded universe novel Heir to the Empire. The character was then later was adapted into animated form on Star Wars Rebels. Now, here he was in the flesh — the flesh of Lars Mikkelsen, who also voiced the character on Rebels.

The icy cold and calculating appearance of Thrawn was exhilarating, no more so than when he interacted with his old Rebels opponent Sabine. “What a delight it is after so long to see a familiar face,” he told Sabine. “I understand it is you have to thank for my escape from exile.” Later, he openly questioned her decision to give Baylan Skoll the map that would lead to his release (due to her hope to find former Ghost crewmate Ezra Bridger) opining, “The desire to be reunited with your long-lost friend — how that singular focus will reshape our galaxy.”

That singular focus did pay off in one respect when Sabine battled off some bandits and found Ezra (played by Eman Esfandi), as the Jedi was just kind of chillin’ with a group of praying mantis meets turtle looking hybrids called Noti. “I knew I could count on you,” said the now bearded Ezra while leaning on a hut all natural like. “Though it sure took you long enough.”

While the duo hugged and engaged in some light and frothy banter, Ezra’s final line of “I can’t wait to go home” may not come true with two Force sensitive mercenaries on their tail and a brilliant tactician aided by witches about to power on out of the galaxy.

Larks Mikkelsen; Thrawn in ‘Star Wars Rebels’

Lucasfilm via Getty Images Larks Mikkelsen; Thrawn in ‘Star Wars Rebels’

However, other help does appear on the way. Ahsoka and Huyang booked first class passage to Peridea in the mouth of a Purrgil… as one does… and should even the numbers if they can make it there in time —which we assume they will, or else, you know, there’s no show. And when they do, Thrawn will be waiting. “Great Mothers,” he said ominously in the last line of the episode, “I shall once again require the aid of your dark magick.”

With only two episodes left, it appears the real battle is about to go down — now with Thrawn, Ezra, a bunch of ancient witches, and a guy named Enoch in the mix. Sounds like another chapter for Huyang’s History of the Galaxy is about to be written.

To hear exclusive interviews with the Ahsoka cast as well as full episode recaps, listen to EW’s Dagobah Dispatch podcast.

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