The conclusion of Ahsoka was indeed a hopeful one despite Grand Admiral Thrawn’s escape from Peridea and the looming possibility of the Galactic Empire getting its revenge on the New Republic. As the season finale concluded, viewers got a glimpse at Baylan Skoll inching closer to what he has been searching for on the strange new planet, suggesting that his story is far from over. In fact, the scene strongly suggested that the Grey Jedi could play a more significant role in the second season.
Unfortunately, this could be a major dilemma for the Star Wars series. Ray Stevenson, who portrayed Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka, passed away weeks before the first season premiered in August 2023. With Baylan’s story still unfinished, the Disney+ show must now consider all options about moving forward. Will Baylan get recast in Ahsoka Season 2, or will his story simply be removed once the series is renewed?
Baylan Skoll’s Mission: The Search For Greater Power in Peridea
There is no doubt Baylan was one of the most intriguing characters in Ahsoka from the moment he appeared in the premiere episode. Although he was initially viewed as a powerful villain who has turned his back on the Jedi Order, Ray Stevenson’s portrayal of the character suggested that he hasn’t entirely forgotten the Jedi teachings.
He fiercely fights (and almost kills) Ahsoka Tano but shows mercy to her Apprentice Sabine Wren. In addition to that, Baylan’s bond with his own Apprentice, Shin Hati, is almost paternal and something most fans would relate to (if you have a strict, non-commital father).
The mystery around Baylan’s motives grew greater once he arrived in Peridea on Morgan Elsbeth’s Eye of Sion. He admits to being intrigued by the desolate planet and reveals that he senses something calling him away from his mission to help Thrawn escape.
This leads to Baylan abandoning the hunt for Ezra Bridger to go off on a solo search, leading him to immense statues of the Mortis Gods, first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Baylan’s Inevitable Return in Ahsoka Season 2
Ahsoka clearly wanted viewers to expect that there would be more for Baylan and that he wouldn’t simply disappear into Peridea without any explanation. This should have been an exciting possibility when the series was in production, but it all changed with the passing of Ray Stevenson.
The Thor star passed away on May 21, 2023, just three months before the first season premiered on Disney+.
But how will Lucasfilm and Disney deal with this dilemma? The simplest way to bring back Baylan is to recast the character and choose another actor to portray Baylan in Season 2. However, this wouldn’t be as easy considering Stevenson’s fantastic portrayal of the mercenary in the series. At the moment, Star Wars fans aren’t even talking about possible actors who could take over the role in the second season.
If recasting isn’t in the cards, there is also the possibility of using special effects to bring back the character.
- Star Wars has already done this with the likes of Moff Tarkin, Princess Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if this happens in the second season of Ahsoka.
On the other hand, the series might choose to minimize Baylan’s role and focus more on Ahsoka, Sabine, and Shin, who are all stuck in Peridea.
Personally, I am not fond of the idea of Ray Stevenson being replaced as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Season 2. Still, I’m also eager to see where his story leads.
- It may not be the ideal way to explore what happens to Baylan, but there is a possibility that his story could be told through a standalone comic book series or even an animated CGI show like Tales of the Jedi.
Either way, it would honor both Stevenson and Baylan after everything that went down in Ahsoka.
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