Who is the Crew of the Ghost and Why They Matter

Ahsoka is the most recent show to ignite the excitement of the Star Wars fandom. The show is not exciting because it’s bringing back Rosario Dawson’s version of Ahsoka Tano and giving the first live action appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn though. It also has fans buzzing because Ahsoka will mark the return of many of the crew of the Ghost from Star Wars: Rebels. The ‘Spectres’ of the Ghost are beloved characters and their significance to the Star Wars canon is only going to grow more as they join Ahsoka.

The Ghost was a VCX-100 Light Freighter that was piloted by Hera Syndulla. It had advanced stealth capabilities and acted as the home for the main members of Phoenix Squadron. The members of the crew of the Ghost were called Spectres, as code names when working in the field. Kanan Jarrus, Garazeb Orrelios, Chopper, Sabine Wren, and Ezra Bridger made up the crew alongside Hera. Together they fought the Empire throughout much of the war, and even before the war had truly started. Not only were they extremely important to each other, they were also essential to ensuring the fate of the galaxy.

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The Crew of the Ghost Changed the Rebellion

In 5 BBY, Ezra Bridger, a young orphan on Lothal, joined the crew of the Ghost. The crew had already been operating in the sector for a while, but Ezra made them truly complete. Kanan quickly realized Ezra’s potential to be a Jedi and began to train him in the ways of the Force. Ezra had always longed for a family, and in the crew of the Ghost he found one. The team carried out numerous missions against the Empire, and it was revealed that they were indeed working on behalf of the Bail Organa and the early formation of the Rebel Alliance.

The crew not only worked against the Empire, but also they looked out for each other. They helped Garazeb, a Lasat, reconnect with his own lost people, and Hera reunited with her father. Kanan Jarrus found closure through training a new generation of Jedi in Ezra. Even Sabine Wren found closure with the Mandalorians and was able to help free them from their Imperial rulers. The tam was instrumental in gathering supporters, ships and other resources for the early days of the Rebellion. Even Wedge Antilles, a hero of the Rebellion, was recruited because of the efforts of the Ghost crew. While freeing Lothal was always their main goal, the Spectres ventured across the galaxy in order to assist in bringing down the Empire.

Kanan and Ezra grew to be a huge threat to the Empire and his plans. They fought against countless Inquisitors, Darth Vader, and Ezra even met the Emperor himself. Hera was able to secure the B-Wing, a deadly starship, for the Rebellion, while Sabine built alliances with the warriors of Mandalore. Zeb managed to turn the high ranking ISB Agent Kallus to the side of the Rebels, which provided them with countless inside knowledge. Even the legendary Captain Rex was brought into the Rebellion as a leader and mentor because the Ghost crew found him. The Rebellion grew as a direct effect of the Ghost crews actions.

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The Ghost Crew Saved the Rebellion by Removing Thrawn

Grand Admiral Thrawn was the most dangerous leader in the entire Empire. He was a calculating strategist, and never acted without having four more steps planned ahead. The Empire might have even won the war if they had funded his superior TIE Defender project over the Death Star. Thrawn’s main adversaries were the crew of the Ghost. They foiled his plans on countless occasions, and he hunted them to his own ruin. During their final confrontation, Ezra sacrificed himself to remove Thrawn from the galaxy, and he was lost in the process. If Thrawn had remained in the galactic conflict, even Luke, Leia, and Han would have had trouble with him.

The Crew of the Ghost were instrumental in keeping Ahsoka in the fight against the Empire. Because of the crew of the Ghost, Ahsoka survived her duel with Vader and lived to fight another day. Kanan and Ezra helped to reunite Ahsoka with old friends and seal old wounds that have haunted her since Order 66. The importance of the Ghost crew becomes even more apparent as a majority of the crew is appearing the new Star Wars show. Ahsoka will continue to be influenced by Sabine, Hera and even Chopper while on the hunt for Thrawn. Having good friends surrounding her can help her feel a sense of connection to the galaxy she protects.

While Star Wars: Rebels ended before the events of the Original Trilogy began, the Ghost continued to fight in major conflicts. It participated at the Battle of Scarif as seen in Rogue One, and Hera flew at the battle of Jakku. Every time the crew acted, they made changes to improve the galaxy. The crew of the Ghost could not be more different, but they created an unstoppable team and a wonderful family. Each member of the crew not only found a new purpose beyond simple revenge, they found in themselves a new hope for the galaxy.

Ahsoka streams new episodes every Tuesday at 6pmPT/9pmET on Disney+.