Ahsoka’s Sabine Wren has the opportunity to become a different kind of Force-wielding warrior in Star Wars. Being a Mandalorian, that would be the most reasonable alternative fighting style for Sabine. Her history with the Darksaber is debatable as canon in Star Wars. But Sabine's future and need to find her own way as a warrior seems tied to the Darksaber.
It’s difficult to ascertain how much of Star Wars Rebels can be considered canon. While Dave Filoni has done well to bring elements of the animated series to the live-action Star Wars universe with Ahsoka, not every animated series is considered true canon. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, for instance, is still considered canon. But others are susceptible to being retconned by the live-action Star Wars projects. However, Star Wars Rebels has yet to be entirely rectonned, which leaves the history of the Darksaber as potential backstory and inspiration for Sabine Wren’s story in Ahsoka.
Sabine Wren's History With The Darksaber In Star Wars
Before Sabine Wren obtains the Darksaber in Star Wars Rebels, it was won in battle by Darth Maul against Tar Vizsla, the original wielder. However, it proved too unwieldy for Darth Maul to use. Therefore, he abandoned it on Dathomir. After being possessed by the spirit of the Nightsisters and forced to fight Ezra Bridgers on Dathomir, Sabine took the Darksaber with her for safekeeping. She then trained as a Jedi to learn to wield the Darksaber properly in Star Wars. The problem with this transfer of ownership raises a potential retcon, since Sabine did not win the blade in combat.
However, Sabine is a member of a clan of the House of Vizsla. This could make her effectively an heir to the Darksaber in such cases where the blade’s master abandons it. Her ability to use it proves that the blade does not reject her as it did Darth Maul, even though he won it in combat. The Book of Boba Fett reveals that the secret to wielding the Darksaber rests with the user’s connection to it. Sabine’s resolve to wield the Darksaber for the sake of liberating Mandalore from the Empire’s control may have helped her in being deemed worthy. She fought valiantly with the Darksaber during the Mandalorian Civil War.
Unfortunately, Sabine’s choice to give the Darksaber to Bo-Katan may have triggered the curse. The legend of winning the Darksaber in combat was to determine not only its rightful owner, but also the rightful ruler of Mandalore. Obtaining the blade in any other way and trying to rule would potentially lead to the destruction of Mandalore. This curse is believed to have occurred because Bo-Katan did not obtain the Darksaber in combat. She even gave the saber over to Moff Gideon in an attempt to save the Mandalorians from the Empire’s genocidal attack. But this brings up another question. Is Sabine Wren still considered the rightful owner of the Darksaber even though Din Djarin obtained it by defeating Moff Gideon?
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Is Sabine Wren The Rightful Ruler Of Mandalore?
It’s possible Sabine’s special connection to the Darksaber solidifies her as its rightful owner, but she doesn’t consider herself worthy of ruling Mandalore. That’s why she intended to give it away. That being said, Sabine claimed the Darksaber because she wanted to reunite the Mandalorians and free them from the Empire. Her humility and noble motives make her a suitable candidate to rule. But her insecurities as a Mandalorian warrior and Jedi defeated her confidence.
It’s evident in Ahsoka that Sabine’s Mandalorian nature conflicts with the ways of the Jedi. Controlling her emotions is an arduous task. This makes it difficult for her to master the typical Jedi lightsaber techniques. Hopefully, this is an indication that Sabine should either return to her culture’s traditional style of combat or reclaim the Darksaber, a special lightsaber fit for a Mandalorian. If she does decide to wield the Darksaber again in Ahsoka, the choice of ruling and restoring Mandalore should be addressed with a definitive rightful ruler. That could mean that, should Sabine again denounce ruling Mandalore, she’d have to fight, and thus lose, in order to safely pass on the Darksaber without unintentionally causing further harm to her people.
That, of course, is assuming that Star Wars Rebels is canon. Ahsoka could instead introduce the Darksaber to Sabine for the first time in the character's history and retcon, as opposed to build on, the lore from the animated series. Whether it's the first time or the second time Sabine claims the Darksaber for herself, it's a natural development for her character as someone who is struggling to find her way as a Mandalorian Jedi. There is a clear need for Sabine to connect with something that better aligns with her nature and her purpose in life. The Darksaber can fulfill both of those needs.
Ahsoka’s Sabine Wren has the potential to become a great Mandalorian warrior with the Darksaber in hand. Her time with Ahsoka on Peridea could convince her of that as she grows into her potential as a Force-sensitive warrior; be it Jedi, Mandalorian, or possibly something else. Ahsoka has encouraged Sabine to find her own way to fight and wield the Force. Introducing her to the Darksaber or different styles of Force-combat on Peridea could pave the way for Sabine to find herself as a warrior worthy of leading Mandalore.
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