Who’re Star Wars’ Witches of Dathomir? Categorical Instances

The 2-part premiere of Ahsoka, the brand new Star Wars collection streaming on Disney Plus, did one thing that’s change into form of uncommon in Star Wars, one thing that was as soon as integral to the franchise’s enchantment: It had a personality reference a factor that sounds freaking superior fully in passing with out ever following up on it. Only for texture! This time, it’s “the Witches of Dathomir.” They’re talked about in relation to an artifact that protagonist Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) acquires at the beginning of the collection whereas raiding a temple that after belonged to them.

That isn’t the primary time a Disney Plus Star Wars collection talked about the Witches — they acquired a particularly fleeting shoutout in The Guide of Boba Fett — however Ahsoka is the primary time we’ve seen them in live-action, after they present up in “Half Six.” And boy will we get to see them: three witches in full regalia, as they greet Morgan Elsbeth and produce Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) again, per some association they’ve made with him. Regardless of some prime display time, that’s about all we get concerning the trio of witches, albeit with the promise that Thrawn requires their “darkish magic” as soon as once more.

The distinction between trendy Star Wars and traditional Star Wars is that stated witches have been explored fairly extensively in different ancillary Star Wars media, specifically The Clone Wars, but additionally in a number of novels, comedian books, and a bit in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. (Baylan notes that tales of the galaxy the Witches are discovered is “thought-about folktales. An historic previous, lengthy forgotten,” within the Star Wars universe, so it’s not shocking we’re solely getting them in a bit a part of a Disney Plus present).

Which means that it’s potential to sate your curiosity must you hear about “the Witches of Dathomir” and assume they sound steel as hell and price studying extra about. I’m comfortable to inform you that they are steel as hell, and also you can study extra about them.

Who’re the Witches of Dathomir?

There’s a easy reply to this query, after which a extra sophisticated one. Let’s begin easy: Typically talking, the Witches of Dathomir are the feminine denizens of the planet Dathomir that belong to the Nightsister clan.

Dathomir? The place have I heard that earlier than?

Good ear! It’s the planet the place Darth Maul is from, and the planet that Sabine and crew wind up on in episode 6 of Ahsoka. If all you recognize about him is his look in The Phantom Menace, effectively, there’s much more to him than that. His residence planet has a bonkers backstory! A few of which we’re about to get into.

In Ahsoka, Baylan mentions that they’re particularly from a distinct galaxy, although within the authentic story that wasn’t the case.

OK, however why are they witches?

In all probability sexism. But additionally as a result of they’re Pressure customers with a singular connection to the Pressure that leads to powers fairly totally different from what the Jedi and Sith do. Stuff like necromancy and phantasm. Actual spooky shit. They name it “magick,” and those that wield magick are witches.

However what concerning the fellas? Can they use magick too?

Form of. All Zabraks (the Dathomiri folks) could be force-sensitive, however magick is solely for the women. That is why Darth Maul could be a highly effective Pressure person however not all that totally different from different Sith Lords you’ve seen earlier than.

Picture: Lucasfilm

They maintain a really inflexible social construction on Dathomir, the place everybody belongs to one among many clans, every with their very own inflexible code. Two of probably the most well-defined are the Nightsisters (the Witches) and Nightbrothers — the complementary male clan of Dathomiri, who dwell aside from the Nightsisters and exist as their warrior-servants.

None of this needs to be taken as immutable, both. Star Wars canon is sort of free in the case of Dathomir and its folks, so whereas it usually is characterised a method (a spot the place usually dangerous folks do creepy magick), there’s all the time the suggestion that we’re solely seeing a small sliver of the planet and its tradition, because it in the end is one among many razed by the Empire for refusing to play ball.

This sounds cool. The place do I study extra?

Picture: Lucasfilm

Your first cease ought to most likely be the Nightsisters arc of The Clone Wars, since these episodes additionally overlap with plenty of what the Disney Plus exhibits, like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, are doing, and provides the clearest image of what they’re like in present continuity. The arc kicks off in season 3, episode 12, “Nightsisters,” and runs via the subsequent two episodes, “Monster” and “Witches of the Mist.”

They inform a self-contained story about Asajj Ventress, the villainous Dathomiri Sith apprentice to Depend Dooku. When Dooku betrays her, Ventress returns residence to the Nightsisters for revenge. The Nightsisters trilogy lays the groundwork for a lot of tales, a very powerful being the destiny of Darth Maul (the ultimate arc of season 4) and, finally, the conclusion of the Mandalore story in animated type (till it’s revisited in The Mandalorian).

Outdoors of The Clone Wars, issues get slightly messy, as Dathomir and the Nightsisters are one of many features of Star Wars lore that acquired plenty of consideration in each the Legends timeline and the present canon. The assorted comics and books weave out and in of canonical standing, so The Clone Wars is finest for these in search of some grounding going ahead; every part else is gravy. Spooky gravy.