In 2008, George Lucas created an animated series called Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and it was a massive hit with Star Wars fans. The series mostly occurs between Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). For many Star Wars fans, The Clone Wars is mandatory viewing.

Today, Ahsoka Tano is one of the biggest names in the Star Wars universe thanks to her continued appearance in different Star Wars media. She was featured in Star Wars Rebels (2014 - 2018) and one of Disney+'s biggest series, The Mandalorian (2019 - present). In 2023, Ahsoka received her own Disney+ series, simply titled Ahsoka. Ahsoka has made many appearances throughout the Star Wars timeline, but she was first introduced as one of the main characters in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

10 Ahsoka Fights For Survival In "Wookiee Hunt"

Season 3, Episode 22

• George Lucas describes Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a continuation of the 2003 Clone Wars series
• "Wookiee Hunt" is the final episode and season finale of The Clone Wars Season 3

"Wookiee Hunt" is a continuation of Season 3, Episode 21 - "Padawan Lost". In "Padawan Lost", Trandoshans ambush and kidnap Ahsoka. Her kidnappers take her to the Trandoshan moon, Wasskah, where they leave her and several prisoners on Island Four. Most of the prisoners are killed immediately, but Ahsoka manages to hide in the island's forest. Ahsoka comes across three other Jedi younglings who flock to her for help. Ahsoka quickly realizes the Trandoshans have kidnapped her and other young Jedi to act as prey in their hunts.

In "Wookiee Hunt," Ahsoka continues to look after the younglings she found and comes up with a plan to escape Wasskah. This eventually leads her to free another prisoner, which just so happens to be everyone's favorite Wookiee, Chewbacca. Chewbacca joins them and agrees to help get a distress signal out to his home world. While "Wookiee Hunt" is a great episode because it guest-stars a recognizable Star Wars character, it also shows how competent and powerful Ahsoka has become over the years. Without her, her companions would have no hope of escaping.

9 Ahsoka Becomes A Mentor In "The Academy"

Season 3, Episode 6

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars started with a film that was originally released in theaters on August 15, 2008
• On October 3, 2008, the film debuted on Cartoon Network, where most of the series would air

"The Academy" is the second part of a two-episode story. The arc started in the episode prior, "Corruption." In "The Academy", Ahsoka is sent to Mandalore to teach a class at the leadership academy. This undercover assignment allows her to get close to the Mandalorian government, so she can sniff out anything unsavory taking place there. Her position as a mentor isn't just for undercover work, though. The Jedi believe she can be a positive influence on the kids studying at the leadership academy too.

After teaching a few classes on the importance of citizens battling corruption where they see it, several of her students uncover a nefarious plot unfolding in a warehouse meant to ration food supplies. They take their discovery to Duchess Satine, the current ruler of Mandalore, but she mostly dismisses them. The students take Ahsoka's words to heart, so they turn to her for help. When things go south, Ahsoka has no choice but to step in and help the cadets. Under Ahsoka's leadership, they manage to uncover a black market scheme organized by Almec and they also save Satine's life and legacy.

8 Ahsoka Steps Up As A Commander In "Storm Over Ryloth"

Season 1, Episode 19

• In The Clone Wars, Ahsoka is Anakin Skywalker's Padawan
• She was specifically created for the animated series

"Storm Over Ryloth" is the first segment of a three-episode-long arc and, for many fans, it's one of the most memorable episodes from the original season. This episode depicts Ahsoka taking on the responsibility of a squadron commander. She even tells her new droid that this is the first time she's ever led a squadron. During her mission, she disobeys a direct order from both Anakin and Admiral Yularen. Upon seeing a new threat enter the battle, they insist that she turn around.

Unfortunately, Ahsoka loses most of her squadron because she disobeyed a direct order. It's a heavy weight for someone as young as Ahsoka to have hanging on her shoulders. It's hard not to feel empathy for her at that moment, but it's also hard not to place the blame on her. The episode focuses on Ahsoka's mistake, but it also emphasizes that she learned to question authority from Anakin's teachings. After all, Anakin has been known to disobey orders from Obi-Wan and other elder Jedi constantly because he believes he knows better. This is an important growing moment for them both, but it's also the moment where Ahsoka learns what it means to be at war.

7 "Lightsaber Lost" Emphasizes What A Lightsaber Means To A Jedi

Season 2, Episode 11

• During Star Wars: The Clone Wars' original run, it became Cartoon Network's highest-rated series
• On March 7, 2014, the show became available for streaming on Netflix
• Along with The Clone Wars' first five seasons, Netflix also received 13 episodes that created a choppy sixth season

Ahsoka joins Anakin on a mission on Coruscant. The Master and Padawan duo set out in search of an arms dealer they believe is responsible for stealing Republic weapons and selling them to the Separatist enemy. During their mission, Ahsoka's lightsaber is stolen by a pickpocket. Ahsoka doesn't want to admit to Anakin that she lost her weapon, so she decides to try and find it on her own. By this point, Anakin has lost plenty of lightsabers of his own, but Ahsoka's reluctance proves that a lightsaber isn't just a weapon to a Jedi, it's an extension of themselves.

"Lightsaber Lost" is another great learning experience for Ahsoka. The Clone Wars does an excellent job depicting Ahsoka as a capable young Padawan who is clever and hot-headed, but ultimately, she is still a student. Many fans think fondly about the growing Ahsoka did in this episode. She ultimately shares her experiences with other younglings, to help them understand the importance of not only their weapons but of never running into anything thoughtlessly.

6 “Heroes on Both Sides” Shows How Complicated War Is

Season 3, Episode 10

• On February 21, 2020, Disney+ released Season 7
• Although The Clone Wars had been over for six years, many fans were unsatisfied with the lack of a concise ending
• This prompted Disney to release one final season that gave the series proper closure

"Heroes on Both Sides" is more of a philosophical episode than some of the other Ahsoka-centric episodes in The Clone Wars. Ahsoka indeed learns many lessons as a Padawan stuck in the middle of a war between the Republic and the Separatists, but this episode takes her lessons one step further. Ahsoka joins Padmé Amidala on a journey to attempt to make a peace treaty between the Republic and the Separatists.

During this trip, Ahsoka meets Separatist-aligned individuals off the battlefield for the first time. This is an eye-opening experience for Ahsoka because the people she meets are normal. They aren't evil, and they make some valid political points that never occurred to her. This is the first time Ahsoka sees Separatists as people instead of evildoers on the wrong side of the war. She's forced to realize that when it comes to war, there is no "good" side because they're all just people fighting for what they believe in.

5 “Brain Invaders” Brings Some Of The Galaxy's True Terrors To Life

Season 2, Episode 8

• "Brain Invaders" is the final episode in a five-episode arc
• All five episodes revolve around a parasite known as Geonosian brainworms

Geonosian brainworms are a type of parasitic worm that can take control of their hosts as they can get inside their bodies. In truth, this entire arc was one of the scarier stories in The Clone Wars and dealt with terrifying topics like being infected by alien parasites and losing control of one's mind. "Brain Invaders" deals with the repercussions of the previous four episodes. Geonosian brain worms infect the clones aboard Ahsoka's supply ship, forcing Ahsoka and her best friend, Barriss, to save the ship.

One infected trooper manages to sneak brainworm eggs aboard the supply ship. As more eggs hatch, they manage to take control of the clones, leaving only Barriss and Ahsoka to deal with the crisis. Eventually, Barriss also falls prey to one of the worms and tries to infect Ahsoka. This episode is one of Ahsoka's highest points because she remains calm and collected, even in the face of her best friend attacking her. Her actions save the ship and most of her companions.

4 Ahsoka Faces General Grievous In "A Necessary Bond"

Season 5, Episode 9

• George Lucas worked closely with Dave Filoni to bring Star Wars: The Clone Wars to life
• Dave Filoni acted as the supervising director for the series

"A Necessary Bond" is the final episode in the Young Jedi arc, which started with Season 5, Episode 6 - "The Gathering." The Young Jedi arc is one of the most monumental arcs for Ahsoka, and it includes one of the best Ahsoka fights in the entire Clone Wars series. "The Gathering," tells the story of Ahsoka and a group of younglings traveling to Ilum to participate in the Jedi tradition that requires them to find kyber crystals to power their lightsabers. The Young Jedi arc offers an inside look at one of the Jedi's most important challenges.

The world-building in this arc is phenomenal, but it grows into something much larger than just trying to build a new lightsaber. Hondo Ohanka's Weequay pirates abduct Ahsoka, leading the other younglings to chase after her. During their escape in "A Necessary Bond", General Grievous attacks the pirate base. This forces Ahsoka and the younglings to fight alongside Ahsoka's kidnappers to fight the Separatists. To protect the other younglings, Ahsoka enters a duel with the deadly, 4-armed general known for slaughtering Jedi and taking their lightsabers as trophies.

3 "Altar Of Mortis" Pits Anakin & Ahsoka Against Each Other

Season 3, Episode 16

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars received a sequel called Star Wars: The Bad Batch on May 4, 2021
• Currently, The Bad Batch has three seasons and it's streaming on Disney+

Many fans call the Mortis arc one of The Clone Wars' best stories. It spans from Season 3, Episode 15 - "Overlords" to Episode 17 - "Ghosts of Mortis." Usually, the final episode of an arc is the one that stands out, but for Ahsoka, it's the middle episode, "Altar of Mortis", that leaves a hole in viewers' hearts. Ahsoka is entranced by a spell and becomes tainted by the Dark Side. This immediately pits her against her Master, Anakin Skywalker.

When the Son manages to turn Ahsoka to the Dark Side, he uses his power over her to lure Anakin in, attempting to sway him to the Dark Side as well. The Mortis arc goes into more detail about the Light and Dark Sides of the Force and how the balance between them is meant to work. It also depicts a heartbreaking duel between Ahsoka and her mentors that nearly sends Anakin over the edge. The entire arc foreshadows Anakin's fall to the Dark Side and also the inevitable battle between Darth Vader and Ahsoka that occurs in Star Wars Rebels.

2 The Entire Siege Of Mandalore Arc Broke Fans' Hearts

Season 7, Episodes 9 - 12

• The Siege of Mandalore arc was presented in four parts
• Unlike other arcs in The Clone Wars, each episode of this arc was labeled “Part I”, “II”, “III”, and “IV”
• When put together, all four episodes can be viewed as a film

When Disney+ announced it would be releasing the final season of The Clone Wars in 2020, Star Wars fans knew it would be a painful watch. After all, every fan knows how the Clone Wars ended: Order 66. The Siege of Mandalore covers in explicit detail what happened during Order 66. Order 66 refers to the order that stated all Jedi were traitors to the Galactic Republic. This turned all Clone Troopers against the Jedi they had been serving alongside for the duration of the war.

Ahsoka plays a large role in the Siege of Mandalore arc. Although Ahsoka is no longer a Jedi by this point, Ahsoka agrees to aid Captain Rex on a mission to capture Darth Maul. Maul set a trap for Obi-Wan and Anakin. He planned to kill them both, so he could finally enact revenge on Obi-Wan and stop Darth Sidious from replacing him as his apprentice with Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka foiled his plans by showing up instead. Palpatine, who has been Darth Sidious all along, still manages to execute Order 66, so Ahsoka's work in capturing Maul ultimately means nothing. The Jedi Order soon falls, leaving few survivors.

1 Ahsoka Leaves The Jedi Forever In "The Wrong Jedi"

Season 5, Episode 20

• Ahsoka is often mistaken for a Jedi because she fights with two lightsabers
• "I am no Jedi" has become a staple Ahsoka quote since Star Wars Rebels

Before Season 6 was released on Netflix and Season 7 eventually aired on Disney+, "The Wrong Jedi" was considered the series finale, and it concluded Ahsoka's time with the Jedi Order in the worst way possible. After Ahsoka's best friend, Barriss frames Ahsoka for murder, the Jedi Council turns its back on the young Padawan and proceeds with planning a trial. Anakin fights tooth and nail to prove Ahsoka's innocence, but by the time Barriss confesses, the damage has been done.

Ahsoka loses all faith in the Jedi Order, which is hard to watch. As a Padawan, Ahsoka spent her entire life with the Jedi. The Jedi Order is all she knows, but when she needed them most, they failed her. Even after admitting they were wrong, Ahsoka is unwilling to stay, and she leaves the Jedi Order forever. When people mistake her for a Jedi in the future due to her lightsabers, Force abilities, and fighting style, she forcibly reminds them that she is not a Jedi.