Ezra Bridger’s greatest yet most underrated strength could be exactly what is needed to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn once and for all. Before his live-action introduction in Ahsoka, Ezra Bridger was one of Star Wars Rebels’ greatest heroes. A young Force-sensitive person discovered after the fall of the Jedi Order, Ezra learned how to wield the Force with his Master, Kanan Jarrus, during a turbulent time in the galaxy. Not only did Ezra’s role as a Rebel operative and Jedi force him to learn how to fight and protect those he cared about, but it also forced him to learn to think on his feet and plan ahead.
Eman Esfandi, who plays the live-action version of Ezra Bridger, recently spoke to Collider about his experiences portraying Ezra and how he feels about this beloved Star Wars character. When asked what he felt Ezra’s most underestimated strength was, Esfandi replied:
Learning to wield the Force without the resources of the Jedi Order, relying on the teachings of someone who was only a Padawan himself when the Empire emerged, and gaining plenty of real-world experience changed how Ezra operated. Both he and his Master became more creatively strategic. They were guided by the Force, certainly, and plenty of Ezra’s plans devolved into chaos, but he never lost sight of the end goal, and he used his connection with the Force to help him achieve those objectives. Ezra’s strength is that he’s unpredictable to everyone but himself and the Force. That could, once again, be Thrawn’s undoing.
The reason Thrawn is so revered and feared is that he is seen as the Empire’s ultimate strategist. No matter what, he is always a few steps ahead of everyone else, anticipating and predicting the Rebellion’s moves and tactics. He’ll undoubtedly be able to anticipate the New Republic’s moves, too – after all, most of its leadership came from the Rebel Alliance. Defeating Thrawn will be no easy task. General Hera Syndulla is a brilliant pilot and strategist too, but defeating Thrawn will require something different, something new. There’s no denying that Ezra Bridger’s homecoming will change the New Republic’s chances for the better.
Ezra was the one who defeated Thrawn the first time. The liberation of Lothal and Thrawn’s exile was all down to him. He knew that they needed a backup plan when they attacked the Imperial Headquarters, and he delivered one that Thrawn could never have seen coming. Not only did Ezra sacrifice his own freedom and a life with his family, but he used the Force to call upon allies that even Thrawn couldn’t account for. The Nightsisters may now be on Thrawn’s side, but even they can’t predict Ezra Bridger‘s moves or the will of the Force, and neither can Thrawn.