rey and the inquisitors

Forget Ahsoka, Star Wars' Newest Inquisitor Can Even Hunt Rey

Despite being Ahsoka Tano’s rival, Star Wars’ newest Inquisitor could even hunt down Rey Skywalker during and beyond the sequel trilogy era. Working under Darth Vader’s command, the Inquisitors were responsible for hunting down any remaining Force-sensitives after Order 66. Most of the Inquisitors were former Jedi – the Grand Inquisitor, for instance, as introduced in Star Wars Rebels, was a former Jedi Temple Guard. Star Wars’ latest Inquisitor, whose dark side journey will be explored more thoroughly in Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, was once a Jedi too – a young Mirialan who went by the name Barriss Offee.

As Padawans thrust into the violent world of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka and Barriss were both commanders in the Grand Army of the Republic. Together, they faced various harrowing situations, and while Ahsoka could adjust and learn from those experiences, Barriss instead became resentful of her work as a soldier and accused the Jedi Order of forgetting their primary role as peacekeepers. In the end, to make her point, Barriss bombed the Jedi Temple and framed Ahsoka for murder. The truth eventually came to light, however, and Barriss was imprisoned, never to be seen again – or so the audience was led to believe.

Instead of rotting away in prison, the Star Wars: Tales of the Empire trailer has proven that Barriss was found by the Empire and trained to become an Inquisitor under the Grand Inquisitor’s watchful eye. Though it’s unclear exactly where her new position as an Inquisitor will take her, it could potentially take her quite far. As a Mirialan, Barriss Offee could theoretically lead a long life. Though it hasn’t been established in canon exactly how long the average Mirialan lifespan is, there are examples of older Mirialan in Star Wars canon.

Vernestra Rwoh, for example, a green-skinned Mirialan Jedi from the High Republic era, will be well over a hundred years old in Star Wars’ upcoming live-action show The Acolyte, in which she is confirmed to appear. Vernestra was a young adult during Star Wars: The High Republic Phase I, which takes place roughly 200 years before the start of the Skywalker saga, and The Acolyte will be set 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. If Barriss, as a Mirialan Force-user herself, survives the Empire’s reign, she could, in theory, return much later in the Star Wars timeline.

Though Barriss’ exact date of birth is unknown, it is known that, much like Ahsoka Tano, Barriss came of age during the Clone Wars, rising to the rank of Padawan. The Clone Wars took place between 22BBY – 19BBY (BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin, which was when the first Death Star was destroyed). As such, if it is assumed that Barriss and Ahsoka are roughly the same age, and Ahsoka officially became a Padawan at age 14 in 22BBY, then it can be surmised that Barriss Offee was born sometime around 36BBY.

The sequel trilogy takes place between 34ABY – 35ABY – Barriss would have been roughly 70 years old. A human might have a hard time in combat at that age, but a Mirialan would not – in the trailer for The Acolyte, fellow Mirialan Vernestra Rwoh looks to be in her early 40s, despite being over 100 years old. Rey’s New Jedi Order movie will take place 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Barriss might be 85 by then, but if her deep-seated hatred for the Jedi has festered, she may not take too kindly to Rey’s presence as a Jedi in the Star Wars galaxy.