The highly anticipated Disney+ series, Ahsoka, premiered to praise from fans and critics alike. Among the lore introduced in the live-action series is the small outer rim planet of Lothal.

For viewers who have not watched the animated series Star Wars: Rebels, Lothal is a new location of unknown origins. However, Lothal and its history played a major role in Rebels that will likely carry over into Ahsoka.

Here’s everything you need to know about Lothal.

The Base for Rebels

Star Wars: Rebels begins five years prior to Episode IV. Jedi are hunted throughout the galaxy by Inquisitors under the direct order of Darth Vader. The Empire rules with an iron fist, its presence particularly damaging to the small outer rim planet of Lothal.

It’s on Lothal that we find a small band of (you guessed it!) rebels. The ragtag team of insurgents operates in the shadows of Lothal and consists of:

• Former Jedi padawan and survivor of Order 66, Kanan Jarrus (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr)
• Fearless Twi’lek captain of the Ghost, Hera Syndulla (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Ahsoka; voiced by Vanessa Marshall in Rebels).
• Hera’s trusty and unhinged droid companion, Chopper.
• Last of the Lasat race, warrior Garazeb Orrelios (voiced by Steve Blum in Rebels).
• Force-sensitive teenager and Lothal native, Ezra Bridger (played by Eman Esfandi in Ahsoka; voiced by Taylor Gray in Rebels).
• Mandalorian ex-Imperial cadet, Sabine Wren (played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo in Ahsoka; voiced by Tiya Sinclair in Rebels).

Home Planet to Ezra Bridger

In Rebels, Ezra Bridger is first introduced as a thorn in the side of his eventual crew. Ezra’s parents were arrested and imprisoned as traitors, leaving him orphaned at only seven years old. It’s on the streets of Lothal that Ezra learns to survive using his wits and (unbeknownst to Ezra himself) the Force. 

Ezra’s passion and undying love for Lothal drives his desire to become a Jedi and protect his home from the Empire, who has taken over control of the planet. Ezra fights tirelessly for the day the Imperial control of his home will come crumbling to the ground.

Ahsoka takes place well after Return of the Jedi and introduces Lothal as a planet prospering under Governor Ryder Azadi and represented in the New Republic senate by former member of the rebellion, Jai Kell. Both Ryder and Jai are characters who play an integral part in Rebels and are inspired by Ezra’s devotion to Lothal’s freedom.

In Ahsoka, Hera briefly mentions “The Battle of Lothal,” noting that the rebels’ greatest foe, Grand Admiral Thrawn, died in this siege. Ryder, Jai, and the entire Ghost crew participated in the conflict for Lothal’s independence that took place before the fall of the Empire. It was in The Battle of Lothal that Ezra sacrificed himself by transporting himself and Thrawn into deep space and parts unknown. 

The Rebels season finale aired in 2018, leaving Ezra’s fate unknown. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for much longer. When Sabine is introduced in the premiere of Ahsoka, she has taken up residence in Ezra’s former hideout on the outskirts of Lothal’s capital city. This is exactly where Rebels left Sabine in the series finale, watching over the planet that Ezra sacrificed his life for and holding on to the promise that she will find her friend and bring him home.

Lothal: The Apple of Thrawn’s Eye

Grand Admiral Thrawn is set to play an integral part of Ahsoka. The Sith loyal to the Empire are searching diligently for Thrawn’s whereabouts, even years after his disappearance at the Battle of Lothal. Thrawn’s high intellect and genius strategic mind would provide the remnants of the Empire a strong leader to rally behind. 

Thrawn’s connection with Lothal is significant, as it is on Lothal that he planned to set up a major base of operators for the Empire. Prior to Thrawn’s introduction in Rebels, Lothal was already utilized as a base for military manufacturing. The Imperial Armory Complex was built and located at the center of Lothal’s capital city, producing military vehicles and weapons for the Empire by using the citizens of Lothal as forced laborers.

Thrawn recognizes the potential to expand the Empire’s productions on Lothal. By increasing the Imperial hold on the small planet, Thrawn makes it more difficult for the Ghost crew to utilize Lothal as their base of operations. Dealing a blow to the rebel cell would also damage the rebellion as a whole, as the freedom of the outer ring rests on the shoulders of the Ghost crew led by Commander Syndulla.

The importance of Lothal cannot be underestimated, as shown both in the past in Rebels and present in Ahsoka. Though Lothal earned their freedom before the fall of the Empire, that independence stands to fall if Thrawn returns. 

Lothal’s Loveable Felines: Loth-Cats

Though beloved Sabine and Hera finally made their live action debut in Ahsoka, the breakout star of the first two episodes turned out to be Sabine’s Loth-cat friend! Shown to be Sabine’s closest companion in her home in Ezra’s hideout, the white Loth-cat is too adorable to overlook. But the unnamed Loth-cat is not only a cute pet; it saves Sabine’s life by warning her about impending danger.

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Loth-cats act as important supporting creatures in Rebels, oftentimes providing aid to the Ghost crew by attacking Imperial guards or creating distractions to give openings for infiltration. But the most important fact about the furry felines is their connection to Ezra. 

Many Jedi in Star Wars history exhibit special abilities beyond being able to harness the power of the Force. Ezra’s particular connection with the Force allows him to relate to animals in a way others cannot (including his Master, Kanan). Ezra has a strong connection to Loth-cats specifically. The very nature of Loth-cats in general parallels Ezra himself; both are tenacious and sometimes wild at heart and are connected to the fabric of Lothal in a way that outsiders cannot understand. 

A significant plot point in Rebels revolves around Ezra having dreams of a rare white Loth-cat guiding him to an unfamiliar place. Ezra recognizes that these dreams are more than what they appear, especially considering his connection to the Loth-cats via the Force. The repeating dreams set Ezra on a journey that leads him to Ryder Azadi, who was long thought to be imprisoned at that point in time. Ryder proved to be an invaluable ally in the fight for Lothal’s freedom. His alliance with the rebels would not have been possible if not for Ezra’s Loth-cat guide. Perhaps Sabine’s Loth-cat will play a similar role in her quest to find Ezra.

The presence of Loth-cats in Ahsoka is a pleasant inclusion for fans of Rebels. Loth-cats are one of the many creatures in Star Wars that fans will fall in love with for years to come (move over Porgs!). 

Both Ahsoka and Star Wars: Rebels are available for streaming on Disney+.