Clone Wars Star Ashley Eckstein Shows Why Ahsoka's Costume Retcon Was Needed
Summary
- Ahsoka Tano’s tube top costume in Star Wars was clearly impractical and criticized for sexualizing the character.
- Ashley Eckstein quipped, “Who fights a war in a tank top?” which supports the recent retcon of Ahsoka’s costume.
- The retconned outfit is more sensible, practical, and less sexualized, while still paying homage to the original design.
Ashley Eckstein, who voiced Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, has explained why a recent costume retcon was necessary with a withering burn. Introduced as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan during the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano was initially a controversial figure, but soon became a fan-favorite. That was in spite of a rather odd costume choice; in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka wore a tank top for most of the first two seasons. It wasn’t particularly practical, and was criticized for sexualizing the teenager.
Speaking at the Rebels & Clones panel at Fan Expo Philadelphia, Eckstein has admitted there was a problem. “Who fights a war in a tank top,” she quipped, in a withering assessment that seems like the perfect burn. Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni clearly agrees, because recent Disney+ TV shows have retconned that costume.
Ahsoka Tano
The apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano was an accomplished Padawan who served during the Clone Wars. Ahsoka left the Jedi after she became disillusioned with the Jedi Council, but returned to serve in the Siege of Mandalore at the end of the Clone Wars. She survived Order 66, becoming a Rebel agent during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign, and her adventures continue in the New Republic era. Ahsoka was last seen stranded in a distant galaxy, having failed to prevent Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return.
The Tube Top Has Been Completely Retconned In Star Wars Canon
The last few years have seen Star Wars retcon Ahsoka’s costume, replacing it with a far more sensible one. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi revealed new scenes set during the early Clone Wars, and she was shown wearing a much more sensible outfit there. This was reinforced in Ahsoka season 2, which revisited key events in the Clone Wars courtesy of the World Between Worlds – and deliberately placed Ariana Greenblatt’s young Ahsoka in this new costume in flashbacks.
Eckstein’s quip is a solid burn, and it underscores the logic behind this costume retcon. That tube top was always absurd, and it certainly wouldn’t have worked if it had been faithfully translated into live-action. Retcons are often a smart way of correcting past mistakes, and that’s definitely the case here.
Ahsoka’s retconned costume is much more effective. It’s much more fitting for Ahsoka, far more practical, and less sexualized. At the same time, it still pays homage to the original design thanks to elements of the colorscheme. Star Wars: The Clone Wars‘ Ahsoka costume has been retconned, and Eckstein is clearly a supporter.
