Nor is he afraid of Vader!! He tells Vader. TO HIS FACE. MULTIPLE TIMES. IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE. that he knows Vader is Anakin. Vader kills people for this. Thrawn gives literally zero fucks.
If anything, he is intrigued. Look at that slight eyebrow raise. This is not the face of fear. It is a face of utter shock. Of alllll the Jedi in the galaxy, Ahsoka HAPPENS to be the Padawan of like the only Jedi Thrawn knows and knows intimately. As Anakin. AND as Vader.
Then the corner of his mouth twitches, as though he is trying not to smile. This is a gift. He knows Anakin and he knows Vader and therefore he knows Ahsoka.
"She was of divine stock not of men,
in the fore part a lion,
in the hinder a serpent,
and in the midst a goat,
breathing forth in terrible wise the might of blazing fire."
Homer, Iliad, VI, 180-184
I’m seeing many people feel that Thrawn isn’t portrayed as he is in the more recent canon novels (more pro-empire, less focus on the Chiss). Perhaps. However, this line sticks outs to me “the security of our galaxy” (including Chiss space). He knows that the Empire (or the Imperial Remnants) could be better at protecting the galaxy than the New Republic, hence the need to take the helm and reestablish imperial order. Some others are also pointing out that he says “long live the Empire” as opposed to something about the Chiss - but why would he want to bring attention to the Chiss? They’ve been isolated off in the Chaos and don’t need the rest of the galaxy trying to get there (plus their own possible civil war?). I still think this is our Thrawn from the EU/canon books and Rebels. Looking forward to this! May warrior’s fortune be ever in your favour!
galaxy far, far away ⇥ unknown regions ⇥ chiss space ⇥ csilla
Csilla was the frigid world of glaciers and snowy wastes located deep within Chiss Space in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. It occupied the second orbit from the star Csilla and was located at the junction of the Path of the Houses and the Vagaari Corridor, which made it strategically important. Csilla was the homeworld of the Chiss and served as the capital of the Chiss Ascendancy up until 137 ABY.
"I am Grand Admiral Thrawn. I have been away, but now I have returned. I know some of what has occurred. You will fill in the details of the rest when I come aboard. Rejoice, Captain, for the Empire will rise again." Timothy Zahn, Specter of the Past (1997)
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion — but please don’t be rude to people who like Thrawn’s appearance or how he’s portrayed. No matter who was casted, there will always be issues. Someone will find them no matter what.
I am content, and if you are too — Great. If you’re not? I’m sorry you can’t enjoy it as much as we do.