Today, the kids and I watched Padawan Lost and Wookiee Hunt, the final two episodes of season 3 of The Clone Wars. I watched these episodes a long time ago, and never revisited them. I remember that I liked them, but I didn’t think they were amazing.

The first thing that struck me about these episodes upon re-viewing was the prominence of Ahsoka’s Theme. This original work by Kevin Kiner is probably my favorite piece of non-Williams Star Wars music. The fist time hearing it in Padawan Lost, I was instantly transported to the final scene of season 1 of Rebels, when Ahsoka is revealed as Fulcrum and meets the crew of The Ghost.

The second thing that really hit home was that here was Ahsoka realizing she could fend for herself. These two episodes more than any other (excluding the final arc of season 5), show us proof that Ahsoka is great enough to endure beyond Order 66. Indeed, the skill and capability she shows while being hunted by Trandoshans in these two episodes will no doubt come in handy a few short years later when all force users are being hunted down by the Empire.

Unfeeling pristine white armor, blood-thirsty Trandoshan scales … six of one, half a dozen of the other, really.

This is where the fun begins. At the beginning of the second episode in this arc, Ahsoka meets a Wookiee named Chewbacca. This is during the Clone Wars, of course, so we know that Chewie is going to live because not only will he eventually become the trusty co-pilot of a certain YT-1300, but before all that, he’ll fight alongside Yoda and Tarfful on Kashyyyk.

What about Chewie’s time though, between Kashyyyk and meeting Han Solo? The Legends continuity has plenty to offer on this time period, but as far as canon is concerned, it’s a blank slate (no, his life-debt to Han Solo is not canon).

In Spark of Rebellion, the premiere of Rebels, the Ghost crew liberates a group of Wookiees from a life of slavery on Kessel with the help of tag-a-long Ezra who becomes a crew member shortly thereafter. Who could forget lovable Kitwarr?

Anyway, Sabine translates Kitwarr’s dad, Wulffwarro, saying that if they ever need help, the Wookiees will be there. Could Chewie be one of those Wookiees who come to help the Rebles in the future? Because you don’t write a line like that unless you’re planning on Wookiees showing up again.

A friend of mine insists that Han Solo will appear on Rebels. As indifferent as I am to the idea (and if I’m being honest, I sort of hope it doesn’t happen), I think he might be right. Could we see the meeting of Chewbacca and Han Solo in Rebels? How many years were they together before A New Hope? Four sounds right to me…

And now there’s someone in Rebels who knows Chewie personally. Ahsoka has contacts all over the galaxy, in fact. Think of the variety of folks she worked with during the Clone Wars (Hondo, anyone?). Like many of those relationships, her friendship with Chewbacca was forged in a desperate, life-threatening situation. Not only does she trust him, but she knows he’s a valuable asset. Like Rex, Gregor and Wolffe, one would think Ahsoka could call on Chewie if she needed some help.

It seems to me that the there’s an avalanche of possibilities tumbling toward the inevitability of Chewbacca showing up in Rebels. My feelings on this are similar to my feelings about Han showing up. Meh. But if they do it right, then: Yay.

The Clone Wars showed us quite definitively, that an animated Chewbacca can encapsulate all the charm, threat and indomitability of his movie-screen counterpart. And considering that Zeb is based on an original design for Chewbacca, there could either be a great friendship there, or a fun rivalry. Even for a Lasat though, it would be wise not to upset this Wookiee.