Ray Stevenson's Baylan Skoll continues to intrigue Star Wars fans and we're hoping that, by the time next week's Ahsoka finale ends, we'll have discovered what the Order 66 survivor is up to. The villain has no love for the Jedi or Empire and instead seems to have his own plans for the Galaxy...we just don't know what they are yet!
Earlier this week, fans spotted an Easter Egg which revealed that Baylan is walking around with the names of the Skywalker family on his wrist. As of now, it's unclear whether this was just a cheeky reference or a suggestion that they're somehow involved with whatever it is the villain is plotting.
Over the past few days, fans have continued combing through the series looking for additional clues. Alas, one was seemingly staring us in the face this whole time...on Baylan's character poster!
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, the Aurebesh on his wrist has once again been translated and it reads "TRGT DAT," two acronyms which almost certainly stand for "TARGET DATA."
With that in mind, we have to believe that's a hit list he's carrying around and it's something which may well further link this villain to the Expanded Universe's Joruus C'Baoth...the lead villain, alongside Grand Admiral Thrawn, in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire (thought to be the basis - and possible title - for Dave Filoni's upcoming movie).
A deranged clone of the original Jedi Master Joruus C'Baoth, the Dark Jedi was determined to bring Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa-Solo, and Mara Jade under his control.
Forced into being Grand Admiral Thrawn's pawn thanks to the Imperial's power-dampening Ysalamiri, he eventually set his sights on ruling the Empire. Unleashing Force Lightning with ease, he was on par with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine and eventually found an...interesting...use for Thrawn's cloning facility.
Yes, he cloned Luke Skywalker and created Luuke Skywalker, a concept which is nowhere near as silly on the page as it probably sounds here. Filoni putting a fresh spin on the character with Baylan does make sense and he may well be planning to take the Ahsoka villain down a similar route.
Unfortunately, the shocking death of Ray Stevenson earlier this year means he won't be back as the character, though we're sure Baylan's story will continue beyond this series. For now, we'll have to wait and see.
If he is a clone, however, perhaps the Kyber Crystal on his belt belonged to the original Baylan?