Why Was Mace Windu So Rude to Ahsoka After She Was Proven Innocent of the Temple Bombing?

In Season 5 of the Clone Wars, we saw Ahsoka leave the Jedi Order. In “The Wrong Jedi”, she was cleared of the charges against her and was asked to rejoin the Jedi but declined because she had lost faith in the Jedi. She may have left partially because of how Mace Windu spoke to her. 

Why was Windu so rude to Ahsoka after she was proven innocent? It could be the way he was or the way he sought to be. 

A Pivotal Moment

In the above scene from the Clone Wars, we see a pivotal moment when Ahsoka talks with the Jedi before declining their offer to return to the Order. Anakin apologized, and so did Plo Koon, including offering how “the Council was wrong to accuse” her of bombing the Temple. 

Yet, Mace Windu responded strangely about how this was her “great trial” and how “the Force works in mysterious ways.” He also says that “because of this trial you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise.” These are puzzling remarks indeed. 

Instead of apologizing and admitting the Jedi were wrong, Windu reframed the matter to indicate how the trial has benefited Ahsoka.

We can see how Windu’s response was rude and could have led to her decision not to rejoin the Order. Why did he speak this way to Ahsoka?

Why Was Mace Windu So Rude to Ahsoka?

Reasons for why Mace Windu was rude and spoke this way to Ahsoka include how “he’s just very short and matter of fact with people,” he does not believe “the Jedi Council did anything wrong,” his “arrogance,” and “false pride.”

These explanations point to how his lack of an apology may derive either from his character or his loyalty to the council. 

In terms of his personality, we may think of how Windu was short and rude to Anakin to frame and explain how he was with Ahsoka.

In The Revenge of the Sith, Windu not only did not support making Anakin a Master Jedi, but he also rudely dismissed him from being involved with confronting Palpatine. He is abrupt and to the point in both matters, indicating that his rudeness with Ahsoka could stem from his character.

We see a similar scenario in this scene when Ahsoka comes to warn the Jedi Council about Palpatine’s plans for Anakin.

As the commentary explains, Windu “completely shut down” Ahsoka and dismissed her by saying “these matters are for the Council to discuss.” Windu was rude and domineering, which again provides a solid basis for explaining his conduct after Ashoka’s innocence too. 

Other fans describe Windu and his personality in more straightforward terms as “kind of a jerk” and “arrogant” like others on the Council.

So, we may have our answer right here. However, we could also look at his particular approach to the Force and Jedi Council to explain his rudeness. 

Windu, the Force, and the Council

Mace Windu took a serious path with the Force. He was known to have a darker, emotional relationship with it. In articles about his lightsaber form and color, we can even detect connections to the dark side.

Windu developed his Vaapad fighting style to “better channel his strengths” and stay clear of dropping to the dark side. 

We may conclude that Windu was rude and abrupt because of his approach to the Force and proximity to the dark side. In effect, those mannerisms derived from his relationship with the Force. 

Since Windu served as the elected Master of the Order, he also vigorously defended its practices. He felt an obligation and loyalty to the Council that surpassed other expectations.

Windu was likewise “the greatest champion of the Jedi Order and promoted its ancient traditions” during the most turbulent times. To him, that meant protecting and defending the way of the Jedi at all costs. 

This explanation may situate Windu’s conduct in a wider lens. Yet, we also just come back to the first reason. As highlighted in Tales of the Jedi, Windu was also “sometimes just a selfish jerk.” 

Windu’s Rudeness

Windu was most likely rude to Ahsoka because that was his personality. He came off as rude because that was the basis of his character. However, we could look at his relationship with the Force and the Council for an alternative explanation.

In the case of Ahsoka, it would have been wiser to readjust that personality or dedication to the Jedi.