The Trajectory of the Jedi

Here are some random ruminations:

ON KANAN AND THE FORCE

I have tried hard to avoid any and all spoilers - outside what is officially released by Lucasfilm - and I have been mostly successful. I have really been enjoying the Star Wars Rebels series and have been thinking more about how Kanan instructed Ezra to be *more* connected to others. That it is these connections that make us human. This is very much a reversal of what the Jedi were instructed to be in the Prequel Era. They were supposed to be detached and aloof from others.

Of course, this was before the Season 1 finale, Fire Across the Galaxy, where his attachment to Ezra almost caused his defeat at the hands of the Inquisitor. I'll be curious to see how his character develops in season two. This one concept art picture certainly is telling:

ON REBELS AND THE TIMELINE

I wonder if either Kanan or Ezra survive through the Original Trilogy Era. They could be conceivably be alive in The Force Awakens if the don't meet an untimely end. I've heard that Rebels takes place five years before Episode IV (0 BBY). So using Wookiepedia as a reference, here are the projected ages of the main characters:

Character - Age as of Rebels /  ROTJ (+9) / TFA (+30)

Kanan - 28 / 37 / 67
Hera - 24 / 32 / 62
Ezra - 14 / 23 / 53
Sabine - 16 / 25 / 55

As you can see, all the human crew of the Ghost should be alive and kickin' if they haven't been killed. I excluded Zeb because we don't know his age nor do we know the typical lifespan of his race.

Here are some other interesting tidbits from the Legacy EU timeline about what happens during the year of Rebels Season 1:

• Han Solo leaves (kicked out of ) the Imperial Academy 
• Han Solo saves Chewbacca from slavery and receives a life-debt pledge from him
• Lando wins the Millennium Falcon in a game of sabacc (Han Solo would win the Falcon from Lando three years later)

We don't know if any of these events will be canonized, but how sweet would it be to see Lando win the Falcon?

ON EPISODE VII

I'm also wondering about what Luke's trajectory is after Return of the Jedi. He is the only Jedi in the galaxy, so far as we know. He knows that the battles between Sith and Jedi have torn the galaxy apart in war after war. I wonder if he decided to go into hiding and to remove himself from society in the hopes of protecting it. Perhaps it is the breaking of his solitude that is the cause or result of the Force awakening. We shall see!

Five Reasons Why You Will Hate Star Wars Rebels

1. It is on the Disney Channel.

There is rampant speculation that Rebels will be made for kids. Sure, you were a kid once and the films appealed to you. But Star Wars should be created just for your age group. The show must be something that appeals first and foremost to you 30- and 40-year olds. Kids these days just don't have the special appreciation for the Star Wars galaxy that you do. You must be catered to.

2. It is the first episodes of the first season.

You expect a new show to be fully developed with a cast that is already full of chemistry and completely integrated with the technical and story writing teams. Also, all the animation models for every character, ship, and world are fully designed with no need for a single enhancement. You believe the first episode of the first season should have the exact same level of quality as an episode at the end of the third season.

3. It is not the Clone Wars.

You believe Star Wars: The Clone Wars was the highest form of animated entertainment and that anyone who did not watch the show regularly are not "real fans" or are Prequel-bashers. You like dark stories with little humor and a serious approach to the content. You expect that since Dave Filoni is heading the team that the same style of stories will be told. You don't want anything new or different. Lastly, for you, if the animation is not rendered in detailed high-definition then it is not good animation.

4. It will sell toys and merchandise.

How could a company possibly consider selling merchandise when spending millions of dollars making a television series? Nevermind the fact that it was because George Lucas retained merchandising rights back in 1977 that Lucasfilm could even come into existence. You also overlook the hours of fun you had playing with those 3.75 inch figures in your backyard, or looking at your Empire Strikes Back lunchbox on the bus on the way to school. Now it is all just greedy, soulless capitalism to your enlightened (cynical) mind.

5. The 1983 George Lucas is not involved.

It is not Star Wars unless George Lucas is involved - but it must be your version of George Lucas. The one from 1983 who made the original trilogy, or the one from 1980 if you hated the Ewoks. Certainly not the one from 2005 who made the prequels - or maybe the one from 2013 who made those Clone Wars episodes that reflected classic movie style because those didn't "feel like Star Wars" to you. You know you have the right version of George Lucas.

6. Is this not you?

Congratulations! You have a healthy level of interest in the Star Wars universe. You know not everything will be perfect. You understand that the people at the helm will make creative choices that you may not agree with or will take time for you to get into. You know that mistakes will be made and learned from. But, no matter what, you are excited that new Star Wars stories are being told and that the joy you felt as a kid will be passing onto future generations that you can share your fandom with.

The "Kid Show" Concern

There is a segment of fandom that is very concerned that Star Wars Rebels will be a "kid show". These people likely base if off the fact that Lucasfilm is owned by Disney and that the show will be on the Disney XD channel, which has a target segment of pre-teen/young teenage boys.

For me, I am hoping it *is* a "kid" show. Let's face it, while the Clone Wars featured fantastic animation and frequently very good storytelling, it was really not meant for kids - teenagers and adults, yes, but not for younger kids. When watching some Clone Wars episodes with my nine year old son recently on Netflix, he asked me if there was an episode without so much killing. This was why I stopped watching the show with him during season one. I thought a few years later he would be more comfortable with it. But I must conclude that no, this show is just not meant for kids.

I think it is telling that a recent Star Wars blog posted the top five kid-friendly episodes in the Clone Wars series. I agree with the list and I also think that the reason it is a top five list and not a top ten list is because those are the only episodes out of 122 that really are kid friendly.

Honestly, what is wrong with a "kid" show? I know popular culture is telling us the only way you can tell appealing stories for adults is to fill it with gratuitous violence, sex, and foul langauge (see Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and practically every other television series). But I completely disagree. One of Walt Disney's guiding principles when developing his entertainment - whether it was movies or amusement parks - was that it appeal to both children and adults. It was entertainment that everyone could enjoy together. How is that a bad thing?

I can offer up at least one prime example of a great television series that we all watch together as a family, on Disney Channel no less - Phineas and Ferb. Think of it as a more light-hearted Simpsons without the off-color humor or cynicism. There are funny references in there that adults can chuckle at and plenty of action that the kids can really get into.

Episode IV did have some dark elements to it, but it was also fun and adventurous. It's a movie that I know the whole family can enjoy. I saw the recent clip from Rebels and I am very encouraged that the show will follow in its style. Bring on the kid show!

The Rebels Revealed!

The Main Characters of Star Wars Rebels
Hera, Sabine, Kanan,Zeb, Chopper, and Ezra

So we now have the lead cast of the newest venture of Star Wars animation - Rebels. I must say I am excited to see it. As Lucasfilm was releasing one character per day, I was concerned that the show would be too much of A New Hope allegory. And, yes, while we do have a Chewbacca type, a Han Solo type, and an Artoo type, there are enough interesting differences to make it interesting.

Kanan Jarrus (Human Jedi) - First off, I love the name. I first thought it was pronounced like my favorite Indycar driver, Tony Kanaan. My wife and I were considering using the Biblical spelling of the name, Canaan, for daughter. I think having this type of character was inevitable considering the era. Is this a fusion of the Luke & Han characters? Perhaps, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. He reminds me of Captain Mal of the Firefly television series.

Ezra Bridger (Human Teenager) - If you are going to have a show on Disney XD, it certainly helps to have a kid in the cast. I like the twist of it being a misfit Force-sensitive boy who, like Jango Fett said, is trying to make his way in the universe.This seems like a scenario of what if a young Boba Fett had Force powers and came under the tutelage of someone more experienced?

Zeb Orrelios (Unknown Alien) - This alien, which is a new race, is obviously derived from early concept drawings of Ralph McQuarrie for Chewbacca. I'm glad he speaks Basic and is apparently very intelligent. Will he be like Beast from X-Men?

Sabine (Mandalorian) - This is the most out-of-box thinking of all the Rebels characters we know about. I love the fact that she is a female Mando and also an artist. I really don't know what to expect from her and that is a good thing!

Hera Syndulla (Twi'lek) - I am very glad we have more than one female character in the main cast.  As the father of not only a son but also a daughter I have become more keenly aware of the lack of strong heroines in the GFFA. Padme had potential, but her strength diminished throughout the prequels and effectively committed suicide with the birth of her children. No thank you. Hera strikes me as the most level-headed of the group and someone you should listen to when she talks.

C1-10P / Chopper (Astromech Droid) - The obligatory droid. I'm glad they didn't include a protocol droid. I like the Ralph McQuarrie style of this character.I just hope that he doesn't become an irritating one.

The Inquisitor (Pau-an) - The Col. Roderick Decker of Rebels? So how does he use that lightsaber without cutting his leg off?

I must admit I was not a huge fan of the Clone Wars. While I did respect the technical brillance of the show, and I very glad they made the series, the stories just did not grab me. Perhaps it is because I am more of a fan of the OT era than the PT era. Rebels looks to be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to it!