The original, and presumably its sequel, take place during what’s becoming a more and more interesting place in the Star Wars timeline. Cal Kestis was a Padawan when the dreadful Order 66 came dowe, but thanks to his master’s sacrifice, Cal was able to escape execution by the newly formed Galactic Empire. This time period of the early Empire is being explored more and more with shows like The Bad Batch and some of the flashback sequences during The Mandalorian. But in building a sequel to a pivotal Star Wars game, it could be interesting to see the first Star Wars sequel’s themes have an influence, Empire Strikes Back.
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Empire Strikes Back Could Influence Jedi: Fallen Order 2
Ironically given its elevated status among fans now, Empire Strikes Back was fairly divisive when it first released. The lens of history has helped the movie grow to be recognized for its merits, in much the way the younger generation has embraced the prequel films in general. The movie sees Luke encounter his second Jedi Master after the death of Kenobi, the other members of the crew engage in adventures aside from him that helped cement their characters, and tempted Luke towards the Dark Side. Fallen Order 2 has a huge amount of content to draw influence from, but Empire Strikes Back could prove its greatest influence.
Cal’s journey already draws certain parallels with Luke, as do many of the Jedi throughout Star Wars’ history. Although he was aware of his Jedi abilities, Cal’s adventure begins in isolation away from prying eyes until he is inevitably thrust into his destiny. But while it’s important for Fallen Order 2 to distinguish Cal from the pack, many of the pitfalls Luke narrowly avoided could create unique experiences for Cal Kestis. Players have already seen the Dark Side of the Force influence Cal when at his most vulnerable, with Talion serving a similar role to Vader in trying to pull Cal deeper.
If that theme is explored further in Fallen Order 2 then Merrin’s presence will make Cal’s experience unique. As a Nightsister, Merrin is accutely attuned to the Dark Side and all of its capabilities. Her coven practiced dark magic (fueled by the Force in Star Wars fashion) that had already done much harm in the galaxy like the creation of Darth Maul and Savage Opress during the Clone Wars series. She has come to join Cal’s crew and learned important lessons about doing what’s right, but her connection to darker aspects of the force could come into play well. An Empire Strikes Back-style tempting of Cal Kestis would play out very differently depending on how Merrin reacts to it.
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Fallen Order 2 Should Learn From Star Wars’ Past and Present
Cal has already established himself as a very powerful Jedi, but his journey to mastery isn’t over. A key part of Empire Strikes Back was the introduction of Yoda as a new mentor for Luke. The eccentric creature was almost a direct foil to Obi-Wan Kenobi, but his teachings became very valuable to Luke going forward. Fallen Order 2 could have a problem finding a master for Cal to study under though. After Order 66, most of the Jedi are dead and the survivors largely live in exile.
There are still options for Cal, however. In what could be a good fusion of Empire Strikes Back influences with the newer content, maybe Ahsoka Tano could appear in Fallen Order 2. The headstrong former Jedi would be more experienced than her Clone Wars’ iteration but not quite as jaded as she seemed in The Mandalorian. While Ahsoka didn’t complete her training either, she hadn’t severed her connection to the Force like Cal or Cere Junda. With Jedi like Kenobi pretty much an impossibility, Ahsoka or a new Jedi created specifically for Fallen Order 2 seem the most likely choice.
Another thing about Empire Strikes Back that would do well in a Fallen Order sequel would be giving the supporting cast a moment to shine. This could be as simple as a playable Merrin in Fallen Order 2 on some of her own missions, although a more grandiose way would be to have Cal Kestis get separated from the crew of the Mantis. This could simultaneously be a good way to focus Cal on his training and allowing the other members to shine in some exploits of their own.
Much like Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to Fallen Order has the opportunity to build on its own lore. Fallen Order got a lot right with its first outing, and learning from what it got right while examining the first sequel in Star Wars’ history for inspiration could go a long way. Fans will be looking at Fallen Order 2 under a microscope, but blending the iconic themes in Empire Strikes Back while embracing its place in a very interesting place in the overall narrative could push the sequel into classic territory.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 isn’t confirmed to be in development.
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