It seems like there could be a new dawn for the galaxy far, far away soon across all mediums. Still, many are cautious about some projects after the sequel trilogy, with the last two films dividing a fanbase that is divided any further. And yet, as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gets prepared for its sequel, it seems clear that it should effectively be “The Last Jedi” of its franchise.
RELATED: Star Wars Pattern Doesn’t Bode Well for Cere in Jedi: Fallen Order 2
The Last Jedi: A New Kind of Star Wars Story
The Last Jedi is loved and hated by many, but what it did right was bring in elements not really seen in previous movies. The original trilogy is all about Luke’s hero journey, while the prequel trilogies were a tragedy. Fans knew that Anakin would become Darth Vader, and that made the trilogy all the better—even if it too proved to have its own controversies. However, both fell into the trap of self-fulfilling prophecies, something Luke acknowledges himself in The Last Jedi as he develops a reputation no one person could live up to, and Darth Vader’s fate was set well before The Phantom Menace came out.
The Last Jedi did things like the Holdo Maneuver, epic team-up fights like Rey (Jedi) and Kylo Ren (“Sith”) in Snoke’s chamber, unique fight and abilities like Luke’s projection across the galaxy and his demonstration of passiveness in the face of his former student, epic callbacks, former allies uniting, and more. At the very least, it didn’t go the route of Rise of Skywalker and give a throwaway explanation for the return of Palpatine.
At the end of the day, it’s also a story about failure. It wasn’t a typical installment in a hero’s journey and it wasn’t a tragedy with a predictable end, but it asked questions of identity and what people believe. Luke Skywalker, thought to be an infallible Jedi, ran from his mistakes instead of facing them. Rey, in the same shoes Luke was once with his father, seeks redemption from someone who—at the time—was clearly unwilling to be redeemed. Poe’s mission to save the Resistance is out of turn and, as such, hurts more than anything else. Rose and Finn go looking for a particular person, just to find someone who can do it who betrays them later. The whole resistance, though they survived thanks to Rey and Luke, is on the verge of collapse.
Seeing heroes fall isn’t easy; that’s why it’s avoided in a lot of storytelling. But that’s what made The Last Jedi unique, as its story doesn’t use utilizes but embraces its characters’ faults as humans, as people, and that’s an important lesson for Jedi: Fallen Order 2.
RELATED: Star Wars: Luke’s Personality in The Last Jedi Basically Came From George Lucas
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 – Emphasis on the Fallen
In the first Jedi: Fallen Order, fans see the hero’s journey of Cal Kestis. His fear and disconnection from the Force are part of past failures he’s overcoming. The same goes for Cere, who is witnessing the fallout of “abandoning” her apprentice. The sequel could go on to explore more of the Inquisitors, allowing Cal to become their avenger, or it could go in another direction entirely. However, the choice at the end of the first game means that Cal’s team can’t just rebuild the Jedi. No matter how they impact or don’t impact the franchise, that’s not a goal for them.
Whatever that goal becomes, Jedi: Fallen Order 2 should look to stand out just as The Last Jedi did. If it falls into another hero’s journey or a clear tragedy, it could still be good, but it may not be great. Perhaps fans see Cere face a new threat from her past, learning to live with and forgive herself for it as Luke did, yet still dying in the process. Perhaps this pushes Cal to the Dark Side and he lashes out, harming those he never would and once again fearing his connection to the Force. Perhaps something they’ve begun to build falls apart before their very eyes, and fans see their heroes fall in more ways than, highlighting their faults as humans and as people.
It remains to be seen, of course, and perhaps it goes in an entirely different direction. But, as EA has referred to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as a franchise, that implies more than two games based on Cal’s story. Jedi: Fallen Order may be its flagship Star Wars series as more and more Star Wars video games release, and that means it can’t just be any run-of-the-mill game. Following in The Last Jedi’s footsteps and delivering upon that idea in a well-developed third game (at least)—where perhaps their failure are redeemed—may prove to be contentious, but it may be exactly what it needs to be great.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 is reportedly in development.
MORE: Star Wars Visions Review
