Summary
Cal Kestis has become a fantastic character in theStar Warsuniverse and that’s largely because of his depiction as an atypical Jedi. Cal’s intuitions aren’t always in tune with an ordinary Jedi’s, and though he initially wishes to rebuild the Jedi Order he eventually comes to accept that he may be a loneForce- and lightsaber-wielderin his quest to resuscitate hope in the galaxy. Cal’s life as it stands now is at an interesting intersection inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorand, though many loose threads have been bookended, there’s one that still looms as a constant threat.
The battle to overthrow the Galactic Empire and how trivial Cal’s part in that effort was made an engaging theme inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. On the one hand, Cal’s plight has always been grassroots, and having him make a significant difference now seems futile. On the other hand, Cal also doesn’t appear anywhere else inStar Warscanon yet, meaning nothing he does can be so impactful as to cause retroactive ripples. That said,Survivor’s sequel may be leading up to a legitimate duel between Cal and Darth Vader that would be equal parts emotionally satisfying and canonically unsatisfying.
Cal’s Tragedies All Stem from Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine
Vader is the Reason for All of Cal’s Loss and Heartache in the Star Wars Jedi Franchise
The reason why Cal is an atypical Jedi in the first place is the result of the Jedi Order being eradicated along with his Master being murdered, and by all accounts that is Anakin Skywalker’s doing. Darth Vader may not have been the one to strike Jaro Tapal down—no, that was a handful of clone troopers who were apparently skilled enough to kill the huge Lasat wielding a double-bladed lightsaber—but him succumbing to the dark side of the Force allowed Sheev Palpatine’s Order 66 to land successfully withAnakin leading a raid on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.
Anakin’s actions then also resulted in Cal needing to hide as a refugee and Prauf’s murder inFallen Orderbefore Trilla Suduri was cut down in front of Cal and her former Master. Here, Respawn exercised incredible restraint as it offered up Darth Vader as a boss fight that fooled players into believing they might take on the OP Sith Lord when it actually precipitated a tense escape sequence.
Cal doesn’t seem to harbor any feelings of hatred or resentment toward Darth Vader in particular while seeing the Empire overall as an enemy, buta Darth Vader boss fightin the thirdStar Wars Jedigame could give him closure after almost all of the tragedy in Cal’s life was authored by Anakin.
Cal Shouldn’t Need to Fight Vader, and Doing So Wouldn’t Make a Difference
Of course, to say that Cal is the only person whose life was severely and devastatingly affected by Darth Vader would be absurd. Cere Junda’s whole perspective on the Jedi was tarnished when she wasn’t strong enough not to give up her Padawan, for instance, and though she reconciled that and returned to the Force with conviction even she received closure by landing as close to a fatal strike on Darth Vader as anyone inSurvivor.
In many ways,Star Wars Jedihelped tell that story of closure better through Cere’s lensand having Cal pursue Darth Vader would be redundant for multiple reasons now. For one, Cal can’t kill Darth Vader because of what’s already been established in the lore and continuity that was created long before Cal ever appeared in theStar Wars Jedifranchise.
Besides, because Cal has never once targeted his anger toward Darth Vader it would seem random to do so now in a third game, and bringing Darth Vader back a third time would also feel repetitive as the franchise regurgitates him to maintain IP iconography. Darth Vader should always have an overwhelming presence in anyStar Warsmedia set in this particular era, though Cal doesn’t need to concern himself with Anakin any longer andRespawn wouldn’t gain anything from having them clash lightsabers again.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
