This month marks the twentieth anniversary of the launch of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the concluding chapter in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. The movie was launched on Could 19, 2005, and it might find yourself being the remaining Star Wars movie guided by George Lucas earlier than he bought Lucasfilm to Disney seven years later.
Followers knew going into Revenge of the Sith that this was the place we’d see Anakin Skywalker flip to the Darkish Facet of the Power and develop into Darth Vader, however an enormous query was what precisely occurred to all the different Jedi. The movie’s reply was Order 66, a diabolical a part of Palpatine’s plan by which he would have all of the Clone Troopers who had fought with the Jedi all through the Clone Wars out of the blue activate these Jedi and execute them. However with a number of 1000’s of Jedi in service at the time, it stood to motive that some would slip by Palpatine’s fingers – and never simply the couple we knew had to as a result of they had been nonetheless round in the Authentic Trilogy.
So amongst the few dozen Order 66 survivors who’ve been launched in canon Star Wars tales by now, we’ve determined to rank the prime 10 which have made an particularly large impression. A few of them would solely survive for a short while longer, whereas others managed to make it a lot additional into the timeline – and in a number of instances, their remaining destiny stays unknown. Regardless, all of those Jedi a minimum of lived on to struggle yet another day after Palpatine declared “Execute Order 66.”
Some floor guidelines: The factors for this listing is that these characters needed to have spent a while, previous to Order 66, underneath the jurisdiction of the Jedi Order, whether or not their remaining rank was Padawan, Jedi Knight, Jedi Grasp and even merely these amongst the very younger Jedi Provoke. So meaning we’re not counting Power-users like Maul (nor his former Grasp, Palpatine himself). Nor would it not embody then-young Power wielders like Jod Na Nawood who by no means had been formally taken in by the Jedi Order and definitely by no means stepped foot in the Jedi Temple, even when they obtained a modicum of coaching from a Jedi.
That being mentioned, we did have some inside angst about whether or not Asajj Ventress ought to make it on right here. In spite of everything, she spent over 20 years alongside a Jedi, Ky Narec, who declared her to be his Padawan as he educated her in the methods of the Power whereas he was stranded along with her on the planet Rattatak. But, throughout that point, Ventress by no means traveled to Coruscant or encountered any of the Jedi Council, nor some other Jedi, previous to Ky Narec’s dying. That, plus her flip to the Darkish Facet as Dooku’s apprentice, makes her a little bit of a murky component with reference to her official Jedi standing. So take into account her an honorable point out. Although talking of that, let’s additionally cope with…
(Dis)Honorable Point out: Darth Vader and the Inquisitors
Anakin Skywalker’s first act as Darth Vader was to observe Palpatine’s orders and personally participate in Order 66… however sure, earlier than he turned murderous traitor, he was a exceptional Jedi. And we must also acknowledge all those that ended up becoming a member of the ranks of Vader’s vicious Inquisitors, who then hunted down and executed their very own fellow Jedi survivors. Some, like the Grand Inquisitor, appeared keen to assist; Barriss Offee and the Thirteenth Sister (Iskat Akaris) had grown disillusioned with the Jedi Council and what they noticed as that group’s corruption; the Second Sister (Trilla Suduri) and the Ninth Sister (Masana Tide) had been tortured into submission; and the Third Sister (Reva) deliberate to finally get revenge on Vader for killing her fellow Jedi younglings, whilst the actual reasonings for a number of others to affix up stays unknown. However whether or not they had been Inquisitors solely briefly or for years, they frolicked collaborating in some notably darkish and brutal acts.
…Okay, possibly not Barriss a lot. She appeared to depart fairly rapidly, actually.
10. Gungi
Typically adorableness will get you additional factors. As a result of certain, we may have chosen former Jedi Council members like Oppo Rancisis or Eeth Koth for this tenth slot, given in addition they survived Order 66 (a minimum of for some time), however in the finish we needed to go together with the Padawan referred to as Gungi. As a result of take a look at this dude – he’s a younger wookiee with a lightsaber! That energy is simple.
Gungi was launched on Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a part of a bunch of younger Padawan throughout a storyline that after was envisioned as a possible Younger Jedi spinoff. Then, on Star Wars: The Dangerous Batch – set in the quick aftermath of Order 66 – we discovered he had one way or the other survived, although sadly it’s not going his Padawan associates may say the similar. We final noticed Gungi again on Kashyyyk, becoming a member of a brand new tribe who fought alongside him after he found his unique tribe had tragically been killed by Trandoshans.
9. Jocastu Nu
“Jedi Librarian” isn’t precisely the most intimidating title, and the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives was launched in Assault of the Clones in a reasonably annoying style, representing the conceitedness of the Prequel-era Jedi by her insistence that “If an merchandise doesn’t seem in our data, it doesn’t exist!” (Spoiler alert: She was unsuitable.)
Nonetheless, this huge fake pas apart, she was actually an extremely educated Jedi who additionally had entry to secrets and techniques about the Jedi and the Power nobody else did – which is why Palpatine really needed her introduced in alive when it was found she survived Order 66. Finally, she was as an alternative killed by Darth Vader, in an early, secret act of defiance towards his Sith Grasp, after she instructed Vader she knew he was really Anakin Slklywalker and that Palpatine would use her data to seek out and corrupt extra Power-sensitive youngsters to the Darkish Facet. Years later, Anakin’s son, Luke, would collect data Jocasta collected as he tried to rebuild the Jedi Order.
8. Quinlan Vos
Current on the periphery of the Prequel trilogy – he’s glimpsed as a background character on Tatooine in The Phantom Menace and name-dropped by Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith – Quinlan Vos first received much more focus in Star Wars Legends tales that weren’t canon. Nonetheless, we’d then get a greater concept of the true historical past of the character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and different tales, as we discovered he was a Jedi who usually handled the felony underworld, resembling the Hutts and Cad Bane.
From changing into the lover of Asajj Ventress to quickly being turned to the Darkish Facet of the Power by Depend Dooku, Vos lived an eclectic life – after which managed to narrowly keep away from being killed when the Clone Troopers turned on the Jedi whereas he fought alongside them on Kashyyyk, although he was wounded in the course of. Whether or not he made it to the period of the Authentic Trilogy is unknown, however Vos was a minimum of round for a number of extra years, with Obi-Wan Kenobi finally discovering his identify amongst different surviving Jedi and Power delicate beings who had joined and used the secret community referred to as the Hidden Path to remain protected throughout the time of the Empire.
7. Baylan Skoll
Although the most recently-introduced character on this listing, with many particulars we don’t find out about him as but, there are quite a lot of intriguing parts to former Jedi Knight Baylan Skoll. Skoll has a decidedly world-weary demeanor, recalling Order 66 by explaining “I watched every part I knew burn,” and noting he got here to imagine that the fall of the Jedi and rise of the Empire had been merely the newest iteration of historical past frequently repeating itself.
Although we don’t know the way precisely he survived Order 66, Skoll neither stayed on a righteous path nor appeared to really flip to the Darkish Facet, as others like the Inquisitors appeared to. As an alternative, he used his Jedi expertise as a mercenary for rent, and finally took on an apprentice, Shin Hati. The actor who originated the function of Skoll, the nice Ray Stevenson, has sadly handed away since filming Ahsoka Season 1, however the character will return in Season 2, now performed by Sport of Thrones’ Rory McCann – and maybe we are going to be taught extra of his backstory in the course of.
6. Caleb Dume / Kanan Jarus
Padawan to the Jedi Depa Billaba when Order 66 started, Caleb Dume was unable to save lots of his Grasp’s life, however managed to outlive himself because of some help from Clone Power 99, aka the Dangerous Batch. Happening the run throughout the galaxy, Dume modified his identification to Kanan Jarus, and for a very long time, forsook all of his Jedi methods. Ultimately although, he determined to start preventing towards the Empire, becoming a member of with the group of heroes at the middle of the animated collection Star Wars Rebels, the place he handed on his information of the Power to younger Ezra Bridger, though Kanan had by no means accomplished his personal time as a Padawan.
Their adventures would finally lead Kanan and his fellow crew members on the Ghost to completely be a part of the rising Insurgent Alliance, however Kanan’s sacrifices can be many alongside the approach, as he first misplaced his eyesight in a battle with Maul after which misplaced his life to guard his associates. However Kanan’s legacy carries on each by his apprentice Ezra, and thru Kanan and Insurgent pilot Hera Syndulla’s son Jacen.
5. Grogu
The mega-cute, oh-so merchandise-friendly, breakout character from The Mandalorian, Grogu was launched as a child in the post-Return of the Jedi period of Star Wars, finally changing into the adopted son to Din Djarin. Nonetheless, because of his mysterious species’ notably lengthy lifespan, it seems being a child is a decades-long course of for Grogu, which is why it made sense that he had actually been a Jedi Provoke who was current at the Jedi Temple the evening Order 66 occurred. In Grogu’s case, one other Order 66 survivor, Ahmed Greatest’s Kelleran Beq (whose final destiny is unknown), was in a position to get him away from Coruscant in the midst of the Jedi bloodbath.
Regardless of his (comparatively) younger age and toddler-like demeanor, Grogu is clearly innately robust in the Power to a notably spectacular diploma, already able to levitating giant objects and even utilizing Power therapeutic talents. All of which insinuates that when he lastly grows up, he has the capability to be as highly effective as one other well-known member of his species we’ll be speaking about extra beneath.
4. Cal Ketis
The protagonist of the video games Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Padawan Cal Ketis had an identical background to Kanan in that he and his Jedi Grasp had been away from Coruscant when Order 66 was declared, with Cal making it to security whereas his Grasp didn’t. Although he additionally went into hiding in the aftermath, Cal ended up on the radar of the Inquisitors, which despatched him on a journey that led him to take an energetic function towards the Empire a lot before Kanan did.
A notably expert lightsaber combatant, Cal additionally stands out for making an attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order far sooner than others like Luke Skywalker would. From teaming with the militant Noticed Gerrera to aiding the Hidden Path in defending different Jedi and Power-sensitive survivors, to creating it by an encounter with Darth Vader himself, Cal saved lots busy throughout the reign of the Empire – although it’s not but recognized what his remaining destiny is or if he was nonetheless round by the time of the Battle of Yavin.
3. Ahsoka Tano
Sure, she technically left the Jedi Order and would even go on to memorably declare “I’m no Jedi,” however Ahsoka Tano’s ability and braveness certain mark her as an incredible Jedi, even when she wasn’t calling herself that any longer. The Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka was an enormous a part of the Clone Wars (the battle) and an enormous a part of The Clone Wars (the collection), as we noticed her develop from a sarcastic teenager right into a assured and centered younger girl who fought with honor in lots of notable battles. Ultimately although, she felt compelled to depart the Jedi after they tried her for a criminal offense she didn’t commit, even after they tried to carry her again into the fold with their model of “Our unhealthy.”
Reunited along with her Clone Trooper associates as the battle was coming to an finish, her Jedi standing of their eyes was clear when Order 66 was declared, as those self same Clone Troopers then tried to kill her. She would survive, although it pained her to take action at the expense of males she had fought alongside for thus lengthy. Serving to the burgeoning Insurgent Alliance by the years that adopted, Ahsoka would make it by the Galactic Civil Struggle, along with her present adventures, on her personal live-action collection, now bringing each her and her apprentice, Sabine Wren, to a completely completely different galaxy far, far-off from the one she’s recognized.
2. Obi-Wan Kenobi
The previous Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn and a hero of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan’s adventures and accomplishments are many, although it’s his relationship with Anakin Skywalker that might maybe outline him, for higher or worse. As Anakin’s Grasp, Obi-Wan did all he may to impart knowledge and information to his Padawan, solely to see him fall to the Darkish Facet and develop into Darth Vader.
Offworld when Order 66 was declared, Obi-Wan managed to flee when his Clone Troopers, led by Commander Cody, turned on him. He would go on to confront Darth Vader on Mustafar, profitable their battle and leaving his former buddy and surrogate brother horribly maimed but nonetheless respiratory. Whereas he spent most of the subsequent 20 years quietly watching over Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, he would quickly go away the planet to guard Luke’s sister, Leia Organa, which in flip introduced him into battle with Vader once more. And whereas their third and remaining lightsaber battle, onboard the Demise Star, would finish in Obi-Wan’s dying, he had already begun Luke’s Jedi coaching at that time. This set Luke on a path in the direction of redeeming Vader and ending the reign of the Empire, with Obi-Wan’s Power Ghost generally showing alongside the option to give Luke steerage.
1. Yoda
Arguably the strongest Jedi we’ve ever seen, the diminutive and considerate Yoda will not be one to make a present of simply what he’s able to carrying out except he has to. But it surely was clear he was somebody of nice knowledge and information from the second Luke met him on Dagobah – after he drops his humorous “I’m only a bizarre swamp creature” bit with Luke that’s – who is ready to really feel and faucet into the Power in a approach that’s deeply profound. Is his mysterious race innately tied to the Power? Given the solely three we’ve met who symbolize these beings – Yoda, Yaddle and Grogu – are highly effective in the Power, it appears doable.
As we lastly noticed throughout the Prequels, Yoda may each duel with a lightsaber and harness the Power and its talents like few others – even deflecting Power Lightning when the formidable likes of Anakin and Obi-Wan had been incapable of doing so. This was why the Clone Troopers who tried to take him down on Kashyyyk when Order 66 was declared actually stood no probability. Come on, Clones… that is freaking Yoda!
Confronting an opponent not like some other when he battled Emperor Palpatine quickly after, Yoda survived that battle however was compelled into hiding, deciding warning was the greatest method for the time being and with so few Jedi now left alive. After years alone on Dagobah, Yoda would lastly be joined by Luke Skywalker, giving Anakin’s son the essential coaching he wanted to finally develop into a Jedi himself. Although Yoda’s a whole bunch of years of life lastly got here to an finish shortly earlier than the Galactic Civil Struggle got here to its conclusion, he would nonetheless preserve a presence as a Power Ghost – even returning to present an older Luke yet another little bit of sage recommendation many years later.
Who do you assume the most noteworthy survivor of Order 66 is? Let’s talk about in the feedback. And vote in our ballot above!