6 Things to Take From Rogue One
On December 16, 2016, we all got to witness Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and we can all agree (most of us anyways) that it was definitely one of the best Star Wars films to date. We can talk about so many things from the film from the characters, the plot, even the foreshadowing. But for now, I chose 6 interesting things to consider.
Ancient Order of the Whills
Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen) were once members of the Guardians of the Whills before the Empire came and destroyed the temple in Jedha. Although briefly mentioned, the concept of the Whills is very important to the Star Wars lore. The Ancient Order of the Whills was a religious order that was closely connected to the Force. They treated the Force as a form of religion which we see throughout Star Wars. One of their sacred texts was the Journal of the Whills which chronicles the history of the galaxy. Their knowledge of the Force is said to be much more advanced than most Jedi. In fact, a Shaman of the Whills taught Qui-Gon Jinn the secret of eternal consciousness, allowing him to maintain contact with the living.
So what makes the Guardians of the Whills so important now? If you recall from Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens, Han Solo said that Luke Skywalker may have been searching for the first Jedi Temple. We can also assume that Luke will be teaching Rey about the Force. What better way than to start with the Ancient Order of the Whills. Setting up the Whills in Rogue One could be incredibly crucial to the Skywalker story. Not to mention, the Star Wars writers did confirm that Jedha would be making a return to films in the future. For all we know, the secrets of the Whills is hidden somewhere on Jedha and Luke will need to find them.
Fun fact: George Lucas came up with the concept of the Whills when he first started Star Wars. Originally, Lucas intended for A New Hope to be a story from the Journal of the Whills. The idea for the Journal to be a framing device was scrapped but the concept of the Whills is alive and well.
Another fun fact: In the opening scene of The Force Awakens, Lor San Tekka, the man who gave Poe Dameron the information, was a member of the Church of the Force. In other words, he was a modern member of the Ancient Order of the Whills.
Kyber Crystals
The kyber crystals were shown many times in Star Wars: The Clone Wars but rarely get a mention in the films. We learn that they are the power source of lightsabers and the Death Star. However, it is much more than just a power source. The kyber crystals are directly connected to the Force. They grow on certain planets and the Jedi would go through trials to seek them out. It is said that a crystal cannot simply be taken but must be activated by Jedi who are ready. It is also said that the crystals themselves are sentient. Because of this connection to the Force, those who are not Force-sensitive use the crystals as religious items. In Rogue One, Jyn Erso’s mother gives her a crystal to wear as a necklace, telling her to trust the Force. When the Rogue One ship is entering Scarif, Jyn holds the crystal tightly and closes her eyes as if she was praying. In addition, kyber crystals are linked to visions. When Rey touches Luke’s lightsaber, she has a “Forceback” (coined by JJ Abrams) and the first thing that Jyn Erso does after having a flashback was touch her crystal.
While the Jedi and the rebels find great meaning in the kyber crystals, the Empire abuses them. Galen Erso worked extensively to harness the power of the kyber crystals to create the Death Star. To the Empire, the crystals are a destructive power to be exploited.
So why is this important to know? Just as I stated with the Whills, I believe it is no coincidence that they explored the kyber crystals now. If Luke Skywalker really is learning more about the Jedi and teaching Rey to become one, they will need to know more about kyber crystals.
Fun fact: Kylo Ren’s crossguard lightsaber has a cracked crystal. When The Force Awakens was released, not many people paid attention to this detail. People who did notice it simply appreciated it as a metaphor for Kylo’s broken character. However, knowing more about the crystals put his lightsaber in a new light. I would assume that the crystal cracked on its own when Kylo activated it. Maybe he originally had a clean crystal but it cracked when he began the path of a dark Jedi. Hopefully they explore this more in the future.
Another fun fact: Chirrut’s staff that he uses for walking and fighting actually has a sliver of a kyber crystal on the very tip. Kyber crystals give off a harmonic sound that usually only Jedi can hear. Chirrut was able to hear it either because his blindness enhanced his hearing or he may possibly be Force-sensitive. He uses the crystal as a guide in battle, listening to it as it gives off an echo location. Also, this explains how he knew that Jyn had a crystal on her necklace. He simply heard it.
Theory of the Force
Chirrut Imwe: “The strongest stars have hearts of kyber.”
This quote brings up a theory that I have been speculating for awhile. I know others have thought the same. If you have information that helps this theory, please comment below!
Stars emit great energy. This energy surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. Sound familiar? I believe this energy is the Force. Kyber crystals harness this energy which is why its powers are so destructive. Those who are Force-sensitive can tap into this energy and manipulate it. Not only can they move things but they can sense beings all across the galaxy since this energy connects them all. When their training is advanced, they can activate the true potential in kyber crystals to create their ultimate weapon. Although there is some science to this, it is still mysterious enough to by mystical.
The crystals play a huge role in the conflict between the Empire/Sith and the Rebels/Jedi. The Empire and Sith want to harness the crystals to control the galaxy with their war machines. The Rebels and Jedi worship the Force and preserve the crystals. The crystals harness the very power of the stars, the very essence of the Force. This puts a whole new meaning to the name “Star Wars.”
Empire Propaganda
When Director Orson Krennic and his Death Troopers come for Galen Erso and his family, one Death Trooper picks up a Stormtrooper doll. This was a quick scene but it does say a lot about the Empire. When the Clones were discontinued and the Empire started recruiting actual soldiers to become Stormtroopers, propaganda was spread throughout the galaxy. The animated series Star Wars: Rebels does an excellent job showing this aspect of Star Wars. Some of the viral marketing for Star Wars: Rebels included recruitment posters.
So how does this relate to the Stormtrooper doll? Do you remember those little green soldier toys? It is essentially the same deal. Children play with soldier toys because they are the heroes in a playtime fantasy. Toys usually become a friend of sorts (see Toy Story to understand what I mean). So if your child plays with a Stormtrooper doll, then they grow up thinking that Stormtroopers are friends. Now this raises the question of why Jyn had a Stormtrooper doll. Of course, she may have liked them when she was little since Galen had ties to the Empire. Or maybe she uses it as a voodoo doll and stabs it every day. We can imagine. Toys are always for the imagination.
Expanded Universe
If you know very little about the Star Wars franchise as a whole, you may think that Saw Gerrera was just a throwaway character. However, he is much bigger than you think. Saw first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In season 5, we get to see Saw as a rash and arrogant rebel who always wants to take action. He was seen alongside Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka. Decades later, Saw now appears in Rogue One as an extremist who has broken ties with the Rebel Alliance. His name also appears in the Star Wars novel Bloodlines by Claudia Gray. This marks the first time a character that originated from an animated series appears in the films. This solidifies the connection between the films, TV series, and novels. In fact, Forest Whitaker will return to voice Saw in Star Wars: Rebels. Expect to see his character and band of extremists fight against the Empire.
Future films will definitely follow suit and make connections to other mediums of the Star Wars lore. For example, in the Han Solo comic book series, we discover that Han Solo may have had a wife in the past named Sana Starros. However, Han denies this. Perhaps the Han Solo film will explore this little detail. We can only speculate now.
The Spinoffs Will Be Successful
When Disney and Lucasfilms announced that they would be expanding the Star Wars universe with spinoff films, many fans approached this with skepticism. Now, we can definitely put more faith in the Force. While we wait for the next Episode in the Skywalker legacy, we can all look forward to stories that have no relation to the Skywalkers. We know Han Solo is in the works. A Boba Fett film is being planned. There are many other ideas on the table and the possibilities are endless. Many fans want to see a Ben Kenobi film exploring his adventures after the events of Revenge of the Sith. A Seven Samurai-styled film with Jedi has been rumored for some time. Another film with bounty hunters, mainly Mandalorians is definitely being considered. Of course, we would all want a Star Wars film about the Old Republic where Jedi and Sith raged war. Like I said, the possibilities are endless and any doubts we ever had can be cast aside.
If you want to read more about Rogue One, please comment! The best part of a fandom is how we communicate about the things we love.
