Spoiler Alert: This text incorporates spoilers for Star Wars: Tales of the Empire.
Latest installments within the Star Wars franchise have incited no small quantity of heated debate. Reside-action reveals like Andor and The Mandalorian have rightly acquired important acclaim. Nonetheless, I imagine just a few of the animated collection—Clone Wars, Unhealthy Batch, Rebels, and the anime-style Visions, particularly—have been the best additions to the Star Wars grand narrative previously decade.
Tales of the Empire continues this pattern. Launched as a part of this yr’s “Could the Fourth” celebration, Empire is a follow-up miniseries to Tales of the Jedi (launched 26 October 2022). Each miniseries encompass six quick episodes which give background to some iconic Star Wars heroes and villains. Although transient, these miniseries pack a potent emotional punch. Jedi traces, on the one hand, Depend Dooku’s descent from Jedi knight to Sith lord and, on the opposite, the rise of disenchanted Jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano.
Elsbeth is pushed by concern and insecurity into the jaws of the darkish facet.
Empire adopts the identical construction. We’re introduced with two characters: one falls into the darkish facet, one learns to withstand it. First, we see the rising bitterness and hatred of Morgan Elsbeth, witch-mother of the planet Dathomir. We then comply with the troubled story of Barriss Offee—additionally a disenchanted Jedi padawan.
Elsbeth’s descent begins with tragedy. As a youth, her house planet is attacked by the Separatist Common Grievous. Her mom and sisters are killed and her house is burned. She is rescued by the neighboring Mountain Clan, which provides her sanctuary and a path towards internal peace.
As an alternative, Elsbeth chooses to pursue vengeance. She recruits just a few members of the Mountain Clan right into a egocentric plot for revenge, taking part in on their newfound fears of safety. This plot is foiled by lingering Separatists, nevertheless, and Elsbeth is as soon as once more rescued by the Mountain Clan’s chief. Nonetheless, the daughter of the Mountain Clan’s chief is killed.
Reasonably than asking for forgiveness, Elsbeth flees Dathomir to the planet Corvus, the place she helps construct up a fledgling village. As she makes an attempt to assist Corvus, she unwittingly exposes it to the greed of the burgeoning Empire. This understandably turns Corvus’s inhabitants towards her. As soon as once more, as an alternative of asking for forgiveness and providing safety, she falls into her prideful resentment and activates the individuals she as soon as strengthened. She provides her technological and magical abilities to the Empire, successfully enslaving Corvus’s individuals and violently stripping away its pure assets. Elsbeth ends her Empire arc perpetuating and intensifying the cycle of violence begun by Grievous: an invader burning the house of the harmless.
It could be simple to conclude that Elsbeth chooses to embrace the darkish facet merely out of vengeance. She admits as a lot herself. The calculating Admiral Thrawn, conversing with Elsbeth, notes that many males . . .
Thrawn: [J]oin [the Empire] out of greed and self-interest, others out of concern, all with ambitions of energy. . . . Why do you search Imperial favor?”
Elsbeth: Revenge.
Nonetheless, she is aware of there are deeper causes:
Years in the past my individuals have been all however destroyed. Our tradition, our beliefs, are fading into reminiscence. Sure, I search energy to make sure my future, to destroy my enemies. My anger provides me energy. It’s that energy I supply to the Empire.
The episode titles of Elsbeth’s arc are “The Path of Concern,” “The Path of Anger,” and, lastly, “The Path of Hatred.” Star Wars followers will acknowledge this allusion Yoda’s clever counsel to Anakin Skywalker in each The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith: “Concern is the trail to the darkish facet. Concern results in anger, anger results in hate, hate results in struggling.” The Jedi’s perennial answer to this downside is characteristically Stoic: detachment. In Assault of the Clones, Padmé asks Anakin:
Padmé: Are you allowed to like? I assumed that was forbidden for a Jedi.
Anakin: Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I’d outline as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi’s life. So that you would possibly say that we’re inspired to like.
Anakin rightly understands real love as unconditional. The unfolding narratives, nevertheless, exhibit that it’s a unsuitable understanding of affection and attachment which results in sin. Anakin loves, however in a method inappropriate to his state in life, and it’s this which drives him to the darkish facet. In his makes an attempt to save lots of Padmé’s life, he turns to evil means to realize a very good finish.
Likewise, Elsbeth is pushed by concern and insecurity into the jaws of the darkish facet. She too provides into her anger which, as she is aware of, provides her energy. This anger is simply doable whether it is preceded by a previous love. St. Thomas Aquinas notes this: “love should precede hatred; and nothing is hated, besides by means of being opposite to an acceptable factor which is beloved. And therefore it’s that each hatred is prompted [indirectly] by love” (Summa Theologiae I-II, q. 29, a. 2). In Elsbeth’s case, it’s as a result of she beloved her household and residential that she falls into hatred. St. Augustine understood evil as merely the absence of a very good factor (Confessions, VII). It’s this evil—this concern of shedding extra—which drives Elsbeth into anger and, finally, into hatred.
We see this play out visually. As episode 1 closes, the Mountain Clan chief, grieving her daughter, provides Elsbeth some parting phrases: “It seems your path is ready, Morgan Elsbeth. I pity you, for I can see what’s to come back.” We see the Mountain Clan strolling away from Elsbeth, distraught and misplaced, surrounded by flames. Episode 3, in flip, closes with a really related picture. Elsbeth, totally decided in her hatred, orders the Corvus village burned. We see her surrounded by flames, resolutely striding in the direction of the viewer: whereas as soon as she was pushed by the flames of concern, she now owns her concern and inflicts the flame of her anger and hatred on others. She can not see it, however we should not neglect the ultimate phrases of Yoda’s counsel: “hate results in struggling.” Eventually, Elsbeth’s flames will eat her and burn away any love she as soon as had. Evil burns away the great that must be current.
Lest we stroll away from Empire in despair, the collection ends with a story of redemption, as episodes 4–6 relate the story of Barriss Offee. For many who haven’t watched The Clone Wars collection, a little bit of background is required right here. Barriss was good mates with fellow padawan Ahsoka Tano. Nonetheless, because the Clone Wars raged on, Barriss, like Dooku, grew to become disgusted with the Jedi order and believed it was liable for the continuing battle. In revolt, she bombed the Jedi Temple, framing Ahsoka:
I did it as a result of I’ve come to appreciate what many individuals within the Republic have come to appreciate, that the Jedi are those liable for this battle, that we’ve so misplaced our method that we have now turn out to be villains on this battle, that we’re those who ought to be placed on trial, all of us! And my assault on the temple was an assault on what the Jedi have turn out to be, a military preventing for the darkish facet, fallen from the sunshine we as soon as held so expensive. (“The Incorrect Jedi”)
Barriss is apprehended and imprisoned. Her Empire arc picks up after the Jedi Order is sort of worn out totally on the finish of Revenge of the Sith. She is launched by the brand new Empire and is recruited by an outdated Jedi pal, Lyn, into a brand new order of Inquisitors, a particular Empire process drive whose mission is to search out the few remaining Jedi.
Regardless of all she has suffered, we see the seeds of goodness nonetheless stay. Episode 4 follows her Inquisitor coaching, by which Barriss is pressured right into a struggle to the dying with a fellow recruit. She initially refuses however fights for her life when her fellow assaults her. Barriss eliminates her competitors and turns into a full Inquisitor.
In the middle of their work for the Inquisition, Lyn leads Barriss to an unnamed planet in the hunt for a Jedi. The pair proceed to query a village concerning the Jedi’s whereabouts. Whereas Lyn resorts to intimidation, Barriss houses in on a scared-looking baby. Not like Lyn, Barriss treats the kid with dignity; she slowly, gently asks the kid to share what he is aware of. The kid relents, divulging the intel. Even after acquiring the required intel, nevertheless, Lyn proceeds to slaughter those that refused her info. Barriss protests:
Barriss: As Inquisitors we deliver order, not chaos.
Lyn: Insurrection creates chaos. Eliminating it brings order.
Barriss: However creating concern will flip the individuals towards us.
Lyn: They have been already towards us. Now those that witness our energy will respect it.
Right here we see the parallels to Elsbeth’s arc. Elsbeth’s concern to drove her into anger and hate. This anger and hate was used to dominate others: “My anger provides me energy. It’s that energy I supply to the Empire.” Barriss additionally sees the trajectory of concern into anger, then hate, then oppression. Nonetheless, she’s going to select to reject this cycle.
The way in which these two miniseries are structured—pitting two related characters towards one another—highlights the importance of the characters’ very completely different decisions
We additionally see Lyn justifying an evil means by interesting to a very good finish: order. That is the ethical logic of the Empire: all means are licit in the event that they produce a very good finish. (That is merely a entrance, nevertheless, for the puppet-master Emperor Palpatine, Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Sith haven’t any ethical logic and are obsessive about gaining energy at any value.) Lyn, like Elsbeth, is finally pushed by concern: “those that see our energy will respect it.” By way of oppression, Lyn hopes to guard her personal self—she forgets, nevertheless, that individuals are pushed not solely by what they concern. They’re additionally, and primarily, pushed by what they love, as Aquinas and Augustine knew.
Lyn and Barriss smoke the Jedi out of hiding. The Jedi initially defeats Lyn however is bested by Barriss. Barriss provides the Jedi mercy, however Lyn cuts down the Jedi in chilly blood.
This episode is titled “Realization.” After seeing the depths of Lyn’s cruelty, Barriss activates Lyn, and throws in her lot with the Order she as soon as betrayed: “you could have one Jedi left to cope with.” Barriss throws Lyn off a cliff and heals the wounded Jedi. The episode closes to a hauntingly hopeful melody, as Barriss drops her Inquisitor helmet off the very cliff Lyn fell down.
The ultimate episode reveals us the trail Barriss selected to make for herself. She lives a semi-reclusive way of life as a healer. A household involves Barriss in search of counsel relating to their new child baby. The Empire, they are saying, seeks the kid, however they have no idea why. Barriss is ready to inform them it’s as a result of the kid is robust with the Drive—Inquisitors want to get rid of the kid. Certain sufficient, an Inquisitor arrives not lengthy after, and it’s none aside from Lyn. The household flees to a ship hidden in a cave, a maze made totally of ice. The 2 outdated mates confront each other.
Lyn: In fact it’s you. How ironic that when I’m not in search of you, I discover you ultimately.
Barriss: It’s best to depart, Lyn.
Lyn: I’ve been despatched for the kid.
Barriss: Is that this who you could have turn out to be? Chasing down harmless youngsters in your Empire?
Lyn: You’re a traitor. I wouldn’t count on you to know.
Barriss: You’re right, Lyn. I don’t.
Lyn proceeds to assault Barriss. Barriss, having discovered internal peace, evades Lyn’s strikes simply and gracefully, exhibiting an astonishing calm, regardless of being unarmed. She tells Lyn that “your anger makes you predictable.” Barriss permits Lyn to pursue the household into the cave however tells her,
Barriss: I warn you to not comply with the kid into that cave. You have no idea the trail. And when you go in, you’ll not come out.
Lyn: Concern is my ally, not yours.
Barriss: You select your allies poorly.
Lyn chases after the household however quickly loses herself within the cave. Once more, we see the inside state of our characters portrayed visually. Misplaced in a maze of ice, Lyn strikes out at her personal reflection—misplaced inside herself, imprisoned by the concern she thought was her ally.
In a disembodied voice, Barriss calls out to Lyn. The trade resonates powerfully with anybody who has struggled with some form of ongoing sin.
Barriss: You’re misplaced. I warned you.
Lyn: Sufficient of your trickery!
Barriss: That is no trickery. I don’t need you to die in right here. Lay down your weapon, and I’ll present you the way in which out.
Lyn: Have you learnt what they’ll do to me for my failure?
Barriss: It appears concern just isn’t your ally, however your grasp. . . . I’m right here. Let me show you how to.
Lyn, persevering with to lash out, stabs Barriss (who appears to have out of the blue appeared, however has in actuality been current all alongside).
Barriss: I forgive you.
Lyn: I don’t need your forgiveness. I would like you to indicate me the way in which out.
Barriss: You know how out. You simply have to simply accept it, Lyn.
Lyn: There isn’t a method out.
Barriss: That’s what the Empire needs you to assume.
The love of the Father, manifested within the flesh within the particular person of Jesus Christ, involves the one caught in his personal satisfaction (which is incapable of humbly asking for forgiveness), his personal sin, his personal self. This ultimate episode of Empire, fittingly titled “The Method Out,” ends on a sensible but hopeful be aware. Lyn picks up the wounded Barriss, leaving her weapon behind. Far outdoors the cave, we see two figures emerge, slowly, from the scar of darkness to the outer mild.
Simply as Jedi and Empire mirror one another, so too do the present’s characters mirror one another. As Dooku and Elsbeth fall, Ahsoka and Barriss rise. There may be each similarity and dissimilarity on this mirroring. Dooku, Ahsoka, and Barriss all fell from the Jedi Order as a result of it didn’t meet the best normal they felt the Order must have upheld. Dooku and Barriss flip to the darkish facet of their makes an attempt to struggle injustice; they thought the Jedi weak as a result of they refused to resort to evil means. To cave into this ethical logic—to make use of evil means for any finish perceived pretty much as good—is to undertake the type of “morality” advocated for by Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche contends there isn’t a good or evil—there’s solely energy. There may be, then, no purpose not to use any means in any way for any finish.
Whereas Dooku dies a villain, nevertheless, Barriss (and, we hope, Lyn) learns to reject an amoral cosmos outlined by energy struggles. This requires first refusing to succumb to concern. The Jedi are capable of overcome this concern by interesting to an influence larger than dying. The Jedi Code places it this (characteristically Buddhist) method: “There isn’t a dying, there solely the Drive.” The Christian says: “Christ has defeated dying and reigns for me. He’s the way in which, the reality, and the life which units me free from my sin.”
Juxtaposing Jedi and Empire and their characters demonstrates to us that we’re outlined much more by our decisions than our circumstances or talents. The way in which these two miniseries are structured—pitting two related characters towards one another—highlights the importance of the characters’ very completely different decisions. In one other, completely different method, Empire suggests we’re first meant to pity and forgive, not struggle, our enemies; and that we are supposed to pity not the lifeless however those that stay with out love.
