And so, the High Republic publishing initiative is finally over. After countless books, comics, manga volumes, short stories, audio dramas, television shows, and four and a half years, the High Republic era can finally just be. This week’s The Finale one-shot from Marvel gives us our one final goodbye to one of Star Wars‘ richest and most ambitious tales. Much will be made about the High Republic in the coming months and years, but one thing is for certain: Star Wars had the guts to give us something new and vibrant, and it will live with me for a long, long time.
Cavan Scott’s The High Republic: The Finale is the swan song to it all. The Nihil are defeated, leaving the Jedi and the Republic to begin to rebuild. This issue does a great job putting a nice bow on everything that came before, but it also brings to fruition an omen that’s been brewing across Scott’s work. Throughout Fear of the Jedi, I’ve been harping on his portrayal of Keeve Trennis. If she is a Jedi who’s about to leave the Order, then why isn’t Scott planting seeds? Why is he instead going in the exact opposite direction, in a way that sees her embrace the high potential she’s always shown as a Jedi? She was instrumental in bringing peace during the Battle of Eriadu. She left issue #5 stronger and more in tune with the Force than she’s seemingly ever been, but now Scott has to backtrack everything.
It’s a very narrow path to get Keeve’s character arc to the finish line. The High Republic finale should be a celebration. Instead, we have to unpack whether this is even a satisfying conclusion for one of the saga’s most important characters.
Spoilers ahead…
Real quickly, Lourna Dee being the method by which Dalna is restored and made a “beacon” for those impacted by the war and destruction caused by the Nihil is a lovely touch. Dalna is a planet that has been put through the ringer — first being the site of the fabled Night of Sorrow, then destroyed by a planetary disaster. I still think Hetzal’s absence in the High Republic endgame is a mistake, but if we’re putting a bow on all three phases of the initiative, it doesn’t get much better than reviving Dalna.
Similar to the celebration that breaks out in The High Republic Adventures #20, there’s another here that is just as fun. It’s just nice to see characters you’ve spent time with for over four years get a happy ending. Selfishly, though, I’ll take the version that has cameos from my Young Jedi Adventures children in it any day of the week. Eat your heart out, Daniel José Older.
But there is one person missing. When Keeve and the team return to Coruscant for a quick pow-wow, Yoda offers her a seat on the Jedi Council after the loss of Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann. The news shocks Keeve to her core, who is already having doubts.
The issue treats us to Keeve’s inner monologue, where we learn she is struggling with her role as a Jedi because of the Jedi’s apparent role in the galaxy when war breaks out. When Lourna took out H’tar, whether it was the right thing to do or not, it awoke a fear in Keeve that the Jedi might reach a point where they don’t question their actions.
These are fears that are justified. It’s not a new refrain for Star Wars, and one that is, of course, eventually proven right. Later on, when confronted by Yoda and Sskeer, Keeve shares that all she wanted to do was serve instead of lead. For my money, that’s all fine and dandy. Not everyone is meant to lead, but the Force was calling her to do just that, as Yoda reminds her. And over the course of the initiative, Keeve leveled up to that call with little hesitation. Ultimately, it’s the fear of expectation that leads Keeve to hand over her lightsaber to Yoda and stay behind on Dalna.
I can’t help but wonder why Scott wrote her into success inside that leadership role if he was going to backtrack immediately after. She conquered the demons and the doubts, but proof of concept wasn’t enough. But if this is the reason we’re going with, there just isn’t enough in this specific line of reasoning to make her departure feel quite earned. I understand parts of her logic, but the whole feels muddied.
If Scott did the Justina Ireland thing when Vernestra left the Order to be a Wayseeker, it could’ve worked better. Vernestra left because she wanted to walk a path that allowed her to help as many people as she could in her way. In spirit, Keeve is doing the same thing, but it’s under the guise that she feels she failed. I’m not sure that’s the message Scott was trying to convey.
Our last moments in the High Republic take us back to where we began: a master and apprentice taking on the galaxy side by side. After taking the news hard, Sskeer quickly comes around to understanding Keeve’s decision. They’ll stay together on Dalna to help with the rebuild and whatever comes next. Despite my misgivings, this was a touching exchange. The final panel sees them walk off, with a reminder that this isn’t the end. Where the High Republic goes from here is anyone’s guess, but it isn’t going away. This is a new beginning for an era that has already been through quite a lot.
The High Republic: The Finale would be an incredibly gratifying send-off if it didn’t come with a rushed conclusion to Keeve’s arc. That being said, I didn’t realize how badly I needed one last goodbye to these characters. And this was a nice goodbye at the end of the day.
RATING: 6/10
Before we go, I just want to say a few things. Lucasfilm owes it to themselves and the era’s fans not to give up on the High Republic. There are still stories to be told, and sometimes the best stories are those not constrained to a larger narrative. The shackles are now off, and perhaps now the real fun can begin. There’s going to be a lot said about this publishing initiative and its various successes and failures. There’s an undeniable fanbase for these stories, but there is no question that a wider interest waned for one reason or another.
I have my thoughts and criticisms, but for now, I want to say thank you to Cavan Scott, Charles Soule, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Gratton, Lydia Kang, George Mann, Alyssa Wong, Michael Siglain, Tom Hoeler, Marc Thompson, and too many others to list for bringing this era to life. The stories of the High Republic will live on and find new audiences. Thank you to every reader of Star Wars News Net who’s engaged with us over the years, whether positively or negatively. It’s been an honor. May the Force be with you all.
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he’s not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading or pretending he isn’t washed at video games.
source: www.starwarsnewsnet.com