Kanan Jarrus was originally introduced in the animated series Star Wars Rebels as a Jedi in hiding and an integral member of the Ghost Crew. The Ghost Crew was part of the fledgling Rebel Alliance, helping out wherever they were needed while the Rebel cells were scattered all across the galaxy. Despite the trauma of surviving Order 66, Kanan eventually revealed his status as a Jedi to the galaxy, and the rest is history.
As we now know, though, Kanan was far from the only a third Jedi game on the way, there’s a chance he’ll become even more powerful, but will he sur Kanan Jarrus? Or has he done so already?
Cal And Kanan Were Padawans During Order 66
Crucially, Cal and Kanan were still Padawans when Order 66 was enacted. As revealed by Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s feature-length pilot, Kanan – who went by the name Caleb Dume at the time – had been sent to the snowy planet Kaller with his Master, Jedi Council member Depa Billaba. Once the clones turned on the Jedi, Depa provided Caleb with enough time to escape, and he managed to flee with the help of the altered clone troopers from Clone Force 99.
Though The Bad Batch partially retconned Kanan's Order 66 escape, you can read more about his time with Master Billaba in the comic series Star Wars: Kanan.
Similarly, Cal and his Master, Jaro Tapal, were stationed on a Republic Star Destroyer above Bracca during the Republic’s invasion of the planet. When Order 66 was instigated, Tapal told Cal he would meet him at the escape pods, but Tapal never made it. Cal crash-landed on Bracca, clutching his Master’s old lightsaber to his chest, and spent the following years hidden away as a Scrapper on the dangerous planet.
The Padawans of the Clone Wars era had more practical experience than most other generations of Jedi Padawans, but Kanan and Cal were still just that – Padawans. They never completed their training.
During the Clone Wars, most Padawans served as Commanders of the Grand Army of the Republic. This arguably meant that the Padawans of the Clone Wars era had more practical experience than most other generations of Jedi Padawans, but they were still just that – Padawans. They never completed their training. They never took the Jedi Trials and were never “officially” knighted (both Cal and Kanan were eventually knighted by unconventional means). This could have hindered Cal and Kanan’s progress and growth, but eventually, it became an important part of who they were as Jedi as they began to fight back against the might of the Empire.
Both Jedi Cut Themselves Off From The Force Before ing The "Rebellion"
Both Cal and Kanan cut themselves off from the Force after Order 66. This was partially because they needed to remain hidden – Darth Vader and his Inquisitors were scouring the galaxy for Jedi survivors, after all – and partially because it was easier to forget about the harrowing trauma of Order 66 when they stopped serving the will of the Force. Cal kept his Master’s old lightsaber secret, and Kanan modified his own so that it could be taken apart, hidden away in plain sight.
Read more about Kanan's life before the events of Star Wars Rebels in John Jackson Miller's novel Star Wars: A New Dawn.
Their severed connections did mean that when they were forced to reveal themselves – Cal saved his friend’s life using the Force after a work accident, and Kanan became involved with the Rebellion, eventually saving a troupe of Wookiee prisoners from the Empire’s clutches – it took time for them to re-embrace their connection with the Force. At first, much of what they accomplished was accomplished through instinct rather than true skill. Cal, especially, needed time to reacquaint himself with the Force and re-learn the abilities he’d let himself forget, including basic skills like the Force push and the Force pull.
How Did Cal And Kanan Fare Against The Empire?
Cal and Kanan became integral in the fight against the Empire, each in their own way. Kanan eventually ed Rebel pilot Hera Syndulla, and together with the other of the Ghost Crew they picked up along the way, became a genuine, credible threat against the Empire. Most importantly, however, Kanan took on a Padawan of his own, a young Force-sensitive boy he found on the streets of Lothal named Ezra Bridger. Training Ezra changed how Kanan saw and interacted with the Force. Eventually, Kanan defeated the Grand Inquisitor, Darth Vader’s most powerful Jedi hunter.
Kanan’s true potential as a Jedi was only really unlocked later, though, after a fateful duel with Darth Maul. During their duel, Maul blinded Kanan permanently. While it took some time to readjust, Kanan learned to see through the Force, becoming more in tune with his role as a Jedi and as a Master than ever before. Kanan’s most impressive feat would come near the end of Star Wars Rebels when, tragically, he sacrificed himself to save Ezra, Hera, and the Mandalorian Sabine Wren from an Imperial fuel tank explosion.
Cal Kestis Is Very Similar To Another Jedi - And That Means He's Going To Die
Cal Kestis' journey across the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor games is eerily reminiscent of one other Star Wars character's story.
Using all his strength, he held back a raging inferno with the Force while simultaneously pushing his friends’ ship away. At that moment, Kanan was so connected to the Force, so in tune with his purpose, that he even momentarily regained his eyesight, allowing him to look at his loved ones one last time. That moment altered the trajectory of the Empire forever. It gave his Padawan, Ezra Bridger, the courage to sacrifice his future too, exiling Grand iral Thrawn and liberating Lothal, once and for all.
Cal, of course, was no slouch either. After escaping from Bracca with the help of the Mantis crew, he discovered a renewed sense of purpose. He gained a new mentor in former Jedi Master Cere Junda, regained his Force abilities step by step during his adventures with the Mantis crew, and eventually stopped the Empire from getting its hands on a list of Force-sensitive children.
Cal's journey between Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available to read in Sam Maggs' novel Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars.
Cal also survived encounters with numerous Inquisitors – eventually killing one of them, too – and survived or won conflicts with other dark side Force-s, including Darth Vader, Taron Malicos, Dagan Gera, and Bode Akuna. Cal defeated the Gen’Dai warrior Rayvis, too, a fearsome hunter who had slain plenty of other Jedi during the High Republic era and beyond. During all these experiences and more, Cal truly came into his own as a Jedi; he even came back from the brink of the dark side.
One Jedi Has More Abilities Than The Other
Measuring a Jedi’s power levels objectively is nearly impossible; different Jedi value different aspects of the Jedi religion and their connection with the Force. Some prefer knowledge and wisdom over brute strength, some Jedi prefer to refer to a Jedi’s skill with a lightsaber, while others simply look at the strength and breadth of a Jedi’s Force-related abilities. Given everything Cal and Kanan had been through and needed to do to survive, their physical skills as Jedi were more important than anything else.
How Powerful Is Star Wars Rebels' Kanan Jarrus Compared To Luke Skywalker?
Kanan Jarrus' skills as a Jedi were invaluable during the Rebellion's early days. Was he ever stronger than Star Wars' Luke Skywalker, though?
On the whole, Cal Kestis boasts more Force abilities than Kanan Jarrus. This is, to an extent, due to what video games need to succeed as a storytelling medium, as the player and Cal need to go through countless fights and puzzles, and gather information in interesting ways. As such, Cal possesses a rare Force-ability called Psychometry, which allows him to see fragments of memories imbued through the Force within an object. He's also adept at all the basic Force skills and more, including wall running and taming beasts. Additionally, Cal is incredibly skilled with a lightsaber – in many forms – and a blaster.
It's impossible to deny Kanan’s intrinsic connection with the Force, however – particularly after being blinded by Maul. He also learned to commune with the Force with the help of the Bendu, one of the most powerful and ancient Force-sensitive creatures within the franchise. His lightsaber skills and his range of Force abilities may not be as impressive as Cal’s, but Kanan was undeniably powerful in his own right. However, since a third Star Wars Jedi game is reportedly in development, Cal will only become stronger, suring Kanan Jarrus even at the height of his power. How will his Star Wars story continue?
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- Alias
- Caleb Dume
- Created By
- Dave Filoni
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Died
- Star Wars Rebels
- Race
- Human
- TV Shows
- Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch
A Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66 in large part thanks to his master's sacrifice, Kanan survived during the Dark Times of the Empire's reign and became an important member of the Lothal rebel cell. Kanan sacrificed much over the years, but gained much as well, falling in love with Hera Syndulla. Although he gave his life for his friends, he left a legacy behind in his own Padawan Ezra Bridger, as well as his son Jacen.
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Star Wars Rebels
- Network
- Disney Channel
- Showrunner
- Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg
- Directors
- Dave Filoni
Cast
David Oyelowo
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Tiya Sircar
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYSet between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Rebels is a canon animated series that follows a group of ragtag heroes who band together to face the Empire. In an age where the Galactic Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi, a teenage outcast named Ezra Bridger is discovered to be force sensitive by a surviving Jedi known as Kanan Jarrus. Agreeing to them and accept Jedi training, Ezra becomes a part of a small but growing crew of rebels determined to destroy the empire covertly.
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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Released
- April 28, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Star Wars
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