The world ofStar Warsis massive and includes many well-written characters that go overlooked, especially if they aren’t included in the movies.Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lordshad one of the messiest releases of its time and was largely unfinished, had hours of cut content, and broken questlines. Despite these significant flaws,Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lordsis still hailed today as one of the bestStar Warsgames thanks to the quality of its writing, its worldbuilding, and its characters.
One of the maincharacters inStar Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lordsis Kreia. The first party member the player character meets, Kreia fills the role of the old and wise Jedi Master. She teaches the player, advises them on the ways of the Force, and oftentimes offers her perspective on situations and their outcomes throughout the course of the game’s story. This is made even better by the player character’s Force Bond with Kreia, allowing them to share their thoughts, feelings, and possible mortality.
Star Wars: The Sith Lords Subverts the Role of the Wise Mentor in Unexpected Ways
Kreia’s role as a mentor is clear, but she both serves the role and subverts it as she’s one ofThe Sith Lords' primary antagonists, having intentionally sought out the Jedi Exile in an attempt to bring about the death of the Force. The subversion of the mentor goes deeper than having failed students, and her teachings are blamed for the fall of numerous Jedi, includingKOTOR’s Revan, even if she wasn’t a Sith Lord at the time.
Rather than a complete refutation of the lore that came before it,The Sith Lordsinstead takesStar Wars' lore and examines it. At the end ofThe Sith Lords, the result is not a rejection of the philosophies of the Jedi and the Sith, but a more nuancedunderstanding of the lore that theStar Warsmovies andStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicintroduced. This type of examination ofStar Warslore has been done sinceThe Sith Lords' launch, but arguably these attempts have not been as effective, save forThe Clone Wars' TV series.
Kreia’s Relationship with the Jedi Exile in KotOR 2
This dissection and examination of the Force is primarily carried through Kreia’s arc and goals. Within her arc comes a blend of narrative and video game mechanics, where Kreia teaches the player to tap into the Force in new ways and becomes more powerful as a Force-user but, in doing so, also plays intoKreia’s goal of destroying the Force.
This creates an interesting dynamic between Kreia and the Jedi Exile as, for the most part, the Jedi Exile is very aware that Kreia is manipulating them, but accepts her for any number of reasons, from sympathy to care to necessity.
Kreia is genuinely a character that hadn’t been seen before inStar Warsand has rarely been seen since. WhileJolee Bindo fromStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicwas also something of a subversion of the wise mentor as a gray Force-user and an ex-Jedi, he still encouraged Light-sided actions. Rather than encouraging the Jedi Exile onto the path of the Light or Dark, Kreia truly wishes for the Jedi Exile to remain neutral, and disapproves of actions that are overtly good or cartoonishly evil.
An attempt has been made to replicate Kreia’s perspective with various jaded Jedi Masters, but always with a change of heart and an acceptance of the Jedi teachings at the end of their stories, making them less intriguing when compared to Kreia. Kreia’s experiences informed her outlook, and her unique relationship with the player makes her a character that many remember even two decades later.
