Respawn’sStar Wars Jediseries is aiming to wrap up in an upcoming third entry as per the announcement that it would be “the final chapter of this thrilling story.” This doesn’t necessarily mean Cal Kestis will never make an appearance in anotherStar Warsgame or medium, but it does suggest that theJedifranchise will conclude as a trilogy and most likely retire the Stinger Mantis crew as well as any storylines or loose threads that haven’t already been resolved in eitherStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderorStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. In fact, despitehow wellStar Wars Jedi: Survivorelaborates on gameplay, the series could’ve quit while it was ahead afterStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderdue to how open-ended its conclusion is.
Huddled with companions Cere Junda, Greez Dritus, Merrin, and BD-1, Cal decides to destroy the Jedi holocron players had searched the whole game for so that the Force-sensitive children listed on it have a chance to live free from persecution.Star Wars Jedi: Survivorends with a bit more of a throughline to pursue with the Hidden Path, but even it leaves a sequel up in the air regarding what it may entail. The ends of bothJedigames, but specificallyFallen Order, have played it safe regarding how much of an overall impact Cal Kestis is allowed to have onStar Wars’ looming canon.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a Droplet in an Ocean
Fallen Orderis a remarkably refreshing detour from traditionalStar Warsstories and Cal Kestis, who plays the role of a dutiful Jedi Padawan/refugee, easily could’ve been one-dimensional. Instead, how Cal tackles situations and how he interacts with characters is nuanced.
Fallen Orderitself basks in the knowledge that it is canonical to the overarchingStar Warsumbrellabut is not beholden to it; it tells an authentic story that is careful not to ruffle feathers, and yet the events that occur are no less emotional or high-stakes. Destroying the holocron is a choice that makes sense for those involved, though it also cleverly absolves Respawn of having to embed itself further in a plot that would stir more far-reaching and epic consequences.
In an effort not to tear holes in established lore across multiple generations,Fallen Order’s endingensured that the series would always need to be an intimate, tight-knit story because, at this moment, neither Cal Kestis nor the Stinger Mantis crew has been seen or referenced elsewhere inStar Wars.
The Effect of Star Wars Jedi’s Third and Final Game May Be Weightless
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s storythen had the daunting task of following its predecessor with a grander story while tip-toeing around the same canon eggshells, and the threequel’s responsibility is no different. A less chaotic or branching narrative wouldn’t hurtSurvivor’s sequel, and yet if it’s being billed as theJedifranchise’s final entry it will have to leave no stones unturned and leave a worthy mark on the IP as a whole. Darth Vader returning for a second time wouldn’t be all too surprising now, for example, and Cal’s quest to find refuge for himself, his loved ones, and the Hidden Path will likely lead him to one last conflict.
Bode Akuna becameSurvivor’s main antagonistin the third act and it’s possible that someone Cal meets in the third game may have a like-minded arc. Regardless, however the narrative takes shape it will almost assuredly end on a note where Cal’s journey is either bookended definitively—his death, for instance—or open-endedly, and no matter which route Respawn takes it probably won’t have a larger impact onStar Wars’ timeline since its anonymity thus far has been patternable.
