How STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC Owes a Debt to NEW JEDI ORDER

Ever since it was first unveiled, The High Republic project has been drawing similarities to the New Jedi Order series from the Legends canon. The final installment of Charles Soule’s main High Republic tale in Trials of the Jedi, however, clearly demonstrates the link between these two publishing endeavors.

In simpler terms, both finales heavily depend on the Force as a magical solution when everything else seems hopeless. While this isn’t necessarily negative because it’s a key element in Star Wars storytelling, some fans might find it unsatisfying, like a quick fix, in the New Jedi Order finale. However, the ending of Trials of the Jedi feels more meaningful and fitting, considering all that has transpired prior.

Why does one feel satisfying, while the other doesn’t?

It’s Like Poetry…

As a dedicated Star Wars enthusiast, it’s challenging to overlook the striking resemblances between “The High Republic” and “New Jedi Order.” Both series were marketed as groundbreaking transformations in our beloved Star Wars saga, introducing a new epoch with a sweeping narrative spanning numerous novels penned by diverse authors.

Although “New Jedi Order” didn’t span across multiple mediums like “The High Republic,” its impressive collection of 19 full novels is certainly noteworthy and worthy of attention.

In essence, upon first observation, the Yuuzhan Vong and the Nihil present distinct antagonists. The Yuuzhan Vong are an alien race that thrives in a society centered around pain and warfare, while the Nihil are a chaotic faction operating within the known galaxy, aiming to spread disorder and prolong their reign of havoc.

Dig deeper, however, and they’re thematic peas in a pod:

Changing the Status Quo

The Vong and Nihil are created to be disruptive elements, presenting an entirely novel type of danger not only to the characters, such as the Jedi, but also to the viewers.

New Challenges

Instead of relying on technology, the Vong’s bio-engineered solutions create distinct challenges for the Jedi. Meanwhile, the Nihil’s sophisticated Path Engines, Stormwall tech, and erratic combat style catch the Jedi off guard.

Extreme Perspectives

The Vong are fanatical followers with strong religious beliefs. They consider the Jedi/New Republic to be blasphemous and believe they need to be eliminated. It is also revealed in “The High Republic” Phase II that the Nihil originated from the Path of the Open Hand, a cult who strictly oppose the use of the Force. They see the Jedi as the most egregious offenders.

The Force

In a unique twist, both antagonistic characters exhibit unconventional connections with the Force. The Vong are devoid of Force sensitivity, essentially cloaked from Jedi perception and resistant to their influence. On the other hand, the Nihil harness the power-devouring Nameless entities to neutralize the strength of the Jedi, rendering them nearly impotent.

In these tales, the final two aspects could be the key decisive factors for the villains. The perspective or bond they hold with the Force gives depth to the conflict in the stories, going far beyond the traditional distinction between Light and Dark sides. Instead, they pose a tangible risk to the very essence of the Force itself.

Wrapping Things Up

From the start, both tales showed that these groups would bring about galaxy-shaking changes beyond our imagination. Despite their differences, what stands out is how they end – both stories heavily rely on the Force’s mysterious and spiritual essence to resolve the conflicts. The problems in each story had grown too large to handle conventionally. In a surprising turn of events, a higher force intervened, offering solutions we hadn’t encountered before in the Star Wars universe.

In “The Unifying Force,” Jacen Solo’s confrontation with Onimi results in him achieving a state of “Oneness” with the Force, transforming into a radiant embodiment of the cosmic energy itself. After Onimi is vanquished, the Vong as a whole capitulate immediately. They then journey to the living planet, Zonama Sekot, swearing to renounce their violent ways and rekindle their bond with the Force. With the exception of a few lingering groups dedicated to aid in reconstruction, the Vong effectively depart from the galaxy.

In “Trials of the Jedi,” it is unveiled that the Nameless-Shrikarai’s secrets, particularly their association with the Blight, come to light. Characters Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss discover Sophros, the Shrikarai homeworld, lies at a strategic location where both the Light and Dark sides balance each other to prevent the spread of the Blight.

As a passionate cinephile, I’d rephrase it like this: To restore harmony and counteract the chaos wreaked by Marchion’s reckless manipulation of the creatures, Elzar and Avar stand firm on Sophros, harnessing their bond with the Force to keep both Darkness and Light in check. Miraculously, the Blight recedes entirely, even healing the damage it had inflicted. With Marchion Ro betting everything on the Nameless, the Nihil disintegrate swiftly, surrendering at the Battle of Eriadu without a fight.

Instead, for the sake of efficiency, we’ll gloss over specifics. In either case, the story’s resolution depends on the powerful, mysterious Force, which ties everything up in a tidy manner.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

It seems that The High Republic wraps up the story in a satisfying and organic way, whereas the conclusion of the New Jedi Order series appears more like an easy resolution. This observation extends beyond just the final events’ execution.

The High Republic explores the Force in depth, offering unique perspectives on its nature and demonstrating extraordinary Jedi feats, such as saving Hetzal in “Light of the Jedi.” Throughout the three phases, it delves even deeper by introducing novel Force concepts (like various Force sects and radical views within the Path of the Open Hand) and continuously expanding the lore with new artifacts, challenging our understanding of what’s possible.

Indeed, as the climax unfolded with momentous events (was it implied that Elzar and Avar have ascended to divine status?), it appeared they were not merely contrived plot elements. Rather, it seemed like a fitting conclusion to all the developments that had preceded it.

In a similar vein, it’s no surprise that the Nihil disintegrated swiftly. Marchion isn’t a character full of layers; his actions consistently reveal he prioritizes only one person – himself. It’s true to form for him to undermine the Stormwall and abandon the Nihil, leaving them in a precarious situation. Moreover, there have been numerous occasions where we see the Republic and Jedi uniting to outsmart and defeat the Nihil forces. Granted, the Stormwall and Nameless were significant threats, but our heroes didn’t lose every time either.

In the course of events, the New Jedi Order encountered significant challenges with this particular issue. More often than not, the Vong inflicted defeats on the New Republic. Each book in the series prominently displayed a map illustrating the light-years of territory the Vong had seized throughout their narratives. Consequently, the defeat of the Vong in “The Unifying Force” seems to be the only genuine triumph for the New Republic forces. It’s difficult to accept that the Vong abandoning their ways and departing from the galaxy they technically dominated was a hard pill to swallow.

More specifically, the narrative of the “New Jedi Order” series continued to introduce fresh elements right until the final book. Zonama Sekot doesn’t make an appearance as a significant factor until the fifth-to-last book, “Destiny’s Way.” The unexpected revelation that Onimi was the true leader of the Vong occurs in the latter half of “Unifying Force,” with minimal hints to smooth out this surprising twist. As new components were added even as the series neared its end, the story often felt rushed and disjointed, leading to a conclusion and ending that seemed hastily put together.

Aftermath

The “Unifying Force” established a nearly unyielding pattern, where each ensuing danger seemed to miraculously resolve in the most aggravating fashion. The Jedi have consistently played the role of wizards within storytelling, but as their powers, particularly Luke Skywalker’s, grew to accommodate the requirements of each tale, it became somewhat preposterous.

From the turmoil of the Dark Nest saga, to dealing with Jacen/Darth Caedus, and even the peculiarities surrounding Abeloth (although some may argue that Fate of the Jedi handled it more effectively), Luke skillfully surpasses the antagonists by grasping their unique, and in many cases, previously undisclosed powers. To put it simply, several endings in stories after the New Jedi Order often seemed too convenient.

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In contrast, The High Republic faced a distinct challenge in its conclusion due to its role as a prequel to other Star Wars stories. Not only did it need to be satisfying for its own narrative, but it also had to fit seamlessly with the larger stories that followed. Fortunately, its execution was so exceptional that it blends nicely into the existing tales. Furthermore, it sheds new light on earlier stories by adding depth and complexity to certain elements.

Owing a Debt

Revisiting the New Jedi Order has been intriguing ever since The High Republic began, especially considering how it concludes. There’s no denying the impact the former series had on the latter. It’s clear that the New Jedi Order is still influencing the way stories unfold in the Star Wars galaxy. Despite its flaws, the New Jedi Order paved the way for the more expansive storytelling we see in The High Republic. Essentially, the New Jedi Order laid the groundwork for a grand narrative structure that subsequent authors could build upon.

2025-08-15 03:06