The third episode of Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+, and "Time To Fly" features the live-action debut of yet another character we first met in the Star Wars Rebels animated series.
Spoilers follow.
If you never watched Rebels or were only a casual fan, you may have no idea who Jacen Syndulla is, since he only appeared very briefly in the closing moments of the series finale.
The son of General Hera Syndulla and the late Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, Jacen was introduced in the epilogue of "Family Reunion – and Farewell." Dave Filoni has previously confirmed that his first name was inspired by Jacen Solo, the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo in the now ret-conned Star Wars Legends continuity.
In Ahsoka, Hera first mentions Jacen during her conversation with Mom Mothma and the other Republic senators, before greeting her son and Chopper in the corridor. The now slightly older Jacen, played by Evan Whitten, retains his green hair from Rebels, though his ears (the tips of which were also green as a nod to his mother's Twi'lek skin) were not visible.
Jacen tells his mother that he wants to be a Jedi (like his father before him).
Will he get a chance to follow in Kanan's footsteps? Filoni has admitted that he never really gave much thought to where Jacen's story could go after Rebels, but he clearly has plans for the lad in the live-action universe. Of course, there's always a chance "Time To Fly" will be Jacen's only appearance in Ahsoka, but he is certain to return down the line, possibly in the movie Filoni is currently developing at Lucasfilm.
If and when he does return, some fans believe a grim fate may await him as a casualty of Luke Skywalker's Jedi training academy, but we're going to be a bit more optimistic and assume he doesn't wind up on the wrong end of Kylo Ren's lightsaber!
What did you make of Jacen Syndulla's live-action debut? Drop us a comment down below.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.