Star Wars: Captain Rex deserves a happy ending (here’s why)

It’s no secret that many of our beloved Star Wars characters seal their fate with a tragic ending, or at least one that ends in an emotional way. Whether that’s Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or even Kanan Jarrus, the galaxy loves to break our hearts. One hero still alive after seeing so much death and experiencing so much heartache is former Clone Commander Rex, one of the greatest heroes of all time.

Rex served the Galactic Republic with honor. Forever courageous and loyal, he fought in countless battles alongside his brothers in the 501st, as well as his capricious general, Anakin Skywalker. He was an exceptional soldier, showcasing military prowess on and off the battlefield, always seeming to do what was right whatever the situation.

Even after the Clone Wars ended, Rex continued to fight for what he believed was right, aiding Phoenix Squadron in their efforts to thwart the Empire and bring peace to the galaxy, coming out of retirement alongside his friends Gregor and Wolffe.

In Star Wars canon, Rex’s last known involvement was in the Battle of Endor alongside Hera Syndulla, as Sabine Wren reflected upon the events in the finale of Star Wars Rebels. His military service spans decades, and if anyone deserves the happy ending that so many of our beloved favorites have evaded throughout the years, it is Captain Rex.

Does Captain Rex deserve a happy ending?

What makes his journey from Kamino to Endor so heartbreaking is witnessing the amount of loss he’s faced without any kind of recompense, and despite every decision made with good intentions, it led to yet another hurdle in Rex’s journey.

He’s seen many of his closest brothers perish in his lifetime, and as he sheds a tear alongside Ahsoka right before they faced down Jesse and an army of clones aboard the Star Destroyer in the finale of The Clone Wars, it’s abundantly clear the weight of everything Rex has witnessed to that point had finally started to show.

Seeing that solitary tear running down his face was more upsetting than many of the saddest moments in Star Wars history because of what it meant. Even after all the losses and three grueling years and countless battles against the Separatists, he felt like the only option left was to turn on his family, the ones he’d spent so long fighting alongside.

Like always, Rex became an important part of fighting for good when he teamed up with Kanan, Hera, and the rest of the rebels to fight an enemy whose leader was responsible for executing Order 66, the shocking command that saw many Jedi die as a result.

Reuniting with Ahsoka was both a somber and sweet moment and by the time Ezra was whisked away with Thrawn into hyperspace, Rex was once again a hero of war, despite seeing yet another brother die in battle. Nobody is more deserving of a happy ending than him, and I hope that Dave Filoni has one in mind.

As a character who began as an engineered clone who simply followed orders to someone who learned there was more to himself and his fellow brothers than just some scientific procedure, Rex became one of the most layered characters the Star Wars universe has ever seen.

From feeling like he had let down Fives, believing Echo to be dead, and burying his brothers at the end of The Clone Wars, it’s about time Rex gets to hang up his armor and find a pocket of the galaxy to retire in. With the upcoming Ahsoka series, there’s a chance we might see him again, but hopefully, he survives one final time to get the rest he so thoroughly deserves.