Could Jacen Syndulla become a Jedi?
By Brian Adigwu
“I wanna be a Jedi.”
Those words were said by Jacen Syndulla, the twi’lek-human hybrid son of New Republic General Hera Syndulla and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus (formerly Caleb Dume). And there is a great possibility that dream could become true thanks to his Jedi heritage and the restoration of the Jedi Order.
After the Battle of Endor, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker began making plans to rebuild the Jedi Order by building a Jedi Temple on an uncharted planet (later revealed to be Ossus) that only very few knew the existence of.
Children inheriting the Force powers of their parents is nothing new in the Star Wars Universe. Notably, Luke and his sister Princess Leia Organa inherited their Force sensitivity from Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, who later became the ruthless Sith Lord Darth Vader. Leia’s son, Ben Solo, who would later become Kylo Ren, would also inherit his Force sensitivity thanks to his mother’s lineage. So, it would not be surprising if Jacen himself is Force sensitive.
If Jacen were to be Force sensitive like his father before him, it is very likely that he could be a potential student of Luke Skywalker. And there is also little doubt that Jacen could be very talented in the Force and wielding a lightsaber. However, despite his potential in the Force, his attachment to his mother would prevent him from achieving his dream of becoming a Jedi.
As seen in The Book of Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker upheld the traditions of the Jedi Order that forbade attachments. This was evident when Ahsoka warned the Mandalorian Din Djarrin of Grogu’s attachment to him being a detriment to his path to becoming a Jedi. After having a difficult time training Grogu, Skywalker made the survivor of Order 66 decide on whether he wanted to continue on the path of being a Jedi or becoming a foundling under Djarrin. Ultimately, Grogu chose to be with the man who he saw as a father and became a Mandalorian foundling.
With Luke training Jacen, the Jedi Master might take note of the young Syndulla longing to be with his mother. However, one can argue that Luke was able to take in his nephew Ben when he was older but then again, the young Solo was troubled by hearing the voice of Snoke who manipulated him into turning to the Dark Side.
After all, as Sabine narrated at the final season of Star Wars Rebels, Jacen was “born to fly” which could mean that in the future, he may become a pilot just like his mother. In any case, Kanan would want his son to be happy regardless of what path he took.
There is another possibility that Jacen could be under the tutelage of Ahsoka Tano. Since leaving the Jedi Order, Ahsoka has taken on a more non-traditional approach. That is probably why she took on the Mandalorian Sabine Wren as her padawan. With Jacen’s possible Force sensitivity, he could be the first line of Gray Jedi or independent Force users who are not affiliated with the Jedi Order or the Sith. There’s also a possibility that Sabine, if she is able to tap into the Force, could be among those ranks of non-traditional Jedi.
Or, perhaps, the long lost Jedi Ezra Bridger could teach Jacen the ways of the Jedi just like the boy’s father had taught him. A Jedi Master Ezra and padawan Jacen could share a brotherly bond, similar to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin during the Clone Wars with Hera looking on proudly. After all, the apprenticeship of Ezra was non-traditional and he too was taught the ways of the Force at a much older age during the time of the Rebellion.
Do you believe that Jacen Syndulla could become a Jedi or perhaps a Gray Jedi or non-traditional Force wielding warrior?
Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney +.