Summary
- Kanan Jarrus's death in Star Wars Rebels was a devastating dblow after the emotional journey he underwent throughout the series.
- Kanan's tragic, heroic sacrifice protected his friends and the woman he loved, even restoring his sight to see her one last time.
- Kanan's legacy continues to affect the Star Wars universe, with his former teammates honoring his sacrifice and his son potentially carrying on his Jedi legacy in the new Disney+ series Ahsoka.
Star Wars is no stranger to death. From Qui-Gon Jinn's tragic end in The Phantom Menace to Obi-Wan Kenobi's sacrifice in A New Hope, the franchise doesn't hesitate to kill off characters. But its most heartbreaking loss is still that of Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels.
Kanan's death is the culmination of intense action and a Rebellion-saving plotline that holds the weight of heavy emotions. Over the course of Rebels' serialized storytelling, the audience grew to have a strong connection to Kanan. Therefore, losing the Jedi was a true gut punch. From Kanan's apparent acceptance of his fate in the opening of Season 4, Episode 10, "Jedi Night," to the last-minute declaration of love from Hera Syndulla, the emotional power behind his death remains unmatched.
Updated September 19, 2023 by Jordan Iacobucci: The latest Disney+ series in the Star Wars franchise, Ahsoka, is actively resurrecting several storylines from its spiritual successor, Star Wars; Rebels. With returning characters like Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Chopper, and Ezra Bridger, it is clear to see the effect that the animated series had on the franchise as a whole. Moreover, many years after his death, it is clear to see the effect that Kanan Jarrus's passing had on his friends and family.
Kanan Jarrus' Death Hit Hard
Part of the reason Kanan's end still resonates is due to Rebels' ongoing story. Fans spent hours upon hours with Kanan and the rest of the family aboard the Ghost, fostering a deep connection to the characters. Yes, there were decades of emotional attachment to Han Solo prior to The Force Awakens and subsequently, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa before their own deaths in the sequels, but those instances lacked both the intimacy of serial stories and the exploration of the aftermath of grief that Rebels so deftly tackled.
The beauty of Rebels was how well it balanced an action-filled plot with intricate character development. For four seasons, viewers were privy to the inner lives of Kanan and his found family. Not only did fans watch Ezra mature from an impulsive, sarcastic kid into an emotionally mature Jedi, but they also witnessed Hera grow into her own vulnerability. Kanan came to terms with his past traumas and truly let himself love Hera, and vice versa. That's what made his death so devastating. When he finally reached a place of acceptance and stability, he died.
Kanan's Death Was Tragically Heroic
Early in "Jedi Night," Kanan seemed to know that his time had come. With his compatriot Hera Syndulla held captive by Governor Pryce and the Empire, he knew her rescue was the most critical thing. He spent time alone on Lothal, meditating under the watchful eye of a loth-wolf. He saw flashbacks of his time with his friends and seemed to take those visions as an offering of acceptance, signifying completion. He methodically and ritualistically cut his hair, preparing as a warrior would for his final, most important mission. When he rejoined Ezra and their colleague Sabine Wren to learn of their plan to rescue Hera, his manner was calm and seemingly at peace with what he knew would happen.
The fact that Kanan resigned himself to his fate in the name of his friends hurt so much more. After he successfully rescues Hera, she realizes her love for Kanan and finally tells him so. As the two of them reached the top of the central fuel pod, Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren arrived to save them in their stolen transport. However, Governor Pryce refused to let her prisoner go and ordered her men to fire on the fuel pod, choosing to destroy her own project in her single-mindedness. The fuel pod exploded, sending waves of fire and debris at the foursome. Kanan knew his final mission was to protect his friends and the woman he loved.
Using the Force, Kanan held back the engulfing flames, knowing that this was his final stand. Though Ezra, Sabine, and Hera desperately tried to stop him, he used the Force to push them back onto the transport and to safety. In Kanan Jarrus's final heroic moments, he locked eyes with Hera -- his blindness vanishing and his sight restored so that he could see her one last time. As the three took off, Kanan allowed the explosion to overtake him, killing himself in the process. His death wasn't in the heat of battle or something that took him by surprise. Instead, it was a sacrifice for Hera and his friends. He chose his death.
In subsequent Star Wars Rebels episodes, the crew processed this loss and grieved in their own ways. Zeb and Sabine leaned into anger, becoming intent on revenge. Ezra felt detached and unsure of his own path without his Master. And Hera withdrew into herself, consumed by her loss and regretful over having not shared her true feelings earlier, before adding a piece of Kanan's holocron to her own family's kalikori.When Ezra later entered the World Between Worlds in Season 4, Episode 13, "A World Between Worlds," he resisted saving Kanan from his fate. As a result, he and the audience felt the weight of losing Kanan all over again.
In the series' final episode, it was revealed that Hera was pregnant with Kanan's child -- so he was robbed of being a father. Moreover, Jacen Syndulla never got to meet his father. As a result, Kanan Jarrus' death was a multilayered and poignant one, spanning episodes of attachment and all stages of grief. Though there was a poetic beauty to his end, it remains the franchise's most heartbreaking loss.
How Kanan's Legacy Still Affects Star Wars
The effects of Kanan Jarrus's death still linger over Star Wars years later, especially in the new Disney+ series, Ahsoka. Although Kanan himself does not appear in the series, many of his former teammates do. The remaining crew of the Ghost unfortunately went in separate directions shortly after Kanan's death. Evidently, Kanan's death and Ezra Bridger's disappearance shortly thereafter were simply too much for the team, leading them to separate. Hera now serves as a general in the New Republic navy, Zeb went on to be a pilot in a different division, and Sabine is now the Padawan of Ahsoka Tano. Though they remain on good terms, the members of the Ghost crew simply can't be a family anymore without Kanan and Ezra.
Even so, Kanan still lives on in many ways. Eagle-eyed viewers were able to spot a picture of the late Jedi Knight in the cockpit of the Ghost in a recent episode of Ahsoka, showing that Hera still actively thinks back to her time with Kanan prior to his death. Moreover, recent episodes of Ahsoka imply that Jacen Syndulla may become a Jedi like his father before him. The young boy is indeed Force-sensitive, using his abilities to locate the missing Ahsoka Tano after her clash with Baylan Skoll. Now, all that remains is for Jacen to be trained in the Jedi so that he can carry on the legacy of his late heroic father.
Kanan Jarrus sacrificed his life for his friends in the fourth season of Star Wars: Rebels. Years later, the fruits of his sacrifice blossom, as each member of his team goes on to achieve their maximum potential in his honor. While the crew of the Ghost may have gone in different directions, Kanan's heroic sacrifice will always bond them together as a family--as estranged as they may be for now. Through them, Kanan lives on.