Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The High Republic - The Finale #1Yodahas had no shortage of great moments inStar Warshistory, from being one of the longest-standing Grand Masters, to completing the training ofthe greatest Jedi Knightwho ever lived, Luke Skywalker. But there’s one moment early in Yoda’sStar Warscareer that beats out any other. Unfortunately, it’s also secretly one of his most tragic.
InStar Wars: The High Republic - The Finale#1 by Cavan Scott and Marika Cresta, Yoda and the Jedi of the High Republic era celebrate the defeat of the Nihil, a collective of galactic criminal organizations looking to topple the Republic and seize control of the entire galaxy. At least, that was the Nihil’s plan, until the Jedi (and their allies) successfully took them down.
This comic delves into the hardships that theJedi had to overcome to defeat the Nihil. Unfortunately, this celebration comes with tragic implications, especially for long-timeStar Warsfans, as they know this is as good as it gets for Yoda.
Yoda’s Life is All Down Hill from Star Wars' High Republic Era
Celebrating the Defeat of the Nihil is The Last Victory For Yoda
The Nihil are defeated, the Republic has been restored, and the Jedi are back to their former glory. If this were thefinal chapter inStar Warsloreas a whole, it would be an unquestionably happy ending. But this issue is far from being the final chapter inStar Warslore, and it only goes down from here.
Fans know that the most notable era inStar Warscanon is the Skywalker Saga, officially starting untilEpisode I. The Jedi Order is roped into galactic war, the Republic falls to the Empire, and Yoda goes into exile for decades. Then, shortly after training Luke Skywalker, Yoda dies. In the end, he isn’t even alive to see the restoration of the Republic or the Jedi Order.
Yoda’s High Republic Celebration is His High Point in Life (And Beyond)
Yoda Goes Through Constant Hardship Even as a Force Ghost
Even as a Force Ghost, Yoda’s life never really gets any better thanStar Wars: The High Republic - The Finale. Sure, Yoda gets to see the Empire fall at the end of Episode VI. But he also bears witness to Luke failing to restore the Jedi Order, and the New Republic failing to keep it. He sees the rise of the First Order, and the return of the Sith Lord who defeated him so many years ago, Darth Sidious.
At least when the Jedi defeated the Nihil, their celebration ushered in roughly a century of peace, which is something that cannot be said for any other period in Yoda’s life, alive or dead. So while this issue marks the greatest moment inYoda’s Jedi career, it’s also a moment that makes his exile, and indeed, the rest of his life, feel so much more tragic.
Star Wars: The High Republic - The Finaleby Marvel Comics is available now.
