Cal Kestis, the leading man of Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, has one of the best, self-contained arcs in the franchise's new canon. His journey uses the treachery of Order 66 to explore aspects of PTSD and acts as a mirror for Cere's own struggle with survivor's guilt, all while thwarting the machinations of the Galactic Empire in grand fashion. While Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's well-executed mechanics ensured the game would be a success, Cal's story is what marks it as a triumph.
But after overcoming his traumatic past and helping his mentor do the same, Cal's arc has arrived at a nebulous cross-roads. Given the option to seek out Force sensitive children throughout the galaxy, Cal opts to destroy the potentially dangerous holocron to keep it out of the hands of the Empire. Having done that, the crew of the Mantis is posed with the question of "Where do we go from here?" without an apparent answer.
Where can a hero who has seemingly defeated all his demons and emerged a champion go? How can a character who has already escaped Star Wars most iconic villain be empowered? Usually, introspection and reflection are crucial keys to character growth, but in Cal's case, external forces will be more important for further evolution. While new challenges and foes are inevitable, developing relationships are what will ultimately define the future of the young hero. One option is to take on a Jedi apprentice.
The Student Becomes the Teacher
Currently, Cal is in a position comparable to Kanan Jarrus at the beginning of Star Wars: Rebels or Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Phantom Menace. A young Jedi unsure of his place in the universe but possessing a wealth of knowledge could benefit other people in a similar position. Taking responsibility for another Force sensitive individual will teach Cal patience, require him to meditate more deeply on the nature of the Force as a whole, and require him to present information in an articulate way.
Having honed his physical skills and emerged from a personal crucible, a more cerebral and interpersonal emotional journey seems like a natural direction for the character to grow. But while Qui-Gon Jinn entrusted Anakin Skywalker's training to Kenobi, and Ezra Bridger conveniently falls into Kanan's lap, Cal does not have an obvious apprentice. And without the holocron, it may be difficult to find one.
Potential Padawans
So, who to train? Among the crew of the Mantis, Merrin seems like the only clear option. She was a surprise, eleventh-hour addition to the game's persistent cast, but a welcome one to be sure. Cal could help Merrin, a fellow sole-survivor and Force-sensitive warrior, face the trauma of the Nightsisters slaughter, teach her to manage her rage, and show her an entirely new way to interact with the Force. And like all good student-teacher relationships, Merrin has plenty of wisdom to share with Cal herself. There are better options, however.
Merrin and Cal's relationship is on relatively equal footing from the moment they partner up. In fact, Merrin arguably has the upper hand over her early interactions with Cal, and given her acerbic, no-nonsense personality, it seems unlikely that she would consent to a subservient role in their relationship. A fresh character may be a better choice, especially a character who could fill the void of a Leia Organa archetype—a brash rebel leader with impulse control issues who would challenge Cal's judgment.
Another interesting option would be to have Cal attempt to turn a conflicted enemy away from the Dark Side. An ambivalent Inquisitor would help fill the void left behind by Trilla, and provide an alternative challenge to flat contests of power. It might even provide Respawn with the opportunity to introduce new mechanics into the game, such as dialogue option-based negotiations in the spirit of KOTOR or Mass Effect. Mentorship isn't the only type of relationship that could catalyze growth for Cal, however.
Romance & Rivalry
Romance is a Star Wars staple, and while its absence in the first Fallen Order was a refreshing departure from series conventions, the sequel may be a fitting place to inject some love into Mr. Kestis' life. Again, Merrin seems like the most plausible option among the crew of the Mantis, though there are more intriguing options available. A fellow survivor from the Jedi Order, dating back to Cal's childhood could be interesting, as would reviving a character from the franchise's Legends canon. Crossovers with other properties are always crowd pleasing moves, and done right, an interesting pairing could shake up Star Wars' canon in a big way.
The first Fallen Order and The Mandalorian have proven that love is by no means a hard requirement for fun Star Wars storytelling. Some source of passion seems appropriate, however, if only to rattle Cal's dedication to the Jedi's emotionally ascetic code. A new rival character would fit the bill perfectly. It would be great fun to see a character who can really get under Cal's skin, taunting him... and perhaps tempting him to indulge in the Dark Side.
The Dark Side Beckons
Even before Fallen Order released, Respawn went on record saying players would have no opportunity to cross over to the Dark Side. And while that seems like a smart move in hindsight, given the tremendous expansion of scope it would have entailed, it may pay to reverse that decision in the Fallen Order sequel. While Cere briefly succumbed to the Dark Side, Cal has yet to wrestle with its allure in earnest. Resisting temptation is a crucial step in the journey of every powerful Jedi, and now that Cal has stepped up to the big leagues, that dilemma should feature prominently as the franchise moves forward.
These possibilities are all based on the likely—but by no means guaranteed—assumption that Cal will reprise his leading role, however. Respawn has many options for an alternate Fallen Order 2 protagonist, and some good reasons to consider them.
Even if Respawn switches leads, it should not abandon Cal, or allow his character to stagnate. The ginger Jedi still has a great deal of potential, and fans have expressed their fondness for him in a big way. It would be a waste to squander that good will, and leave those storytelling opportunities on the table.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A sequel is reportedly in development.
