Star Wars Jedi: Survivor debuted an exciting trailer at The Game Awards show, introducing the audience to a more experienced Cal, but also curiously going out of its way to show the former Padawan surrounded by a completely new cast of characters. The sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor seems to pivot away from the story it established at the end of the original game. This may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it's certainly been an unexpected turn only further exacerbated by the fact that Star Wars fans have been speculating about the plot of Jedi: Survivor ever since Jedi: Fallen Order concluded.
It's important to keep in mind that the absence of the Mantis and its crew in the new Jedi: Survivor trailer may not automatically mean an overall absence from the story of Survivor, but Respawn Entertainment certainly wants its players to know that the tale of Cal Kestis in the intervening years between Order 66 and the Battle of Yavin IV is expanding its scope.
Jedi: Survivor's Trailer and the New Direction for Cal Kestis
While the trailer sees the return of a familiar face in Cere Junda, sporting a stylish new look as a Jedi Master in exile, the only companion that seemingly follows Cal on his new journey is the irreplaceable BD-1. Many fans were hoping that Jedi: Survivor would feature dual protagonists, given the way Nightsister Merrin was introduced in the final hours of the first game. Thus far, there has been no sighting of Merrin (or Greez) as Cal finds himself interacting with a new ally in Jedi: Survivor called Bode Acuna.
Grizzled and bearded, this is a Cal Kestis that has matured from the lessons he learned in Fallen Order. Though not officially confirmed, Jedi: Survivor is implied to have a time skip, as a clean-shaven Cal is seen waking up the mysterious Jedi in the opening scene of the trailer before he transitions into his new look for the rest of his scenes. The identity of the Jedi remains a mystery, but his gilded attire implies that he may be from the High Republic era, and potentially the game's primary antagonist.
The other important thing to take away from the trailer is that Respawn seems committed to taking Cal Kestis in a bold direction, as he transcends the trappings of his Padawan past and becomes a true Weapon Master of the Jedi. Whereas the first game introduced a single saber and double-bladed saber in terms of fighting styles, it seems that Jedi: Survivor is taking it a step further by letting Cal dual-wield lightsabers, or even adopt Kylo Ren's iconic crossguard saber for a heavier two-handed stance.
The Fate of Merrin and Greez
As exciting as the newcomers in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor appear to be, there is a rancor in the room that needs to be addressed. Neither the teaser nor the trailer seem to show any sign of Greez or Nightsister Merrin, and with Cal seemingly piloting the Mantis all by his lonesome – the implications don't exactly appear favorable for Cal's old crew.
If the theory of a time skip holds true, and especially when one considers that Jedi: Survivor takes place five years after the end of Fallen Order, there is a possibility that Greez may have met his demise either prior to the start of the game, or during the first few hours of the sequel. Cal inheriting his ship, perhaps in the wake of freeing a Jedi that should have stayed imprisoned, would set the tone for the dark middle chapter that has become so quintessential to Star Wars.
Nightsister Merrin, a self-proclaimed survivor, and certainly independent enough from the Mantis crew as a whole, may have parted ways with Cal in the years between to pursue her own adventures across the galaxy. As disappointing as that outcome might be to some Jedi: Fallen Order fans, Merrin may yet show up in Jedi: Survivor and help her old friend out in his time of need, potentially with new Nightsister skills to boot.
With a rogue Jedi teaming up with bounty hunters against Cal, a nefarious Pau'an senator scheming on Coruscant, and a new friend joining the fray, Jedi: Survivor isn't interested in just being the second part of the first game, but in telling a story in its own right – even if it comes at the cost of the Mantis crew. Though it remains to be seen if Respawn Entertainment can strike gold a second time, the footage shown thus far evokes plenty of hope that Jedi: Survivor can not only match the success of Fallen Order, but that it can even surpass it.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on March 17, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
