Jacen Syndulla

For other uses, see Jacen and Syndulla.

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"By that time, there had been a new member added to the crew of the Ghost—Spectre-7, Jacen Syndulla. Born to fly, just like his mother. And, well, we all know what his father was like."

―Sabine Wren^[3]

Jacen Syndulla was a Force-sensitive male human-Twi'lek hybrid who was born during the time of the Galactic Civil War. He was the son of General Hera Syndulla and the late Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, and the grandson of Twi'lek revolutionary leader Cham Syndulla.

Biography[]

Birth and early years[]

"It's why we need to work for it. Everything we're doing right now…it's for the New Republic, not for us. But I've got a family. I've got a son who needs me, a homeworld I haven't seen in too long. I've got people who I care about—I want to live for them awhile, instead of the galaxy."

―Hera Syndulla, to Nath Tensent^[6]

Jacen Syndulla was born to General Hera Syndulla of the Rebel Alliance on the planet Lothal^[1] in 1 BBY.^[2] His father was Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus,^[3] who was killed in combat, before Syndulla was born, against the Galactic Empire while saving Hera and their crew shortly before Lothal's liberation.^[7] He was the grandson of Twi'lek freedom fighter Cham Syndulla,^[1] a legendary veteran of the Clone Wars and the fight against the Empire.^[8]

Syndulla grew up during the Galactic Civil War, which his mother fought in for the Rebel Alliance.^[3] By the time the Empire was shattered in 4 ABY,^[9] during the Battle of Endor, the young Syndulla was already considered a member of his mother's crew on the starship Ghost and was given the callsign Spectre 7.^[3] Although Syndulla grew up never knowing his father, he was nonetheless surrounded by love from the people he considered family, including the droid C1-10P or "Chopper."^[1] Chopper, who was a companion to his mother since her childhood,^[8] became a close and constant companion to Syndulla. Despite the aged astromech's usually cantankerous personality, being around the young boy brought out his playful side.^[1]

By 5 ABY, Jacen and Hera were separated as his mother participated in the final stretch of the Galactic Civil War, including the Battle of Jakku where she had a near-death experience and thought of Jacen during what she believed to be her last moments.^[6]

New Republic[]

"I wanna be a Jedi."
"Yeah, I know you do, Jacen."

―Jacen Syndulla and Hera Syndulla^[5]

Hera and Jacen after a New Republic meeting — Jacen talking to his mother after her meeting.

Around 9 ABY,^[10] Jacen accompanied his mother when she went to speak with the New Republic Senate Committee, staying with Chopper while Hera attended the meeting via hologram, requesting approval to lead a task force to the Denab system for an investigation following an incident involving Imperial loyalists that may indicate the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn. While his mom was in the meeting, Chopper told Jacen that "Aunt Sabine" was training under Ahsoka Tano to become a Jedi. After Hera got out of her meeting, Jacen told his mom that he also wanted to be a Jedi.^[5]

Following an urgent call that his mother received from Huyang, requesting assistance for Wren and Tano on Seatos, Jacen and Chopper went with her aboard the Ghost. Along with five T-65B X-wing starfighters flown by Captain Carson Teva and Lieutenants Baysee, Mowaat, Jensu, and Lander, the fleet jumped into hyperspace at Hera's command as Jacen pulled the hyperdrive lever.^[11]

Arriving at Seatos, Jacen and his mother narrowly avoided the Eye of Sion's path of destruction as it jumped to hyperspace.^[11] Landing on the planet's surface, the two immediately sensed that something was off, with both Ahsoka and Sabine having disappeared without explanation. Unbeknownst to them, Ahsoka had been cast into the waters around the reflex point henge and was in the midst of a near death experience within the mysterious World Between Worlds. Through the Force, Jacen sensed her presence, and helped Huyang and his mother find and rescue the wayward Jedi from the sea. Following her recovery, Jacen and Ahsoka shared a warm reunion before she and Huyang made their own hyperspace jump in pursuit of the Eye of Sion with the help of a flock of Purrgil. Jacen watched with wonder from the Ghost as the immense creatures vanished with a brilliant flash of light into the vastness of space.^[12]

Personality and traits[]

"How's young Jacen?"
"Fine, Chancellor, in fact he's on board. Somewhere."
"[chuckles] Causing trouble with Chopper, no doubt."
"Most likely."

―Chancellor Mon Mothma and Hera Syndulla on Jacen^[5]

Jacen Syndulla was a male hybrid, born to a human father and a Twi'lek mother. He had mostly human features, though his green hair was similar to his mother's green skin, and the tips of his ears and his eyelashes were also green.^[3] By the time of the New Republic Era, Jacen was 1.42 meters tall.^[4]

The blend of his exceptional parents,^[4] the boy showed aptitude as a pilot at a young age,^[1] and Hera's old friend and crew member, Sabine Wren, recognized that Syndulla was born to fly, just like his mother. He also had blue eyes^[3] and tan skin.^[5] Jacen had a close relationship with Chopper, who became his companion while his mother was away,^[1] with the two gaining a reputation for causing trouble when left together, as noted by Mon Mothma. Jacen also wished to become a Jedi, like his father before him.^[5] He also has a close relationship with the rest of the Spectre crew as well as Ahsoka, referring to Sabine as 'Aunt Wren'.

Powers and abilities[]

"Jacen has abilities. His father, Kanan Jarrus, was a Jedi."

―Huyang to Carson Teva^[12]

Like his father, Jacen was Force-sensitive, his strong connection to the Force allowed him to sense Ahsoka Tano duel with her former Master Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds, hearing the lightsabers clash, which allowed the New Republic fleet to find Tano.^[12]

Behind the scenes[]

"It seemed, in a very small way, naming him 'Jacen' was a way to honor the expanded universe character of Jacen Solo who just really isn't there anymore as the timelines have changed. I thought that's a little bit of a wink to people that I know that was an important character. And maybe, in some way, that lives on through this character. I don't know yet."

―Dave Filoni on Jacen Syndulla's namesake^[13]

Jacen concept art — Concept art for Jacen Syndulla

Jacen Syndulla was introduced in the epilogue of "Family Reunion – and Farewell," the series finale of Star Wars Rebels.^[3] His first name, Jacen, was inspired by Jacen Solo, the son of Leia Organa Solo and Han Solo in the Star Wars Legends continuity.^[14]

The decision to introduce Jacen Syndulla in the series finale was one that executive producer Dave Filoni had been thinking of throughout production on the fourth season. He initially only shared his idea with Kiri Hart, the head of the Lucasfilm Story Group, who was supportive of the character's introduction. Filoni deliberately chose the name Jacen as a way of honoring the character of Jacen Solo and his importance in the stories of Star Wars Legends.^[13] Voice actress Vanessa Marshall, however, was unaware of Hera's pregnancy with Jacen when she recorded the final episode, only discovering it during a fan screening.^[15]

At Dragon Con 2018, when asked by StarWars.com writer Bria LaVorgna about when Jacen was conceived, Rebels writer Henry Gilroy stated that Jacen may have been conceived during the episode "Kindred," describing the scene where Hera finds Kanan meditating out in the fields only for the scene to be cut short with a time cut.^[16] However, this has not been stated in any canon source.

Though Filoni says he has not given much thought to where the character might go in future stories, many creatives within Lucasfilm have expressed interest in the future of the character since the Star Wars Rebels finale aired on March 5, 2018.^[13] Jacen was later revealed to appear in the upcoming Ahsoka series via the LEGO Star Wars: Ahsoka set 75357 Ghost & Phantom II. In the set, the character is depicted with brown hair;^[17] however, the series still depicts him with green hair. He was first depicted in live-action in "Part Three: Time to Fly," the third episode of Ahsoka. He was portrayed by Evan Whitten.^[5]