Cal Kestis’ overarching story in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and its predecessor is very similar to one other Jedi’s journey – and these parallels might help predict his eventual fate. Cal Kestis (Cameron Monaghan) was introduced in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as another Order 66 survivor. Stranded on the planet Bracca but eventually found by the crew of the Mantis, Fallen Order explored Cal’s trauma and how he learned to cope by finding something to fight for. Cal is far from the only Order 66 survivor in Star Wars, but not all survivors’ stories are the same. Each Jedi had to find a way to stay alive and deal with their grief in ways unique to them.
That doesn’t mean, however, that certain characters’ experiences can’t overlap. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues Cal’s quest to find his purpose in the galaxy. While he, like many others, dedicates his life to fighting the Empire and saving innocent people from tyranny, those are not the only moral quandaries he is forced to deal with. Cal’s principal story in Fallen Order and Survivor comprises a character arc that is very similar to one other Order 66 survivor in particular: Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinz Jr.), formerly known as Caleb Dume, first introduced in the animated series Star Wars Rebels.
Cal Kestis' Story Parallels Kanan Jarrus' In Star Wars Rebels
Of course, Kanan and Cal’s similarities begin with the fact that they are both Order 66 survivors. Each lost their Master in ways that invoked feelings of guilt – Cal’s Master Jaro Tapal and Kanan’s Master Depa Billaba both sacrificed themselves to save the lives of their Padawans. Though Kanan’s original Order 66 story, which was told in the comic series Kanan – The Last Padawan by Greg Weissman, was later retconned in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the basic premise stayed the same. Kanan and Cal were forced to flee what they’d always known, hiding their true nature and making their way in a galaxy that had turned its back on them when they were barely teenagers.
Both Kanan and Cal cut themselves off from the Force, repressing their trauma and working grueling jobs to survive. They hid away until the Empire forced their hands – Cal’s friend Prauf was killed by an Inquisitor, as seen in Fallen Order, and the planetary system that Kanan had tried to settle down on was overrun by the Empire’s exploitative mining operations, as told in John Jackson Miller’s Star Wars Rebels prequel novel, A New Dawn. During these painful moments, both Kanan and Cal met those who would later become their new family. Kanan met Rebel pilot Hera Syndulla, and Cal was saved by Cere Junda and Greez Dritus.
Meeting these people gave both Cal and Kanan purpose again. Despite the teachings of the Jedi Order, they both formed attachments and viewed their new companions as family. Through these relationships, Cal and Kanan rediscovered the power of the Force and what they could do for the galaxy. They joined the fight against the Empire, not only in service to the light side of the Force, but also as a way of protecting those they cared about most. Cal, Cere, Greez, and eventually the Dathomirian Nightsister Merrin were able to make a true difference in the galaxy together, the same way Kanan, Hera, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Garazeb Orrelios were able to, as well.
In finding their purpose and their family, Kanan and Cal were able to become the best versions of themselves – both eventually rose to the rank of Jedi Knight, each in an unconventional way. Cal was knighted by Cere with an Inquisitor’s lightsaber, and Kanan was knighted by a Jedi Temple Guard (formerly the Grand Inquisitor) during a Force vision in a Jedi Temple. Growing up and becoming true Jedi outside the Order, during such a turbulent time, also allowed Cal and Kanan to nurture their emotions and fall in love. Kanan and Hera eventually had a son together, and Cal and Merrin proclaimed their true feelings for one another in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Kanan's Story Foreshadows Cal Kestis' Fate
Throughout Fallen Order, the tie-in novel Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs, and Survivor, it is proven time and again that Cal is willing to do anything to keep his family safe, even if that means putting himself in imminent danger. While Cal is slightly more emotional about his role as their protector than Kanan (especially after Greez lost his arm in Battle Scars), Kanan was the same way. When he thought he’d lost Ezra in a duel against the Grand Inquisitor, he boldly said that he had “nothing left to fear,” and made sure that the rest of his family could never be threatened by the Inquisitor again. There is nothing either of them wouldn’t do for those they love.
Kanan eventually proved his loyalty and love beyond a doubt. Near the end of Star Wars Rebels season 4, he sacrificed himself to save Ezra, Hera, and Sabine from a fuel tank explosion. Given Kanan and Cal’s similarities in this matter, not to mention all the other story beats they have in common, it can sadly be theorized that Cal might meet a similar fate in any Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sequel there may be.
Cal Kestis Doesn't Appear In The OT Era - And Kanan Parallels Explain Why
As is the case with all Order 66 survivors, eventually there has to be a reason for them not being present during the original Star Wars trilogy. Kanan had died, Ezra disappeared into unknown space, and Cere and her Master Eno Cordova both met their ends in Jedi: Survivor. Cal Kestis is a massive presence in the galaxy during the Dark Times; he’s fought Darth Vader, and is part of the Hidden Path. Star Wars canon is already fragile – Cal being alive during the OT would only fracture it more. Cal sacrificing himself to save his friends, as Kanan did, would be a fitting, yet tragic end for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s hero.