Summary
A powerful Jedi in theStar Warsuniverse is not just born, they are made in theirJedi Trials. Throughout a Jedi Padawan’s training in their respective Jedi Temples, their masters eventually put them on these Trials before making them into Jedi Knights. Afterward, Knights may even have to take another series of Jedi Trials to attain the rank of Master.
All Jedi Trials inStar Warsare unique to the examinee, but are always based on five principles: Courage, Flesh, Insight, Skill, and Spirit. However, compared to other military tests, Jedi Trials are often metaphorical, with the Jedi’s experiences being taken into account.
Trial of the Flesh
Notable Aspects
A training accident destroyed her lightsaber and dismembered her arm.
Poetic repetition is a popular trope associated withStar Wars, with Luke losing his right hand and his father Anakin losing his right limb being popular examples. While Anakin’s bravery in fighting Count Dooku would be Obi-Wan’s main argument to the Jedi Council to accept the incident as his Trial of the Flesh, another future event would mark a Trial that didn’t need to convince a Council in order for it “to count.”
This came in the form of ApprenticeTenel Ka Djo, the heir of the Hapes Consortium. In a sparring session with fellow Padawan Jacen Solo, Tenel Ka’s future husband,a lightsabermalfunction forces Tenel Ka’s lightsaber to shut down and Jace’s to dismember her limb. While trends at the time would allow her to have a prosthetic arm in the same vein as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, Tenel Ka refuses the procedure. She instead said she needs to train better to adapt to this loss.
Trial of the Spirit
A duel with a specter revealed Galen was fighting a version of himself fully immersed into the Dark Side.
Despite being a video game,Star Wars: The Force Unleashedpaved the way forone of the more iconic non-Skywalker Force users in the franchise:Galen Marek. As a child strong in the Force, Darth Vader orphaned Galen, brainwashed him to remove his memories, and molded him into the perfect assassin, Starkiller. Much of Starkiller’s missions involved furthering the cause of the Sith, while at the same time slowly helping Darth Vader defeat Emperor Palpatine.
To hone Galen’s skills further, Vader periodically instructs Galen to visit the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to embark on various Jedi Trials. While Galen succeeds in all of them, his most pivotal Trial is his Trial of the Spirit. This occurs in his final visit to the Temple, where he encounters a holocron of his father apologizing and reminding him that his destiny is his to control. Galen falls into a trance afterward and fights a masked specter in his mindscape. This was revealed to be Galen himself but fully immersed in the Dark Side. After defeating his specter, Galen turns his back on his master.
Trial of Courage
Bravery and participation in the Clone Wars, reckless but fruitful endeavors, as well as relationships with the populace elevated him into a hero.
While Yoda reluctantly accepted Obi-Wan’s tutelage of a youngAnakin Skywalker,the young Padawan would prove his worth on multiple occasions. The Force was indeed strong in Padawan Anakin, and the energy of his youth would extend to various exploits and hijinks that would result in missions being completed in unexpected ways.
The height of Anakin’s recklessness came atthe height of the Clone Wars, where Jedi at the time were viewed negatively due to their militant role. Compared to other Jedi who often became tacticians, Anakin wanted to join the action. As a result, Anakin often led dangerous missions and showed regular concern for others, even towards “expendable” clones. After the Clone Wars, Anakin’s bravery and defeat of Asajj Ventress on Yavin 4 deemed him worthy of promotion to Jedi Knight. However, the promotion was also deemed necessary due to the few fighting forces on the Republic’s side.
Mastered Form 3 to fight Darth Maul’s Form 7, manages to kill his master’s murderer.
When Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn fell atthe hands of Darth Maul,Obi-Wan Kenobitook it upon himself to avenge the fallen Qui-Gon and stop the growing threat of a new Sith organization. In their rematch, Obi-Wan defeated his master’s assailant despite their difference in strength.Technicalities-wise, Qui-Gon used the mobile and aggressive Form 4 (Ataru) against the extremely aggressive unpredictability of Darth Maul’s Form 7 (Juyo), eventually resorting to a war of attrition that the former inevitably lost.
While Obi-Wan had learned the same style, he switched to Form 3 (Soresu) instead, countering Darth Maul’s offensive power with sheer defense. Since his defeat of Darth Maul and promotion to the rank of Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan has used Soresu as his primary fighting style.
A deep meditation in Dagobah, where he saw Darth Vader.
Yoda trainingLuke Skywalkermeant having to bear witness once again to one of the challenges a new Jedi has to face: the Trial of Spirit. It’s in this challenge where they have to face their inner darkness and conquer it, and such is its inherent danger that a Jedi Master like Yoda must be present to get participants out of danger. Luke’s experience on Dagobah is one of the most iconic training montages in popular culture, with his Trial of the Spirit involving his future fight with Darth Vader.
In Luke’s vision, he sees Darth Vader and manages to defeat him in a duel. However, when he decapitates Darth Vader, he sees his face inside his mask. It’s said that this Trial is meant to show Luke thathe can only defeat Darth Vaderif he manages to defeat his self-doubt. Luke manages to do so, in the end helping his father return to the light and redeem himself as the Chosen One.
A narration of the Holt Kazed, a hero of the Nelvaanians who would fall to darkness.
Beingthe Chosen One, theJedi Knight Anakin Skywalkerundergoes some of the most important Jedi Trials during his training. One such challenge is his Trial of the Spirit, where he sees a vision of the Holt Kazed during his stay in Nelvaan. According to Nelvaanian legend, the Holt Kazed, or Ghost Hand, will aid the Nelvaanians in a time of great need. This hero will lose his hand to a monster and get a new one that can defeat any enemy. However, the warrior would lose control of his powers, eventually leading to the deaths of his friends, the strangulation of loved ones, and losing even himself.
Fans and even Nelvaanians would consider Anakin as the Holt Kazed. However, perceptive observers would realize that the legend was a prophecy of Anakin’s dark future. After this vision, Anakin aids the Nelvaanians against Skakoans in the Battle of Nelvaan. While their victory marks Anakin’s completion of the Trial, his mercilessness in the conflict reflects his growing internal turmoil.
A Great Trial
Cleared her name after accusations of bombing the Jedi Temple, rejected the promotion to the face of the Jedi Council, deciding to leave the Order to forge her own path.
A Jedi Knight being assigned a Padawan to train has become a tradition in the Jedi Order, with a youngAhsoka Tanopromoted to the rank of Padawan and partnered with Anakin Skywalker throughout the Clone Wars. Being a Jedi with her version of a warrior’s spirit, Tano quickly formed a kinship with her master, even adopting his adaptable combat methodologies.
Unfortunately, their faith in the Jedi Order is put to the test when Ahsoka is accused of bombing a Jedi Temple on Coruscant. When Admiral Tarkin requests Ahsoka be tried as a civilian due to the extent of the damage, the Jedi Council immediately strips her of her rank. Thankfully, Anakin helps Ahsoka prove her innocence, andthe Jedi Councilapologizes. Jedi Master Mace Windu says this was Ahsoka’s “Great Trial,” and she would only grow stronger with this taken to heart. However, Ahsoka rejects this promotion and quits the Order before the Jedi Council, with her faith already shaken. After this, Ahsoka is considered a Gray Jedi and is in pursuit of her own path.
