Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 1: Story 39: Aftershock
What is it ? : The Young Jedi are on the world of Vuundalla in the aftermath of an earthquake, and while the Jedi and their master Zanna are helping supplies are low for rebuilding. The Young Jedi are surprised to hear the King and Queen haven't sent any help, so decide to go ask them for help, sure that they would help if only they knew how important it is.
They are met at the castle gates by security droids, which refuse them access, but Prince Cyrus arrives on his speeder and allows them access to the throne room. The King and Queen are indifferent to the plight of their people, but the Prince is at least willing to go and see what is happening, while the King and Queen want to know from Zanna about The Starlight Beacon so she remains behind to speak to them.
The Jedi take Cyrus to the village, where he sees the devastation, and decides to help, taking Kai to the castles stables where there are supplies. He orders the droids there to hand over some of the supplies, but they refuse having orders from the King and Queen to use those supplies to rebuild the damaged stables.
So the prince just steals the supplies, taking them back to the village, but on the way they are intercepted by more security droids, which look like they might harm the Prince, so Kai ignites his lightsaber.
Zanna and the King and Queen arrive, and after Cyrus explains what happened, they are impressed that he is becoming a man of action and allow the supplies to be used to rebuild the village. The Young Jedi use their force powers to help, and the people are grateful to Cyrus for the help he has brought . . . .
High Points : While I've glossed over a lot of details from this episode in my description above, it's some of those details I find most interesting. While it would be easy to paint the royals in the story to be disconnected from the plight of their people, spending resources rebuilding a stable rather than the homes of their subjects. The royals aren't ignoring the plight, they're just unaware of it, their lives are so disconnected with their people that they just have no idea what's going on. It's even pointed out at one point, that the Prince has never visited the village before, and really knows nothing beyond the castle.
While this doesn't make their actions any less uncaring, it does ensure that they aren't irredeemable.
Low Points : Once again I have to wonder how monarchy works in the Star Wars universe? If the prince is totally disconnected from his subjects, how much influence does the royal family really have? Are they just figureheads, which in this occasion are useful as they have the supplies the villagers need? Or are they rulers, and ripe for a good revolution as their disconnection from the people leads to dissatisfaction and revolt.
So what do you really think ? : It's a fine little episode, adding to the cast of the show as I think the Prince is going to show up again, and the King and Queen are showing an interest in The Starlight Beacon, which I think is building into becoming a fixture of the later episodes.
Final Words : Knowing that the Starlight Beacon only lasts a very short time before it's destruction, and that the Jedi Council then orders the abandonment of all Jedi Outposts and the recall of everyone back to Coruscant to avoid their slaughter by the Nihil. It makes me think that The Young Jedi Adventures is building towards a very dark future. We haven't seen Kai, Nubs, Lys or Master Zanna in the comics, so do they die on the beacon when it is destroyed and those aboard preyed upon by the Nameless? Or does the outpost on Tenoo get raided by the Nihil and they all get slaughtered? Are they stuck behind the Stormwall, with Nihil forces headed for the Tenoo Jedi Academy to kill all those within?
Or does the show just come to an end, with the Young Jedi being ordered back to Coruscant and the abandonment of their friends?
None of it seems a particularly happy future for the Young Jedi.
Score : 8/10
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