Revisiting my belief that Kyp and Jag should have been (star-crossed?) lovers in the NJO. This is less “I see hints of it in canon!” and more about how the attempt to rationalize Jaina and Jag as perfect fits can apply with Kyp*.
NOTE: Since J/J focuses on their fitful starts, I’m focusing more on that stage. I do have thoughts on how a K/Jag would have worked in DNT and FOTJ though.
Let’s start with a trope that Cunningham, Allston, and others deliberately evoke throughout the books: Opposites Attract.
There’s moments in Dark Tide, Dark Journey, and Force Heretic where characters reflect on Han and Leia as a princess and scoundrel. Jaina feels like her Rebel background is looked down upon by Jag because he’a Imperial nobility. Jag thinks Jaina as too wild for his adapted society of Imperials and Chiss. In LOTF there does seem to be an attempt to flip this, Jag is now an untethered bounty hunter, Jaina is all duty, but that’s ultimately dropped.
Through each author’s narration and word choices, we are meant to see J/J in the same vein as Han & Leia. Thing is, I don’t think Jag and Jaina are that different at all. Jaina and Jag actually come from similar backgrounds and have similar traits. Which isn’t a bad thing!
But that defies the Scoundrel/Royal trope that is pushed. Consider:
Two extraordinarily talented young adults who are prodigies, well-trained, and enter a military career at a young age.
A career that heavily echoes their parents’ choices
Strong sense of duty to authority, often their specific military/Jedi branch.
Except when there’s a situation that they are emotionally invested in. Both Jag and Jaina have instances where they subvert orders to pursue their goals. For Jag, it’s Jaina. For Jaina, it’s what the plot demands.
Their families have outsized influence, were wealthy, and commanded authority.
Which does translate into their own soft power as their stories progress.
Both are respectful of and trained in basic diplomacy and social conventions. But secretly dislike it.
Might be sarcastic in moments of stress but generally earnest.
Both families are large and loving.
Both make decisions logically based on training, data, and observation.
Both suppress their emotions, though there is nuance about why. That’s one of my favorite things about both!
Now, in Dark Tide books and Dark Journey, there is some attempt at playing up the Imperial and Rebel divide. Except… The Rebellion has faded into the NR. Which incidentally adopted one of the most prominent Imperial symbols, Star Destroyers, and slowly moves toward authoritarianism. Regardless, Zhan and MAS have spent books reconciling the two governments. By the NJO the older characters from the movies and previous books do not care about the Empire anymore.
There is one other obvious difference: Jaina is a Jedi, Jag is not. That is significant, but Jaina isn’t as influenced by the Jedi Code or philosophy as Jacen was. As I see it written, for Jaina the Jedi are just a different branch of the military.
Which leads us to another Jedi, one that is inextricably connected to the Order and Force philosophy. One with strong feelings about the Empire (and who the Empire still hates) and is a pretty stark contrast to either Jag or Jaina. Kyp Durron.
Let’s go over Kyp’s differences:
Literally a rebel. Kyp is rebelling against Luke’s approach to the Vong by doing what he thinks is right. Continues to be a dissenting voice when necessary.
Even under orders he tends to act independently of others.
Literally a nobody! Comes from a backwater colony, from a family of unimportant small-time politicians, and grew up a slave.
A self-made man. Formed his own trained squadron and Force fighting techniques.
Has no political power or social leverage among the main cast for many books, even as an adult.
Doesn’t care about hierarchies, diplomacy, and chain of command.
An impulsive and emotional decision maker based on principles.
Disheveled to Jag’s polished looks.
What does Kyp share with Jag?
Both have been outcasts and likely still feel isolated. Jag as a human in a xenophobic alien society and then as an Imp among the NR. Kyp’s is complicated because his crimes definitely landed him as outcast for the rest of his life but he started as a loner too.
Both had evil yet undeniably brilliant role models, Exar Kun and Thrawn. Yet both men are deep-down idealistic.
Both lost their teenage years and innocence to the Empire. Jag just got a slighter better deal.
Both are highly principled yet may disagree about the value of said principles.
Kyp is emotionally repressed as well!
I genuinely believe Jag would have approved of Kyp’s military targets and tactics based on his comments in Dark Tide that one cannot ponder too long. He could probably even see some of Thrawn’s art wisdom in Kyp’s encouragement of pre-battle chatter.
*If your immediate reaction is wondering how could the two ever reconcile the Empire’s atrocities, Carida, and their own arrogance, that’s part of my point! And unlike Jaina, Kyp would unceasingly bring these concerns up and make Jag engage. A trait Jag also has…
Kyp is already distraught over Carida, and that guilt drives his campaigns. What if he gained the forgiveness of an Imperial? Could he accept it? Much less friendship or love? What if Jag had motivation to reform the Empire after meeting one of its victims? Or actually chose to leave? Or began to question how he was raised?
Kyp/Jag would have been compelling and great for the long-term.
