Star Wars Rebels: Legends of the Lasat
PABLO HIDALGO: “The one thing that comes through–and it’s a theme we’re exploring in multiple stories and multiple places–is that spirituality and what you can label The Force is not something that the Jedi and the Sith have exclusive access to. You can have a culture like the Lasat who have a spirituality to them, who have a very strong focus and are able to do things that appear mystical and magical. That’s their expression and connection to the Force.”
HENRY GILROY (co-executive producer): “A big part of this episode was exploring how different species, different planets, might have a different interpretation, a different understanding of the Force. But also how they interact with it would be different.”
I’ve definitely been aware of Star Wars’ move towards exploring other Force-based faiths (previously mentioned: the Phirmists, the people of Lew’el, the Guardians of the Whills, and Maz Kanata) that evolved in parallel to the Jedi and the Sith, but I wasn’t aware until now that the Lasats also had a connection to the Force, but that absolutely makes sense! Both for how they found Lira San in this episode and for potentially why the Empire would have made a point of wiping them out. (As they were thriving pretty well during the time of the Republic and the Empire made a point of wiping out any Force-based people.) So there’s another light-side set of Force users that existed during the time of the Jedi as well!
And it reminds me that the other major one we know of were the Guardians of the Whills and the various people on Jedha. There are dozens of different faiths that have Jedha as a holy place, though, we only get information on a small handful of them. Among the things we learn about Jedha:
The Ninn Orthodoxy, the Zealots of Psusan, and the Phirmists all consider Jedha a holy place.
The moon of jedha is soaked in history. Primordial structures–some of the earliest architecture known to exist in the galaxy–dot its horizons. Tantalizing clues etched into these withering sandstone edifices describe faded connections among dozes of ancient faiths.
The crowded boulevards of the Holy City teem with adherents of many religions, with a wide range of orthodoxy and observances.
We also see Disciples of the Whills, Brotherhood of the Beatific Countenance, and the Clan of Toribota.
Chirrut is from a near-extinct order, the Guardians of the Whills, which is devoted to protecting the Temple of the Kyber in the Holy City of Jedha. An ancient order, its origins are lost to time and inextricably woven into the legends of the Jedi Knights. Some believers insist the Jedi drew inspiration from the followers of Jedha, while histories surmise it is likely the opposite. Whatever the truth, it is all a matter of deepest faith to Chirrut. (Though, they are not so closely linked that the information survives, so it sounds like, while friendly with each other, they were fairly separate–which makes sense, since we don’t really see them being that similar, even as they obviously got along.)
Chirrut wears a Jedha pendant of reforged gold depicting an ancient starbird symbol only recently modified by the Rebel Alliance. (This is also backed up by The Last Jedi’s concept art of the Jedi uneti tree on Ahch-To is a Jedi/Force symbol that the Rebellion adopted as their starbird symbol.)
Not all of them are necessary Force-users–though, we know the people of Lew’el definitely are and it looks like the Lasat people are using the Force as well. (While the Shaman of the Whills was originally in the ROTS screenplay for how Qui-Gon learned to become a Force Ghost, it’s contrasted by how TCW showed him learning from the Force Priestesses in the Wellspring of Life.)
Some of the other details we know:
As the Empire has risen in power, it has become intolerant of such displays of spirituality and faith. Beginning with the extermination of the Jedi Order–done to prevent an attempted coup of the Republic–the Empire looks suspiciously on such supernatural beliefs. (aside: perhaps this is why the Lasat people were targeted by them? it’s certainly why the Empire targeted Jedha and why Maz went into hiding about her abilities once the Empire rose)
The Force has existed as a recorded concept in the galaxy for well over 25,000 years. The Jedi Order was its most well-known practitioner, but there are other schools of study and worship that have evolved in parallel on scattered planets. (see how the Phirmists and the Guardians of the Whills and people like Maz had connections to the Jedi, they were friendly with each other, that many of them ‘evolved in parallel’ to each other)
The Church of the Force was an outlawed religion that bounty hunters were hired to track down and kill. (Lor San Tekka from The Force Awakens was a member of the Church of the Force.)
It’s been clear that the story group has been working on this for awhile, but it’s cool to have Pablo say it specifically and fascinating to look at the various connections and different evolutions of what we know of various light side Force-based faiths!
