Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerintroduced the idea ofa Force dyad, and a compelling theory reveals how to expand on it while bringingStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicback into canon. As Kylo Ren told Rey,being a dyad in the Force meant they had a strong bond that made them even more powerful.This revelation recontextualized their encounters in theStar Warssequel trilogyand led to some of the movie’s most interesting scenes.

Unfortunately,The Rise of Skywalkerwas so bloated by other plotlines that the writers couldn’t utilize the concept nearly as much as they could have. Even the reveal itself isn’t given enough weight because it happens at the same time Rey learns that Emperor Palpatine is her grandfather. Thankfully,a canonKotORstory could properly explore the Force dyadand take fans back to one of the best eras of theStar Warstimeline.

Left: Darth Malak and Darth Revan in KOTOR; Right: Jedi Revan wielding a purple lightsaber.

Viewers Have Been Desperate To See KotOR Back In Star Wars Canon

The one era Disney hasn’t explored yet

The Old Republic era was easily one of the best inthe originalStar WarsExpanded Universe, now known as “Legends,” especially theKotORvideo games. This was when the Jedi and the Sith were numerous, leading to several outstanding villains and high stakes for theStar Warsgalaxy.The games allowed players to explore this era and follow multiple characterswhile having a cohesive narrative.

“Savior, Conqueror, Hero, Villain”: Darth Revan, KOTOR’s Greatest Sith Lord, Explained

Ever since his debut as a Sith turned Jedi in Knights of the Old Republic, Revan has become one of the most fascinating Star Wars characters.

When Disney revealed the updated timeline of all theStar Warseras, the Old Republic was clear for all to see. However, aside from a few references toKotORcharacters and locations,the newStar Warscanon has almost no stories set in the Old Republic era. A remake of the first game is in development, and there have been reports ofKotORmovies and shows, but fans are still waiting forStar Warsto revisit the Old Republic.

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Revan & Bastila Shan Could Be Part Of A Force Dyad

They are a great duo who have experienced both sides of the Force

Two of the best characters of the firstKotORgame were Darth Revan and Bastila Shan, andStar Warsfan@sawyeurisminterestingly labels them “The Original Dyad.” Like Kylo Ren and Rey,one was a former Jedi who turned to the dark side and donned a mask, while the other was a Jedi who fought Revan but eventually became his ally. Revan and Bastila married and had a son, while Ben and Rey’s romance was tragically cut short.

If we take these words literally, it’s interesting to consider if Revan and Bastila were a Force dyad thousands of years beforeThe Rise of Skywalker.TheKotORgames were particularly good at exploring the nature of the Force and the line between light and dark, so a canon story would be the perfect way to expand on this concept. It would also bring classic Legends characters to the forefront while tying their story to the larger Skywalker Saga.

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A Canon KotOR Would Add So Much Depth To An Idea Rise Of Skywalker Wasted

The Force dyad is a truly engaging idea, so it’s a shame thatThe Rise of Skywalkerdidn’t develop it to its full potential.Rey and Kylo Ren could have struggled to comprehend what it means to be"two that are one"and whether they ever had a say about their destinies. They also spent most of the movie fighting against each other, so how powerful could they be when united?

Bastila and Revan may have saved each other inKotOR, but there was also an alternate ending where they both joined the dark side, so how devastating could that be?

A canonKotORstory could address these questions or raise new ones that the sequel trilogy never proposed. Bastila and Revan may have saved each other inKotOR, but there was also an alternate ending where they both joined the dark side, so how devastating could that be?Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkermay have had a good idea, butStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republiccan do something better with it.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic tells the story of the Star Wars universe long before the Skywalker family altered the fate of the galaxy. The player assumes control of Revan, an amnesiac Force user who finds themselves thrown into the center of the ancient struggle between the Jedi and the Sith. An open-world RPG that allows the player to explore a galaxy of planets, KOTOR puts an emphasis on player choice: Revan must decide whether to save the galaxy, or conquer it.

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Cast

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concludes the Skywalker saga with Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron leading the Resistance against the First Order. As the final battle unfolds, they draw upon the wisdom and strength of previous generations to confront their adversaries. Released in 2019, the film concludes the sequel trilogy.