Tales of the Forests
The first three Tales of the Jedi shorts each take place on a forested planet, and in each case, the state of the forest reflects the state of the planet.
In "Life and Death" (Tales of the Jedi 1.1), Ahsoka Tano is born on a lush green planet. Like many forested planets in Star Wars, this green planet is a place of natural harmony and interconnected balance. Ahsoka is born into a close-knit, loving family unit; the family is connected to the larger community of the village; and the village is attuned to the larger natural ecosystem of the forest and its animals.
The planet where "Justice" (Tales of the Jedi 1.2) takes place is the polar opposite of Ahsoka's home planet. It is evident that it was once lushly forested, but all the trees are now dead and leafless, leaving the planet grey, bare, and desolate. The dismal state of the planet's natural ecosystem reflects the severe dysfunction of its society: its tyrannical Senator is rapaciously devouring his planet's natural resources, disconnected from both the subjects under his care and his own biological son. Qui-Gon Jinn – whose green lightsaber is a stark visual contrast to the grey environment – restores the possibility of harmony by reconciling the Senator to his estranged son, who advocates for the villagers.
In "Choices" (Tales of the Jedi 1.3), Count Dooku and Mace Windu uncover hidden strife between another corrupt Senator and his people on the planet Raxus, which will later become the capital of the Separatist movement. Thriving forests with red and orange leaves surround Raxus' opulent cities, but much like the beauty of autumn precedes the harsh cold of winter, the outward beauty of Raxus masks its internal difficulties and impending failure. Raxus is a beautiful planet, but it is in its twilight years; soon it will become the center of a doomed political cause, and after the dust of the conflict settles, it will be tyrannized by an Imperial occupation, as seen in "Common Ground" (The Bad Batch 1.10). The autumnal hues of the forest suggest that while it seems to be flourishing now, it is approaching a season of desolation.
EXPLORE FURTHER…
Characters: Ahsoka Tano / Count Dooku / Qui-Gon Jinn
Shows: Tales of the Jedi
GO DEEPER INTO THE ARCHIVES…
Concepts: family / forests / nature and technology
Interpretive Tools: Tripartite Soul Theory
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