The Star Wars Rebels finale was packed with some incredible twists, cliff-hangers and shocking moments. One of the most discussed scenes from the finale is the one where we discover that Hera was still flying around the galaxy with Chopper by her side!
However, they were not the only ones flying! In the co-pilot’s seat we meet Hera’s young son, Jacen, a human and Twi’lek hybrid. This was a tear jerking moment for all Kanan-Hera shippers, because the show leaves clear hints that the young one is father by none other than Kanan.
When I recently rewatched the season finale recently, certain questions came to my mind. It is a mystery how the makers managed to keep Hera’s pregnancy a secret for so long. She would have to be pregnant for at least nine months, which means during all the adventures that came to a closure in the finale.
So, here’s what we can assume: Kanan and Hera’s child is called Jacen Syndulla. He is half human and half Twi’lek ideally consumed during the Galactic Civil War. Though the finale does not explicitly state who’s the father, Jacen’s looks hints clearly at Kanan.
1. Do Kanan and Hera Have a Child?
Sabine’s narration in the finale moments did not really state that Jacen was Kanan’s son with Hera, but it is unlikely that it could be anyone else.
In all probability, Jacen Syndulla is Kanan’s son. It is unlikely that Hera moved on so quickly after Kanan’s death and had a baby with someone else! They were deeply in love and Hera would not do something like that.
Considering little Jacen’s age when we meet him, he had to be born a few years ago for him to be that old by the end of the Battle of Endor. Going by the timeline, it is difficult to assume the father can be anyone but Kanan.
The makers does leave clear hints in the child’s looks for the audience to know Jacen is Hera’s child from Kanan. When asked about Jacen’s look, Rebel’s showrunner Dave Filloni has been quoted saying, “I wanted to make sure that you knew whose kid it was, so there were little clues in the costume if you didn’t think the likeness was there.”
If we observe clearly, Jacen’s eyebrows are a sure shot giveaway that Kanan is his father. He also has his father’s eyes. It is probably why Kanan’s eyes were so much in focus in his last few moments in the show.
It is also interesting to note the minute details in his costume which also point at Kanan. However, it is not explicit in the sense that the young one does not have a shoulder armor or an eye mask.
Jacen’s green hair and the green tint in his complexion also gives the Twi’lek vibes to his looks, which he inherited from his mother Hera.
This twist is quite dear to the Kanan-Hera fans because it was not only unexpected but also a heart-warming one. In this way, the beloved Kanan would be able to live on through his son Jacen after the makers killed him off in the show.
2. How Did Kanan and Hera Conceive Jacen?
One question that can be raised is with all the adventures that Kanan and Hera went through before his death, how did they get the time to conceive Jacen?
The Kanan-Hera relationship was quite obvious since the beginning of the series. They were indeed in love. But they probably kept it private to focus on their goals against the Empire.
It is definitely difficult to carry on with your romance when a war is waging, but nothing is impossible when you’re in love! Wink! Though Hera only confessed her love for Kanan moments before his death, it was obvious that they were already together.
Technically, Hera and Kanan just needed a bit of privacy to be able to conceive Jacen. It is not impossible that they managed to get away for a while.
I only wish more time was given to demonstrate how their relationship dynamics developed and changed over time. The makers leave the explanation a bit clumsy, but the fans don’t mind: two major characters have a son together!
3. When Was Jacen Conceived?
It is difficult to clearly pinpoint at a particular time when Hera conceived Jason, but we can do some speculation.
Jacen was at least a few years old when we meet him as Hera’s co-pilot in the season’s finale. This would mean he was conceived at least five-six years ago, roughly during the beginning of the Rebellion and not too far from the Battle of Scarif.
The presence of Kanan and Hera’s son makes their connection to each other clear. They were definitely in a relationship for a long time before the actual confession takes place moments before Kanan’s death. Hence, Kanan was conceived some time ago.
It is not clear whether Hera was aware that she was pregnant but it didn’t stop her from fighting. If we assume that she knew, then probably she fought harder so that her child can grow up in a safer, better environment in the galaxy. I hope we get to see more of Jacen Syndulla in some way or the other, maybe in another show or spin-off series.
The presence of Jacen makes the finale a bittersweet one, as it makes Kanan’s death and the Kanan-Hera love story much more tragic. But it manages to bring a smile to our faces, because through Jacen, his father lives on even after his tragic death.
4. About Star Wars Rebels
Star Wars Rebels is a four-season-long animated TV series animated and produced by Lucasfilm Animation. Rebels aired its first episode on October 14, 2014, and follows the story of rebels who make the rebellion happen against The Empire in the Star Wars Universe.
The plot revolves around a team of Rebels and clearly the most unique team combination we have seen in Star Wars so far. The rebel team is led by Jedi Knight Kenan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla – daughter of Cham Syndulla who once fought the Separatists with Jedi Master Windu during the Clone Wars.
We also have an R2D2-style astromech – Chopper, an ex-Mandalorian – Sabine Wren, and a Lasat – Garazeb Orellios. The team’s rebellion starts escalating quickly when they encounter a strong force-sensitive boy, Ezra Bridger on the planet of Lothal.
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