Page 33 - Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2019)

REBEL ROMANCE

omantic relationships in the
Star Wars universe can be a bit
R rocky to say the least. Look at
some of the most well-known
couplings: Han and Leia, Obi-
Wan and Satine Kryze, Anakin rhythm together as partners and friends as Kanan
and Padmé, Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree… It became Hera’s co-pilot onboard the Ghost.
is clear that the path of true love does tend As their efforts to disrupt the Empire grew, so

to be filled with some crater-sized obstacles, did their crew. The Spectres—their codename for

no matter how much we want our favorite the ship’s crew—became a party of five. Kanan, as
couples to make it work. Spectre 1, oversaw the planning and execution of
There’s one couple in the Star Wars universe, operations. As Spectre 2, Hera pilots the Ghost as
however, that’s been going strong for years now: captain and Kanan’s equal partner. Hera’s droid,
renegades Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla of Chopper became Spectre 3. Zeb Orrelios, a Lasat,
Star Wars Rebels. joined as Spectre 4, and the Mandalorian Sabine
Kanan and Hera, known by the nickname Wren came on board as Spectre 5.
of “Kanera” to a lot of fans, are a favorite for
many reasons, not least the equality in their A Love Story
relationship and their implicit trust in each other. By the time we meet the Ghost crew at the start
Kanan is a Jedi Knight and he’s been trained of Star Wars Rebels, Hera and Kanan have settled
against having attachments. Hera is committed into a companionable friendship, a partnership
to fighting the Empire first and foremost. But underscored by a loving bond. In fact, as far as a

they’ve learned how to fight for each other (and great many fans were concerned, Kanan and Hera

the rest of the Ghost crew) without forgetting were “Space Married.” In essence, the two are a
the needs of the overall mission—even if that couple in pretty much everything but name. Hera
puts one of them in danger in the short term. habitually calls Kanan “Love” or “Dear;” and
That’s not to say things bewteen them have they even refer to Ezra, Zeb, and Sabine as “the
always been easy. The couple have seen their fair kids;” they spar verbally; to offer reassurance they
share of obstacles. But if there’s one thing we’ve touch; and they fight side by side as one.

come to know about them, it’s that, no matter While there is no explicit recognition of what
what happens, Hera and Kanan will always fi nd is going on between them in Season One, there is
their way back to each other. no denying that Hera’s clearly upset when Kanan
elects to be left on Lothal and allows himself to
A New Dawn be captured in order to save the rest of the Ghost
Kanan Jarrus fell in love with Hera Syndulla crew in “Call to Action.” Two episodes later, in
before he ever saw her face. One second she the first season finale, “Fire Across the Galaxy,”

was a cloaked figure asking for
directions in a seedy part of
town on Gorse, and the next he “Kanan Jarrus fell
was willing to follow that voice
anywhere. Not that Hera made in love with Hera
it easy on him. She had gone to
Gorse to find intel for her own

rebellious efforts, not to pick Syndulla before he
up some drifter, but the young
Kanan Jarrus and 18-year-old ever saw her face.”
Hera Syndulla teamed up to help
save Gorse from total destruction
and to bring down Count Viridian, while dealing
a blow to the Empire at the same time. Talk about
the start of a beautiful friendship.
While Kanan set upon joining Hera on her
“damn fool idealistic crusade” largely based on
his attraction to her, Hera made it clear that any
romance between the two of them would need to
go unexplored when weighed against the larger

fight against the Empire. We sensed the attraction
was mutual, but Hera Syndulla isn’t one to let
herself get distracted. They soon found a perfect

STAR WARS INSIDER / 33

30/10/2018 13:27
SWI2019_032-037_FEAT_KananHera.indd 33 30/10/2018 13:27
SWI2019_032-037_FEAT_KananHera.indd 33