Star Wars Rebels‘ Ezra Bridger proved the Jedi wrong about attachments, because his love for his Ghost family made him a great Jedi. Ezra lived on his own on the streets of Lothal before the Ghost crew found him and took him in so that Kanan Jarrus may train him in the ways of the Force. Despite a rough start, Ezra gradually came to understand the teachings of the Jedi and especially learned to use the Force ability colloquially known as “taming beasts,” as he was sensitive to various creatures’ needs and feelings. This ability demonstrated Ezra’s great capacity for empathy, which is a cornerstone of the Jedi ethos.
It wasn’t only Ezra’s empathy for animals that demonstrated why he became such an impactful Jedi, however. His relationship with his Master, Kanan Jarrus, and his respect and love for his parents, Ephraim and Mira, were important factors in Ezra becoming the kind of Jedi who could outsmart a villain like Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ezra’s empathy, his experiences as a victim of the Empire’s oppression, and his ability to connect with others made him an integral member of the Ghost crew and the Rebel Alliance. Ezra Bridger, more than most other Jedi, proved that attachments wouldn’t always lead to the dark side, despite his own struggles.
Ezra Bridger Gave Up The Chance To Be Reunited With His Master
Ezra was separated from his parents at a young age and had to learn to fend for himself on the streets of Lothal. He had a hard time trusting people other than himself, learning early on that getting help in the Empire’s galaxy was harder than it should be. It wasn’t until he ran into crew of the Ghost and met Kanan Jarrus that Ezra once again found people that believed in him, trusted him, and wanted to spend time with him since his parents were taken as prisoners for standing up to the Empire. Ezra’s relationship with Kanan, especially, allowed him to open himself up once again and discover a new side of himself – one that made him a hero.
The final episodes of Rebels included the tragic death of Kanan Jarrus, as he sacrificed himself to save the Ghost crew from a fuel explosion. Kanan’s death devastated Ezra, as he was once again confronted with loss and the pull to the dark side. Ezra had struggled with grief before when he discovered that his parents had died in a prison riot, and losing Kanan was a massive blow. And yet, when Ezra was presented with the opportunity to rescue Kanan in the World Between Worlds, a place that contains all of time, he was tempted but managed to stop himself and let go. Deep down he knew it would mean selfishly saving one life as opposed to altruistically preserving many.
Ezra Bridger Gave Up The Chance To Be With His Parents Again
Even Emperor Palpatine recognized the threat Ezra posed to his Empire. When Ezra destroyed the entrance to the World Between Worlds once it became clear that Palpatine was trying to take that power for himself, the Sith Lord tried to take Ezra off the board in a more manipulative way. By salvaging parts of Lothal’s Jedi Temple, Palpatine made it possible for Ezra to be reunited with his parents. That was all Ezra had ever wanted, and Palpatine preyed on Ezra’s insecurities and his recent grief for Kanan, hoping that it would turn the tide in the Star Wars Rebel Alliance’s efforts on Lothal.
Yet, once again, even after the temptation, Ezra recognized that a future with his parents wasn’t real. He loved them dearly and had desperately wished to be reunited with them in the past, but he’d grown and learned to respect and honor his parents’ sacrifice. Palpatine knew that Jedi were wary of attachments and deep relationships because of the dangers of strong emotions, but he wasn’t prepared for Ezra’s balance within himself, his empathy, or his respect for those he loved and what they stood for.
Ezra Learned To Embrace The Jedi Ethos Because Of His Attachments
The Jedi Code is opposed to attachment. And yet, for all that’s the case, Ezra became the Jedi he was precisely because of his attachments – not in spite of them. Before he met Kanan and the rest of the Ghost crew, Ezra was afraid, prickly, and had a hard time trusting people. His relationships with Kanan, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Garazeb Orrelios allowed him to be fully himself with people who cared for him no matter what. It allowed Ezra to open himself up to the Force, giving him an outlet for his empathy and his inherent goodness. Without his attachment to the Ghost crew, Ezra may never have lived up to his full potential, even if he had somehow discovered that he was Force-sensitive without Kanan’s help.
Additionally, Ezra’s love for his parents and his respect for their fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire inspired him to fight too, to become a champion of all people, as opposed to just looking out for himself. He loved them and wanted to be reunited with them, but eventually recognized that sacrifice is part of what makes a Jedi a hero. In the end, Ezra gave up everything for the good of Lothal, even his future, because he knew that’s what his parents would have done. Star Wars Rebels’ Ezra Bridger is the epitome of a Jedi who can love deeply and still withstand the darkness.
