The realms of Star Wars canon and Legends beautifully converge in a remarkable concept film that brings together Mara Jade and Doctor Chelli Aphra. Although the once cherished Star Wars Expanded Universe no longer holds canonical status, its narratives and characters continue to be deeply cherished. This sentiment is particularly strong when it comes to Mara Jade, the former Emperor’s Hand who eventually became the spouse of Luke Skywalker. While some Legends characters, such as Grand Admiral Thrawn, have been integrated into the canon, Mara regrettably remains confined to the Legends universe.
A brilliant concept film in the AFK web series envisions a scenario where Mara Jade could seamlessly fit into the canon. In this narrative, the Emperor’s Hand encounters Doctor Aphra, Darth Vader’s “pet archaeologist,” as they both embark on a mission to recover the same Jedi Holocron. This captivating two-part adventure is infused with witty humor.
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Mara Jade & Doctor Aphra: Ideal Rivals
Doctor Aphra is Star Wars’ response to Indiana Jones, albeit with a much more morally ambiguous twist, driven by her pursuit of credits. In the Star Wars galaxy, ancient relics are not only valuable but often possess immense power. Aphra caught the attention of Darth Vader himself, who compelled her to work under his command. She eventually managed to elude his grip by faking her own death.
The notion that Mara remained untouched by the corrupting influence of the Imperial culture is unrealistic.
Aphra serves as a fitting foil to Mara Jade, the Emperor’s Hand, who served her master out of a misplaced sense of loyalty, believing he had the galaxy’s best interests at heart. Interestingly, the concept video portrays Mara Jade in a more negative light than some of Timothy Zahn’s Legends novels from this era, which aligns with the idea that Mara was deeply influenced by the corruption of Imperial culture, making the notion of her remaining unscathed quite implausible.
The Sith tradition of rivalry between master and apprentice is embedded in the Sith Rule of Two, encouraging every apprentice to aspire to surpass their master. Few have considered how the inevitable rivalry between Darth Vader and Palpatine would naturally extend to their agents and emissaries, often resulting in conflicting, even hostile interactions. The emerging, yet surprisingly amicable, rivalry between Mara Jade and Doctor Aphra in this narrative feels perfectly fitting.
There is a strong desire among fans to see Mara Jade reintroduced into Star Wars canon, and this concept film illustrates how that could be achieved. A compelling approach would be to move beyond the idea of Mara marrying Luke and instead focus on her as a formidable antagonist, making any redemption arc genuinely impactful. This is the direction Star Wars should pursue.
Source: AFK web series
Mara Jade
Hailing from the Legends continuity, Mara Jade's Force-sensitivity caught the eye of Emperor Palpatine himself. She became one of the Emperor's Hands, a skilled assassin and spy who served his will. Mara failed in her last mission for the Emperor, to kill Luke Skywalker, and sank into the depths of the underworld for a time. She eventually became an ally of Luke, and the two fell in love, with Mara joining Luke's Jedi Order. Mara was eventually killed by Jacen Solo, serving as his sacrifice as he committed himself to the way of the Sith.
