Since Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise from Lucasfilm there have been many new projects that have expanded the Star Wars Universe. Some have been received better than others, with that have been fan favorites yet still cause much dissension in the ranks of fans, but for the most part, many have been well received.
Andor, The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka are perhaps the series that have been best received because they focus on characters and storylines that are outside the main Skywalker Saga. As fans prepare for the first introduction to onscreen introduction the High Republic Era with The Acolyte, there are many possibilities that should be considered when expanding the mythos of Star Wars moving forward.
One corner of the Universe that has yet to be fully explored outside of the Legends continuity is the Dark Side of The Force and the history of the Sith. Here are just a few ways to correct this omission and could be done to make a larger overall story to stand against the Light Side of the Force.
Bringing The Darth Bane Trilogy Into Cannon Would Provide A Larger Back Story To The Entire Star Wars Saga
The Darth Bane Trilogy was written by Drew Karpyshyn and is comprised of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction (2006), Darth Bane: Rule of Two (2007), and Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil (2009). The series is where the origins of “The Rule Of Two” – one Master, one apprentice was created and explains why Bane decided to take the Sith in this direction. It is this series that defines the Sith and how these Dark Siders lost their way and as Bane believes diluted the strength of the Dark Side.
In the Star Wars movies, Darth Bane has been referenced many times and his spirit even makes an appearance in The Clone Wars animated series when Yoda is on his journey to learn more about The Force and how to preserve himself after he dies like Qui-Gon. The only obstacle that doing this story might face is distilling the history of The Sith in to a cannon-friendly explanation.
An Adaption Of The Legends Novel Star Wars: Darth Plagueis Would Tell Palpatine’s Origin and Put the Events of The Phantom Menace In a Clearer Perspective
The 2012 novel by James Luceno is the story of not only Darth Plagueis, the Muun better known as Hego Damask II, the high-ranking member of the Banking Clan and the Master of Darth Sidious. Through Plagueis’ story, the manipulation and steering of the Republic to its downfall and destruction of the Jedi Order, are told alongside his obsession with trying to achieve immortality through The Force.
Darth Plagueis is another character that straddles the Legends/Cannon line and should just be properly introduced into the Star Wars Universe aside from the mention by Palpatine to Anakin in Revenge Of The Sith and in the book, was present when Anakin was first brought to see the Jedi Council. This could be the story that if told correctly could fix for some the issues that some have with the Prequels as a whole.
Darth Maul Deserves A Chance To Shine With A Backstory Outside Of The Star Wars Animated Shows
For spending such a short time onscreen, Darth Maul has been given a chance to shine in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels animated series, but there is more story to tell both before his appearance in The Phantom Menace and before his final fate at the hands of Obi-Wan on Tatooine. For stories to tell before he was revealed to be Sidious’ apprentice in the movie, Legends books such as Lockdown and Shadow Hunter explore his missions leading up to Palpatine coming to power as Chancellor and the fall of the Republic. A live-action series, no more than three seasons, could serve as a bridge between the time before his “death’ on Naboo and his eventual take over of Crimson Dawn as seen at the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Qi’ra’s Rise To Power And Control Of Crimson Dawn Is A Story That Needs To Be Told To Tie Up Loose Story Ends
At the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han’s one-time love Qi’ra finds herself one of Maul’s top leaders in the Crimson Dawn organization after killing Dryden Vos. Following Maul’s death she assumes control of the crime syndicate using its power to destabilize the Empire. The story of Maul’s criminal empire and Qi’ra’s climb as told in Star Wars: Crimson Climb to their involvement in the period of time between The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi over in Charles Soule’s Star Wars comic book series could be a riveting story that tells the role that Crimson Dawn played in allowing the Rebel Alliance to bring the Empire to its knees successfully.
Captain Phasma’s Origin Story Would Give The Character Much-Needed Character Development
From her first appearance in The Force Awakens until her anti-climatic demise in The Last Jedi, Captain Phasma was one of the more interesting characters of the new trilogy whose story was not really developed in the films. In the 2017 novel, Star Wars: Phasma, not only is Phasma’s origin told but also how and why she joined the First Order. The story as told by a captive Resistance pilot to the Stormtrooper Commander designated Cardinal is one of politics, betrayal, and survival, which rounds out the overall character of Phasma and her place in the Star Wars mythos, even connecting her to the events of the Aftermath trilogy written by Chuck Wendig.
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By exploring the Dark Side of the Star Wars universe, fans would have a more well-rounded story worthy of the original trilogy.
