SPECULATION Mara Jade in New-Canon discussion thread

Thanks!
Mine would have been like:

 

Personally, I think Karen Gillan would make a dynamite Mara Jade. And while her backstory might need to be tweaked, start her off as a likable, kick-butt anti-hero--and then keep her that way!!! It's worked for Marvel's Loki and it would work for Mara Jade too.

In the immortal words of Tina Turner, we don't need another hero!

 

Well, since they're bringing her action figure back out, I guess she's making her way back into canon somehow.

 

Only with major rewrites, but then she wouldn't be Mara Jade anymore, right?

I've never really liked her in the old EU. For me she always came across as arrogant and really overpowered. She's good in everything and always ahead of everyone, especially Luke. Last but not least, she is always mad about something. Kinda annoying...

In the end I don't really see any use for her return. She obviously can't be with Luke and have a kid with him. Maybe create a completely new character who uses Mara Jade as blueprint.

 

I would have loved for her to return, but I'm also okay if they transplant her love story to someone else.

One of my first thoughts when the Ahsoka trailer came out was "oh, that girl with the lightsaber is probably the Mara Jade character of the new canon." (I mean, we have Thrawn, some Jedi and their allies, and a rogue agent that may or may not be related to Inquisitors and the Emperor - we can all see how this looks like Heir to the Empire!) Depending on how they portray the relationship between Ezra and Sabine (either friends, familial, or romantic), Shin and Ezra could take the place of Mara Jade and Luke.

 

First off, let me say that my experience with Mara Jade is limited to Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy. When I heard rumors the story was going to be revisited for Disney+ or the big screen, I wanted to see what it was about for myself. I had also been aware that some fan sites have touted Karen Gillan as a live-action Mara Jade. I loved Karen in Jumanji and Gaurdians of the Galaxy so I was intrigued to discover what the character she might someday play was all about.

My take? I liked Mara Jade! I thought she made a great kick-butt anti-hero. What you found 'kinda annoying,' I found 'kinda endearing' because I already knew where her character arc was heading. But, to be fair, it's easy to envision this "good at everything" anti-hero embued with an emotional vulnerability that would resonnate with audiences when you imagine Karen Gillian playing her.

I'm not sure we need another 'Princess Leia-like' Mara Jade. But a 'Female Loki' Mara Jade could be a lot of fun.

 

I want a Mara Jade /Lando - luv child. That kid would be the smoothest double talker this side of Palpatine.

 

They never revealed Jannah's mother, have they? And they sort of hinted that she could feel the Force...DON'T GIVE UP! THERE'S STILL HOPE! (Rebellions are built on hope!)

 

Holy guacamole, the previous Mara Jade thread got like 8 pages of discussion. I feel very unappreciated. Maybe I should turn to the dark side….

 

Choose your Mentor carefully my friend....

the Path of Destruction, is not for the faint of heart.​

 

TBH, that ride looked like hella fun. Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

 

Dadgummit. - I thought I lined through Mentor carefully and replaced it with Swoop wisely. Must've closed tab too fast.

But I digress... and yes, I still fly reckless.

 

Well I was letting my thoughts marinate, or "Mara-nate" (badumpah!) on the subject for a few days so here we go. Firstly a disclaimer. I have a snotty, elitist dislike for most EU material. Not that I have read a great deal of it, but when I did try, it always seemed disjointed and over-the-top fantastical. Heir to the Empire trilogy was something I read back mid to late 90s. Did not like it. I have attempted to give it another shot. Liked it less. Unpopular opinion, I know, but I just can't take it as a viable part of my Star Wars. Thrawn was cool, I sorta liked the idea of the Ysalimari... but Mara Jade was probably one of my most detested elements. Here's my argument.

Mara Jade is over-sexualized to the point of fetishism. There. I said it. Way off brand for Star Wars, especially now. I don't have a problem with buxom pouty-lipped redheads in tight pants, but if that's all she is, which pretty much is all she represents, well, not in my Star Wars. Oh? She is so much more than that? Ok, next point.

Mara Jade as a character is basically impossible in Canon, and that was a great favor to the character, because she was ludicrous and over-written to begin with. She was a Force-Sensitive super secret handmaiden serving Palpatine that nobody else knew about. C'mon. That's neck and neck with the idea that Vader had a Force-Sensitive super secret apprentice that nobody else knew about. Silly. She vows to avenge her master and kill Luke Skywalker, but instead she kills his clone, falls in love with Luke, marries him and has his babies. Definitely a strong, driven and independent female character. I never really understood why she was working as a low-level smuggler/pirate instead of hiding out at Palpatine's super secret mountain with his super secret clone of a super secret Jedi Master.

I am all for elements of EU/Legends stories being cherrypicked and recycled into Canon when it's appropriate and fitting. I think if Thrawn and Tantis are the biggest salvages from Heir, that's some good results. I think their time is much better spent creating new material rather than polishing EU turds just to get nostalgic oohs and ahhs from my generation.

But that's just like, my opinion, man.

 

Yep. Good point. It's funny I saw a lot of criticism over Rukh in Rebels, but that was almost exactly how I saw him in my head. I think the Noghri would and could be great for further exploration.

 

Hello, Kylo Ben.