The Ninth Jedi continues to prove it deserves to stand on the shelf with the best of Star Wars media. In Episode Five, we get the darkest segment yet. From intense battles, to Kara’s grief, to Nawaam’s expanding authority over the galaxy, there is so much going on. Read on for a recap for this next part of The Ninth Jedi, and be sure to also see my review!

As always, my Star Wars recaps and reviews are not spoiler-friendly. If you plan to read further, please do so with caution.

Nawaam’s Influence Grows

The episode begins with the previous fight between Zhima and Gennoh. With his silver saber, the former cuts off Gennoh’s prosthetic arm. Though Gennoh tries to utilize the Force, but Zhima’s power is too strong, and he is incapacitated. The next we see of Gennoh, he is coming out of a pod. All of his human features are gone, now fully a droid. He reaches out to Nawaam, who tells him that capturing Zhima is not necessary at the moment. This means, however, the Kyber Crystal cannon will remain incomplete; Nawaam believes it is more important to kill rebels. As he continues his campaign, Zhima and 99-99 are in the distance, studying him from afar.

It is unknown how much time has passed since the battle on the bridge. During that time, Nawaam has expanded his power and influence. Homen, Kwana, and Ethan must dispel his influence on several planets. Enemy probe droids make their job harder, intercepting their communications and forcing the Jedi into disadvantages.

The Rebels Are in Trouble

On every planet they visit, Homen, Kwana, and Ethan must work in the shadows. They have been labeled as troublemakers, traitors to the cause, and anyone who refuses to comply must be eliminated. During one expedition, Homen sees someone with a knife, watching him from a balcony.

Dressed in a large cloak, he tries to go about his way, but the elusive figure throws the weapon at him. He is able to run away inoto a manhole, where Kwana and a small group of rebels are hiding. Homen warns them about Jedi hunters. They must move their hideout, something they have done several times. The rebels are dispirited that Nawaam is closing in on them, and Kwana tells them that losing heart means losing hope.

Luckily, they get some good news, as Ethan reveals that the Frontier Resistance wants to join their cause. He swears to continue finding anyone who wants to keep fighting; this helps the rebels feel a little better. Despite this welcoming information, Homen is still concerned for Kara—who had disappeared—but Ethan assures him that he can sense her. She is alive, and she is well.

Kara and Eesha

It is revealed that Kara’s escape ship landed on a lush and green planet. She has become friendly with Eesha, a local native, who shares his fruit with her. Kara must have been here for a while, as Eesha and his mother appear to know her well. They have even learned to say her name in their language.

Eesha follows Kara to her hut and sees her lightsabers. She tells him he can have one, if he uses it to become a Jedi and protect people. She reflects on what happened with Juro, and laments that she wasn’t able to keep her promises. At night, she practices with her lightsaber. Overcome by emotion, she grieves Juro and begs Zhima to save her.

Though Kara believes this underdeveloped planet is the best hideout, Nawaam finds her. A squad is dispatched, ready to destroy the peaceful planet on its mission to find her. Kara watches her new home burn in distraught. She rescues Eesha from the fires and apologizes for her part in the pain and destruction Nawaam has wrought.

Kara begins to fight the invaders, still reeling. She pushes her emotions aside, and even seals one of the cruisers. With her trusty saber, she blocks off blaster ammunition and channels her grief and strength. Eventually, she breaks onto the ship’s bridge, using the Force to end the captain and destroy the vessel. Afterwards, she heads back to Eesha, who looks frightened. Her saber is now glowing red. Kara drops it and runs away.

Unfortunately, the remains of Nawaam’s army ties up Eesha and his people. They pick up the saber Kara had dropped and take Eesha. If his people want him to survive, they will bring Kara to them.

Meanwhile, Kara continues to run, unaware of the pain she left behind.

A Weapon of Justice

On his own ship, Nawaam makes an announcement to his army. He recalls a phrase Zhima had used—”in order to defeat a great darkness, one must utilize an even greater power.” It is wisdom that he has carried for years, and that is Kyber Crystal cannon is all in the name of justice. Gennoh says the galaxy he is trying to create is one where the strong dominate the weak, a tenent of the Sith. Nawaam denies being a Sith, despite his actions suggesting otherwise.

We learn the Crystal Cannon malfunctioned because the small amount of crystals were not strong enough to withstand the high energy output. Instead, they will use a giant Kyber Crystal, which can be found on Hy Izlan, Zhima’s former hideout and Juro’s former domain. On his way to defeat the darkness, Nawaam immediately sets a course, thinking he will find both the crystals and Zhima.

My Review

It is definitely disheartening to see how far Nawaam’s influence has spread. Our heroes are in a very precarious situation, and any wrong move can mean certain death. However, this is the formula for pretty much every piece of Star Wars media. Before the heroes can triumph, they must fall, and we’ve seen that with Luke, Rey, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other iconic Star Wars characters.

I love how Kara survives alongside Eesha and his people. She is very friendly, but we know she is still upset about what happened in the previous episode. This is especially emphasized during her nighttime saber sessions. She still isn’t okay, but she is not weak when she asks for Zhima’s help. This just makes her a layered character. Not only is she kind—as Juro stated—she is strong-willed, easily angered, and emotional. Seeing her crying after fighting Nawaam is an important moment; there is so much to her, and that makes her relatable, even as a Jedi.

Kara is also extremely impressive when she fights off Nawaam’s army, particularly with how quick she is with her blocks. Some viewers may think this is Mary Sueish, given that she was having trouble with practice droids only a few episodes ago. Yet, it is important to note that we don’t know how much time has passed. She has clearly been practicing, and this shows. However, her emotions are still a guiding factor. The fact that her saber turns red proves this, and it has us wondering, what path will she follow?