The originalStar Warstrilogy solidifiedLuke Skywalkeras a hero, but while Luke played a large part in the fall of the Empire, I honestly believe that the evidence showsEzra Bridgerpaved the way for victory first. Ezra’s connection to the Force and his actions in the Outer Rim show that he is the core hero ofStar Warslore, even though the franchise doesn’t position him as such.
While I’m certainly not denying that Luke Skywalker is a heroic icon inStar Wars,his successes are only made possible due toEzra Bridger’s devotion to the liberationof his home planet of Lothal, and other Outer Rim planets suffering under the Empire’s cruel laws.
Ezra’s wins (and losses) before the Battle of Yavin set the stage for Luke Skywalker’s success, similar to how the events ofRogue Oneset up the rebels inA New Hope. And for those fans who believe that Luke (not Anakin) is the prophesied Chosen One, it’s worth noting that Ezraarguably did more than Luketo bring balance to the Force.
Comparing Luke and Ezra’s early Force sensitivity shows there’s no contest in their inherent ability.
Admit It: Star Wars Doesn’t Give Ezra Bridger’s Lightsaber the Respect It Deserves
Ezra Bridger is shown to be a creative thinker in Star Wars: Rebels. His unique way of thinking leads to one of the most unique lightsabers yet.
Ezra is More Than a Rebel: He is a Hero of the Rebellion in the Outer Rim
Star Wars: RebelsIntroduced Ezra in 2014
Star Wars: Rebelsfocuses on the heroic actions of the Ghost crew - Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios, Sabine Wren, Chopper and Ezra Bridger.Ezra is brought into the foldas part of the found-family when Kanan realizes the young Lothal orphan is not only Force sensitive, but clever and creative as well.With all the makings of a Jedi, Kanan takes Ezra on as his padawan, teaching him the ways of the Force.Ezra trains diligently under Kanan for five years over the course ofRebels, becoming a talented and brave Jedi in his own right.
As the son of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Luke is born with the benefit of his father’s great power. However, whenA New Hopebegins and before Luke learns of his heritage, Luke shows no signs of connection to the Force, even an inherent one.Ezra’s connection, on the other hand, was so strong that he was using the Force to help him survive on the streets without even knowing what he was doing.Considering Luke’s significant parentage versus Ezra’s insignificant background, I’d argue that Luke’s lack of latent Force sensitivity illustrates that he is not as powerful of a Jedi as Ezra - or, at the very least, not as connected to the Force on a basic level.
Ezra inspired the citizens of the galaxy to fight back against the Empire well before Luke Skywalker even knew what the Force was.
Ezra’s Words Sparked the Rebellion Among Citizens of the Outer Rim
The moment that truly made up my mind about Ezra’s importance is from a collection of rareStar Wars: Rebelscomics - by Martin Fisher, Jeremy Barlow, Alec Worley, Bob Molesworth and Ingo Rӧmling - which was published by Dark Horse in 2022. For the most part, each issue centers around either one or two of the members of theGhostcrew on an adventure.The issues starring Ezra illustrate that the young Jedi was forged in the middle of war, where he learned to use his resourcefulness, creativity and intelligence to become the central figure of the Rebellion in the Outer Rim.
In the issue ‘A Day’s Duty’ - written by Martin Fisher and drawn by Eva Wildermann - Ezra is stationed with Commander Sato temporarily and forges a connection with a young boy named Mizel.Ezra is kind and patient, teaching Mizel that everyone - even Jedi - makes mistakes.Mizel is thrilled to work beside Ezra, as Ezra’s famous broadcast as seen in theStar Wars: Rebelsepisode ‘Call to Action’ inspired Mizel to escape his pro-Imperial family and become a rebel at the same young age as Ezra. Mizel tells Ezra,“You gave me hope, Ezra. Hope for something far better, and I know we’ll all be rewarded because of that.“Ezra Bridger was the original spark of hope for the Outer Rim.
Ezra’s speech, known as the Bridger Broadcast, had a significant impact even after Ezra disappeared with Thrawn during the Battle of Lothal. In the 2015 canon junior novel,Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!- written by Tom Angleberger - C3PO addresses a group of Ewoks and uses the Bridger Broadcast to inspire them.Specifically, C3PO tells the Ewoks that Ezra"sent a message across the worlds that ignited a spark of rebellion.“As this occurs duringReturn of the Jedi, it has been eight years since the Bridger Broadcast. Luke Skywalker of course inspired the Rebellion’s soldiers and helped win several significant victorties, but Ezra’s call to action is presented as far more significant, forming the very heart of the Rebellion movement.
Star Wars, We’ve Been Patient: It’s Time to Finally Show Us Ezra Bridger’s Exile
Star Wars fans have been waiting for the franchise to explore Ezra Bridger’s exile in more detail, and a comic series would be the perfect medium.
The significance of the Bridger Broadcast alone illustrates that people became united and inspired to fight back against the Empire well before Luke Skywalker even knew what the Force was.Ezra was the catalyst for rebellion in the Outer Rim, as well as an inspiration for the Ewoks to help end the war at the Battle of Endor.In essence, Ezra began the rebellion by uniting citizens of the Outer Rim and helped end the Galactic Civil War. Sure, he wasn’t there to participate in its ending, but that was because of his sacrifice against a conflict-defining threat.
We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I’m not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families, and your freedom? It’s only gonna get worse… unless we stand up and fight back. It won’t be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can’t back down just because we’re afraid. That’s when we need to stand the tallest. That’s what my parents taught me. That’s what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that’s when we’re strongest - as one.
– Ezra Bridger’s speech inStar Wars: Rebels, Season 1, Episode 13, ‘Call to Action’
Grand Admiral Thrawn Could Have Crushed the Rebellion, If Not For Ezra Bridger
Thrawn Was the Biggest Threat to the Rebels
While I’d never deny that Luke Skywalker was pivotal to defeating Emperor Palpatine in the first incarnation of the Empire,Luke’s triumphs would not have been a remote possibility without Ezra’s actions at the Battle of Lothal, one year before Luke destroyed the Death Star.During the battle,Ezra outwits the biggest threat to the rebellion: Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn is known inStar Warscanon (and also non-canon books) to be the greatest strategist in the galaxy.
As soon as Thrawn is brought in to quell the rebellion in the Outer Rim, life becomes more difficult for Ezra and his fellow rebels. Thrawn is essentially unbeatable; he may lose a battle here and there, but will win the war. However,Ezra’s special connection with animalsthrough the Force and his unique way of thinking creates a trap that Thrawn can not escape, transporting both himself and Ezra to parts unknown (at least, until the events ofAhsoka).Ezra’s sacrifice to remove Thrawn from the equation resulted in the rebels' win at the Battle of Lothal.
Ezra’s heroics have further reaching ramifications. Had Thrawn won on Lothal, he most likely would have gone on to strategize with Vader to crush the Rebellion, which would have added another foe that there’s no reason to believe Luke could have defeated. Indeed, Luke does not have the same amount of training or battle experience as Ezra, making it unlikely that Luke would have been able to outplay Thrawn.Ezra manages to outwit Thrawn due to his special talent; one that Luke does not possess.
While Luke Skywalker is undoubtedly a true hero inStar Wars, the expanded lore of the franchise makes Ezra equally as important - and I’d argue more vital - to the success of the Rebellion. Luke may be a movie star while Ezra appeared in TV and comics, but without the context of which media each character appears in, Ezra did more to decide the galaxy’s fate. Ezra joined the fight before Luke, was more connected to the Force in his actions, sparked the Rebellion in earnest, and defeated a foe who would likely have toppled the Rebellion. At the very least, I inviteStar Warsfans to re-examine the saga as it currently exists and ask whetherLuke Skywalkerhas truly earned more respect thanEzra Bridger.
Ezra Bridger
Hailing from the planet Lothal, Ezra Bridger’s Force potential was discovered by Order 66 survivor Kanan Jarrus. Ezra became Kanan’s apprentice, working as a key asset in the Lothal rebel cell. He sacrificed himself in a desperate gambit to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn, becoming stranded for years in a distant galaxy on the planet Peridea. Ezra has now returned, thanks to the efforts of his friend Sabine Wren.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
Star Wars Rebels
Cast
Set between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars film franchise, Star Wars Rebels is a canon animated series that follows a group of ragtag heroes who band together to face the Empire. In an age where the Galactic Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi, a teenage outcast named Ezra Bridger is discovered to be force sensitive by a surviving Jedi known as Kanan Jarrus. Agreeing to join them and accept Jedi training, Ezra becomes a part of a small but growing crew of rebels determined to destroy the empire covertly.
