The grand finale has lastly come. It’s been an extended journey by means of this trilogy of comedian arcs spearheaded by the nice Charles Soule, however with Hidden Empire #5, we’ve an epic conclusion.
Throughout the trilogy, I’ve had my fair proportion of issues over the tip recreation with Qi’ra. From the second I first watched Solo: A Star Wars Story, she’s been considered one of my favourite characters. She has had an epic journey from a scrum rat on the streets of Corellia to the chief of a Hidden Empire in opposition to Emperor Palpatine. The concern was she would find yourself as a fatality and footnote within the already well-fleshed-out tales of essential male antagonists like Vader and Palpatine. Yes, I’ve held religion within the nice Charles Soule, who rightly deserves the good thing about the doubt, however the frightened little voice in my head wouldn’t go away. So as you’ll be able to think about, I tore into this remaining concern of Hidden Empire with some ferocious rigor, and I’m excited to dive into it!
Spoilers forward…
Hidden Empire #5 begins in about as epic vogue as attainable. Vader and Palpatine have led a boarding social gathering aboard the Amaxine station to confront regardless of the Fermata Cage has in retailer for them. First, nonetheless, they need to cope with the Crimson Dawn floor forces. Palpatine couldn’t assist however acknowledge how a part of him missed wreaking havoc along with his lightsaber, and being the enforcer he’s pressured Vader to be. It’s true. His main perform can’t be to personally go and settle each dispute and battle inside his Empire. He depends on worry, crafty, and the scope of almost limitless energy at his disposal, which, sure, contains sending Vader in his stead.
The two minimize down foe after foe in a sea of swirling purple sabers and blue lighting. The Fermata Cage is almost open, and the 2 can sense its immense aura of darkish facet power emanating from it. It’s nearly intoxicating to the 2 Sith lords.
While the 2 are making their manner towards the Fermata Cage, the Archivist tries to make her manner out. She has fulfilled her responsibility and is now looking for the best choice to flee. Of course, the final place anybody needs to be is between two Sith lords and a strong darkish facet object.
Qi’ra assures her that assistance is on the best way. At first, I assumed this is able to be the Knights of Ren. She was in touch with them within the earlier concern, they usually gave the impression to be heading towards the fray. Instead, I used to be stunned to see none aside from Dr. Aphra present up. For these unfamiliar, Aphra’s physique is at the moment inhabited by the Spark Eternal. The Spark Eternal is a strong spirit-like synthetic intelligence created by the Ascendant. The Ascendant sought to make use of expertise to duplicate the consequences of the Force.
If you’re aware of Aphra, you’ll know she has some historical past with Lord Vader. Wielding the Null Blade ( one other Ascendent creation with the potential to quickly neutralize the consequences of a lightsaber), she engages Vader in a duel whereas Palpatine goes additional to analyze the rising presence emanating from the Fermata Cage.
After a chilling duel, Vader makes use of the Force in a manner that separated the Spark Eternal from Aphra’s physique. The two’s dialog takes on a a lot completely different tune as she enters survival mode. She in the end goads Vader into going off after his Master, but it surely was a large quantity of enjoyable to see her temporary cameo on this remaining arc.
Finally, they arrive head to head with the Fermata Cage. I used to be so curious as to what would occur subsequent. The Cage seems to be a ploy. It was not linked on to the Force, however a rigorously laid lure. A lure laid completely for Vader and Palpatine. The two are trapped in time after the Archivist engages the gadget. A gray, cocoon-like shell envelopes the 2 of them. Check out the picture beneath, because it’s considered one of my favorites.
The gray cocoon trapping them inside whereas a sea of purple swirls round them makes for a fabulous web page. One can solely think about the phrases being whereas the lure is sprung. Qi’ra is able to have a good time her victory. In moments, they’d completely seal the cage, successfully time-locking the Sith. The subsequent step can be to drop the cage off in the midst of a star to finish them as soon as and for all. All of this is able to have been nice, however the idiots needed to arrive.
Yes, by the idiots, I imply the Knights of Ren. They are so inept they consider that in the event that they saved the Sith from this little pickle they received themselves in, they could curry favor with the Emperor transferring ahead. Somehow, this one act would make the evilest man within the galaxy overlook concerning the reality they robbed his #1 enforcer and have aided within the makes an attempt to successfully kill him. I’m unsure they thought that by means of successfully.
Nonetheless, they blast away on the station and free them. The impact this has on Qi’ra is galactic-sized. She knew this was the final probability. The weight of the whole lot comes crashing down directly. She sends a remaining message to her remaining forces to flee for his or her lives earlier than it’s too late. Our final picture of her is of her ship attempting to make a remaining escape.
The Knights of Ren landed on the Amaxine Station in time for his or her impolite awakening. They study a useful lesson. Palpatine is cruel. With a ferocious show of power lighting, he subdues the complete group with minimal effort wanted. His parting phrases to them have been about their future as his servants.
With the Dawn fleet destroyed and Qi’ra whereabouts unknown, we lastly get some solutions to essential questions. The first of which is why is the younger lady Cadeliah so essential. After not listening to from Qi’ra for a number of days, she performs the message on the disc she left for her. In the message we see the true coronary heart and spirit of Qi’ra come out. Her solely purpose for taking Cadeliah was to present her the alternatives she by no means had. Cadeliah mirrors Qi’ra in so some ways. She’s pressured right into a life she hasn’t chosen for herself. Being trapped in a life with no choices has left Qi’ra being pressured to be somebody she didn’t wish to be. She doesn’t need this for Cadeliah.
In the disc, she additionally left sufficient credit and sources to make for herself, no matter life she needs. For Cadeliah, she provides a alternative in who she needs to be and the way she needs to stay. This freedom, one thing Qi’ra by no means had however all the time coveted, is now hers. Here we see the true coronary heart and spirit of Qi’ra that I am keen on. She has performed her hand about in addition to she may. This crafty, fierce chief of probably the most highly effective crime syndicate within the galaxy can be sort and caring and nonetheless have the tenderness she as soon as had in her early years. Being pressured to suppress it for a few years didn’t erase it from her fully. Now, she simply lastly had the possibility to point out it once more.
Some of the best pleasure got here within the subsequent reveal. For some time, we’ve all been questioning who the cloaked people are speaking with the Archivist and listening to Qi’ra’s story. We lastly study it’s none different Than Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and his sister Jedi Leia Organa.
Before we get into their dialog, can we simply take a second to admire the picture above? JEDI LEIA! There’s so little Jedi Leia content material that this picture is a large win for the archives. Her brown robes hung down however not masking the attractive lightsaber dangling from her hip. I like how Luke nonetheless dons his darker robes, and his lightsaber can be on show. The two of them collectively will all the time conjure sure emotions in my coronary heart. Jedi Leia, particularly, is a picture I’ll cherish most.
The dialogue between the 2 was excellent. Through their dialog, we study that whereas Qi’ra might have felt her plan to destroy the Sith failed, it didn’t. It might not have occurred in response to her design, however the results have been the identical. Two of her agent introduced the Rebellion the information of the second Death Star’s building. Her syndicate warfare additionally distracted Palpatine a lot that it gave the Rebel fleet time to regroup and develop in dimension.
Leia’s spirit comes out as she expresses her want for Qi’ra to have come to them. The archivist believes Qi’ra to be lengthy useless, and Leia deeply needs Qi’ra was alive to have seen them win.
Little did she know that in a cantina in an unknown location, one Qi’ra sat quietly, alone in a nook, as information of the Empire’s defeat was being broadcasted. Our final picture of her is the somber look of somebody who has given the whole lot to her trigger whereas nonetheless struggling to search out the guts to consider it was price it.
The little voice in my head is speaking to me no extra! Qi’ra didn’t turn out to be a footnote within the rise of Palpatine and Vader. Her function in all of this insured victory for the Rebellion, and additional cemented her place as an iconic character on this universe. While I might’ve loved having a bit extra of Qi’ra herself on this final concern of Hidden Empire, I perceive why Soule went the route he did.
Some of the battle involving the Knights of Ren felt considerably contrived, however when working with characters as nicely fleshed out as Palpatine and Vader, generally it needs to be. Their direct involvement enhances her significance. Her survival enhances her legacy. I couldn’t be happier she remains to be alive. It was all the time going to be a tragic ending, however there’s some magnificence within the tragedy offered by Hidden Empire. Qi’ra in the end achieved what she got down to do, and her remaining acts with the ability she nonetheless wielded gave a younger lady the longer term she all the time needed for herself. It’s poetic.
While this chapter of Qi’ra’s journey is closing, I hope it isn’t the final we see of her. I’m certain there are nonetheless loads of tales to inform. This journey was definitely worth the twists and turns it took us on. I hope you loved it as a lot as I did. Until subsequent time… AWAIT THE DAWN!
Rating: 10/10
Finding methods to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into eighth grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning custom is sending the most recent quantity within the countdown for various Star Wars initiatives and loves participating in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you’re obsessed with Star Wars you’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at TyBrad5.
