This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 6.Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 6 introduced a new Order 66 survivor, the young Wookiee Jedi named Gungi. Palpatine envisioned the Clone Wars as the ultimate Jedi trap; the Jedi lost by fighting at all, because the nature of war is dominance, and Jedi do not seek such things. The dark side ascended over the course of the Clone Wars, which culminated in Order 66, the moment Palpatine issued a command that caused clone troopers to turn on their Jedi generals.
It’s difficult to say how many Jedi died in Order 66. There were roughly 10,000 active Jedi at the beginning of the Clone Wars, but many of them died during the conflict, and still more Jedi abandoned the order as they sensed the rise of the dark side. Still, all those serving at the end of the Clone Wars found themselves targeted by the clone troopers they had commanded just minutes earlier. Order 66 was when the Jedi trap snapped shut; some of the most powerful Jedi of all time were killed, many sacrificing themselves for their Padawans. That may well explain a new Order 66 survivor, Gungi, a young Jedi who appears in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 6.
Gungi, The Wookiee Jedi, And His Clone Wars History
Back in 2002, George Lucas nixed plans to introduce a Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He insisted there should never be a Wookiee Jedi – an edict that caused some problems for the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which had already introduced quite a few. Lucas never really explained his reasoning, but he relented while working on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, with a young Wookiee Jedi named Gungi appearing in season 5.
A number of Younglings and Padawans were sent to the sacred planet Ilum to obtain kyber crystals for their lightsabers, an important initiation rite among the Jedi. Gungi was one of these Jedi, and he obtained his precious kyber crystal by meditating at the heart of a Crystal Cave while water froze over; he was commended by Master Yoda for his patience. The Younglings traveled back to Coruscant on the Jedi ship named the Crucible, but it was attacked by pirates, and they wound up caught up in a series of misadventures. Gungi became a firm fan-favorite; presumably Lucasfilm recognized his popularity, explaining the decision to make him an Order 66 survivor.
How Gungi Survived Order 66
It’s unclear how Gungi survived Order 66. A Wookiee Jedi is a formidable combination – perhaps explaining Lucas’ reluctance to develop the idea – so it’s easy to imagine him being able to escape the clone troopers. That would be particularly true if Gungi happened to be serving on a jungle planet at the time Palpatine initiated Order 66; he may not have grown up on Kashyyyk, but all his instincts and senses would have allowed him to use the jungle to his advantage. It’s worth noting the Jedi did tend to send members on missions that suited their skillsets, so this is entirely possible.
It’s important to note that, by the time of Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 6, Gungi is entirely alone; although he did attain the rank of Padawan, his master clearly wasn’t another Order 66 survivor. It’s possible Gungi’s master sacrificed themselves for their Padawan, as so many other masters did; whatever the case, though, Gungi wound up alone. He seems to have managed to survive unaided for a surprisingly long time, moving through the galaxy’s shadows, evading attention. This is quite remarkable, given Darth Vader and the Inquisitors were scouring the galaxy looking for Jedi.
The Force Sent Gungi Home To Kashyyyk, But His Fate Remains Unknown
According to Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 6, Gungi began experiencing Force-induced dreams of his homeworld, Kashyyyk. This is, after all, the best place for any Jedi to hide – among their own people. That would certainly be true among the Wookiees, who were friends of Jedi. The Wookiees helped Master Yoda survive Order 66, and they’d welcome Gungi with open arms – as seen in the episode.
Gungi’s future in Star Wars is something of a mystery right now. The Empire largely occupied Kashyyyk, enslaving the Wookiees, and it’s reasonable to assume Gungi fought against them. If that is the case, then his story presumably still ends in tragedy, because the Empire would bring all their forces to bear on a Wookiee Jedi. Kashyyyk would only be liberated some time after the Emperor’s death in Return of the Jedi, thanks to General Han Solo of the Rebel Alliance, and there was sadly no mention of such a Wookiee Jedi at that point. Gungi may have returned in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but he is unlikely to survive the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign.
New episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch release on Wednesdays on Disney+
