‘Star Wars What If…?’ Part 1: Canon Stories
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With the success of Marvel’s What If…?, it was no surprise that fans of other franchises started to wonder how their favorite stories might get the same treatment. What many Star Wars fans may not realize is that years before Marvel asked “what if?” Dark Horse Comics published Star War Infinities which was a series that looked at different what-if scenarios within the original three Star Wars films.
Now that the franchise has eleven films, countless books, comics, video games, and series, I have decided to compile my list of Star Wars what-if scenarios. Part one will focus on the Star Wars canon stories.
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7. What If Asajj Ventress Had Killed Count Dooku?
Image Source: Star Wars
Fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will remember when in Season 3, Episode 12, Count Dooku is forced to betray his apprentice Asajj Ventress because Darth Sidious deems her too powerful and Dooku too connected. What follows are multiple attempts by both Ventress and Dooku to destroy the other, to no avail. I can’t help but wonder how Clone Wars would have played out if Ventress had defeated Dooku. Would she have taken his place as Sidious’ pawn or would she have learned that it was Sidious who ordered Dooku’s betrayal and then go after him for revenge? The ripples of this change to the story would have been felt throughout the rest of the series as Ventress becomes Ahsoka’s ally she is betrayed by the Jedi Order later in the series.
6. What If Luke Had Turned To The Dark Side?
Image Source: Wookieepedia
One of the biggest aspects of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is when Luke is faced with the proposition to join the dark side or fight his father to the death. As fans know, while Luke did fight his father, in the end, Darth Vader turned on Palpatine to save the life of his son. Many have wondered though, what if Luke had turned to the dark side? Since there is the rule of two—one master, one apprentice—it begs the question, would Luke have killed his father and become Palpatine’s apprentice, or would Luke and Vader have killed Palpatine and Vader step into the role of master for his son? The idea that Luke could turn to the dark side not only brings his character into question but also makes us wonder if Leia might have also turned or if she would have sought out Jedi training to then destroy her father and brother. I would love to have seen a battle between Leia, Vader, and Luke!
5. What If Han Solo Had Died At The End Of Return of the Jedi?
Image Source: Wookieepedia
Harrison Ford has been known for begging George Lucas to kill off Han Solo when he was frozen in carbonite. While Ford did not get his wish during the original trilogy, he did get his way in Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens when his son, Ben (aka Kylo Ren), killed him with a lightsaber through the chest. His death was a turning point for Rey and Chewbacca who witnessed his death, but I can’t help but wonder what the series would have looked like if Ford had gotten his wish and Han had never been saved from Jabba’s Palace. For one thing, Leia would never have been captured by Jabba and forced to wear the notorious gold bikini, but that would also mean that Jabba may never have been killed and that would have had catastrophic results radiating throughout the galaxy. Han played a larger role than many realized and his early demise would have meant a very different outcome for our heroes.
4. What If Master Mace Windu Had Killed Chancellor Palpatine?
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A major turning point in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is when Master Windu attempts to kill Chancellor Palpatine, and Anakin stops him. This course of action not only leads to Master Windu’s supposed death but also leads to Anakin fully submitting to Palpatine and the dark side. We know that this choice leads to the death of Padme, the Jedi Order, and countless others as well as the creation of Lord Vader and the new Galactic Empire. But what if Mace Windu had killed Palpatine? Would Anakin have killed him out of anger, or would Anakin have been saved from joining the dark side? If Anakin had chosen not to join Palpatine, would someone else have taken his place, and who? There are countless possibilities with this what-if scenario, and it is one that I would love to see explored one day.
3. What If Qui-Gon Jinn Had Survived?
Image Source: Star Wars
One of the first real losses that Anakin suffers is that of Master Qui-Gon Jinn at the end of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. His death led to conflict in Obi-Wan when he chooses to train Anakin despite his own feelings and the warning of the Jedi Council as well as Anakin who had been brought in with the promise of being trained by Qui-Gon. The idea of Qui-Gon surviving his battle with Darth Maul brings forward many possibilities. Would Anakin have still turned to the dark side if he had trained with Qui-Gon? Would Chancellor Palpatine have been able to fool the Jedi as effectively as he did? Qui-Gon was a central figure in both Obi-Wan and Anakin’s lives, and it brings forth the question of whether or not his presence could have saved the galaxy.
2. What If The Geonosian Brain Worms Had Spread?
Image Source: Star Wars
One of the best episodes of Marvel Studio’s What If…?, in my opinion, is the zombie episodes. The addition of a horror element brought more to the show than the stereotypical superhero action. In Season 2, Episode 8 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, fans are introduced to the Geonosian brain worms. The worms are bright green creatures that can take over the mind of any person, even a Jedi. In the episode, Ahsoka discovers that the worms cannot handle the extreme cold and saves the day, but what if she had been infected before she could freeze the worms? If the medical transport they were on had made it to its destination and the worms had spread, what would that look like? Would Chancellor Palpatine blow his cover to use his true power and defeat the worms? Would he even be strong enough to rid the galaxy of them if a true outbreak occurred? In true Invasion of the Body Snatchers fashion, the brain worms create a world of possibilities for a horror-esque episode or two.
1. What If Ahsoka Had Never Left The Jedi Order?
Image Source: IMDb
In The Clone Wars Season 5 finale, Ahsoka chooses to leave the Jedi Order after being betrayed by her friend Barriss Offee and the entire Jedi Council. Although the council eventually apologizes, Ahsoka decides to leave and find her own way in the galaxy. This course of events hurts not only Ahsoka but also Anakin, who is crushed by her decision to leave. Once she reunites with him, Palpatine has already gotten Anakin in his grasp, and the rest is history. But what if Ahsoka had stayed? Would Anakin have turned to the dark side or would Ahsoka have been able to keep him in the light? The two had a strong bond, and it makes you wonder if she would have been enough to keep him from fully turning to the dark side. Would she have realized what was going on in time to stop it or would she have been just another casualty?
Do you agree with our list? What would love to see explored if we got a Star Wars What If…? series?
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Source(s): Comicbook.com, GameRant