The Fascinating Backstory of Bastila Shan in Star Wars

The Jedi, who protected the galaxy for countless millennia in the Star Wars mythos, experienced their downfall when Chancellor Palpatine betrayed them in Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Although the films only depict a few decades of their history, the expanded Star Wars universe delves further into the Jedi and their achievements. In the newly established Disney Star Wars canon, this exploration takes us back a few centuries to the High Republic Era. However, in the old Expanded Universe, the history of the Jedi spans thousands of years. One notable example is the acclaimed Bioware RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which takes place nearly 4,000 years prior to the events of the films.

Within Knights of the Old Republic, one of the most significant and memorable characters is Bastila Shan. She is a legendary Jedi Master who fought alongside the likes of Darth Revan and the crew of the Ebon Hawk. It is her presence that contributes greatly to the game's popularity and enduring praise. With the announcement of the Knights of the Old Republic Remake in 2021, fans were quick to recognize Jennifer Hale's voice work as Shan in the brief preview. As Bastila Shan's story prepares to return to store shelves after more than two decades, now is the ideal moment to delve deeper into her rich history.

Who Is Bastila Shan?

Like many Jedi, Bastila Shan discovered her Force sensitivity at a young age. She received training from the Jedi Order, eventually becoming a Jedi Sentinel. Unlike Jedi Guardians and Jedi Consulars who focused more on combat skills and the mastery of the Force individually, Bastila Shan aimed to balance both. Her exceptional mastery quickly became evident to those around her, and she soon became one of the most skilled Jedi in the order.

One of her unique abilities was battle meditation, a gift that allowed her to bolster the willpower and motivation of her allies. This same skill could also have a detrimental effect on her enemies, weakening and demoralizing them in combat. This was a rare Force power, and it proved to be invaluable to Bastila. She frequently utilized this power, especially during her battles against Darth Malak and his forces with the crew of the Ebon Hawk.

Fight Against Malak

In the events leading up to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Bastila Shan, a Jedi, commanded a team of Jedi in their mission to locate and defeat Darth Revan, the notorious leader of the Sith forces in the Jedi Civil War. Despite Revan being their enemy, when he was betrayed and attacked by Darth Malak, Bastila protected him and ensured his safety, fulfilling her duty as a Jedi to preserve life. In a decision made for the greater good, Shan and the Jedi erased Revan's memory, wiping away his knowledge of his time as a Sith Lord.

Later on, Darth Malak and his forces ambushed Bastila Shan's ship above Taris, a city world resembling Coruscant. With no other option, Shan had to evacuate the ship and escape to the planet's surface using an escape pod. Unbeknownst to him, Revan, who was still unaware of his true identity, also managed to escape and embarked on a mission to find Bastila, aided by the Republic pilot Carth Onasi. Eventually, Revan and Onasi successfully located Shan. With the assistance of Mission Vao, a Twi'lek, Zaalbar, a Wookiee, and Canderous Ordo, a Mandalorian, they narrowly escaped the planet before Malak destroyed it.

During their pursuit of Malak after escaping Taris, Shan encountered her mother on Tatooine. This reunion brought mixed emotions as their relationship was strained, and Shan also learned that her father had passed away. However, they were able to reconcile, bringing Shan a sense of clarity. The crew left Tatooine to continue their search for Malak's secret base, the Star Forge, where he was amassing power.

In their battle with Malak, he captured Bastila and used his dark Force powers to brainwash her into joining the Dark Side. Revan and their allies, whom they had met in their adventures, found them and fought against them. Shan tried to persuade Revan, who now knew their true identity, to join the Sith but was unsuccessful. In the final battle on the Star Forge, Revan defeated Malak and brought Shan back to the light side.

Bastila Shan's Legacy

After realizing her love for Revan and finding redemption, they decided to marry, despite the disapproval of the Jedi Council. They lived a peaceful life on Coruscant for a while, starting a family and dutifully serving the Jedi Order. However, their harmony was short-lived as Revan embarked on a journey to confront an ancient evil, the very same force that had once lured him towards the dark side.

Sadly, Revan was captured and imprisoned for centuries after confronting his old enemy. Bastila never saw her husband again, but she always held onto the belief that he had succeeded in his mission. Throughout the rest of her life, Bastila remained dedicated to the Jedi, raising their child and carrying on their legacy. The Force-sensitive descendants of their bloodline would go on to serve the Jedi Order, following in Bastila's footsteps as a revered hero of the Star Wars galaxy.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake is in development for the PlayStation 5.