Star Wars: Visions season 2 once again provides unique perspectives on the Star Wars universe, but its representations of the Sith stand out.
Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Star Wars: Visions season 2, episodes 1 and 2.
Star Wars: Visions season 2 provides more unique perspectives on the Star Wars universe, but one of the most surprising elements of this season has been how certain animation studios have handled the Sith. Historically, the Sith have always been on the side of evil – utilizing the dark side of the Force to gain power and harm those they deem beneath them. But a big part of Star Wars’ storytelling has always been about redemption, about characters finding their way back to the light with the help of those they care about. Anakin Skywalker is the most prominent character to have turned away from the dark side, but Ben Solo, a non-Sith dark side wielder, was redeemed as well.
These redemption arcs allowed both these characters to become “heroes” within the Star Wars story. Vader killed Palpatine, changing the galaxy forever and saving his son in the process. That was his hero moment, a change of character so convincing that Vader became Anakin Skywalker once again. But what Star Wars has never really considered before is an actual Sith being the hero in someone else’s story without that element of sacrifice – how embracing darkness along with light could create something beautiful, or how the Sith might represent freedom and adventure to someone who’s never been able to experience either. Star Wars: Visions season 2, episodes 1 and 2 show a different side of the Sith entirely.
Star Wars Is Making Viewers Actually CARE About The Sith
Traditionally, the Sith are the villains in Star Wars. Palpatine, especially, has always been evil incarnate. But Star Wars: Visions season 2 has introduced two new Sith characters. Lola, in Star Wars: Visions episode 1, “Sith,” is a character who used to be a Sith, but found redemption by discovering the beauty in life and art. Though the audience has no idea what kind of atrocities she may have committed while she still considered herself to be a Sith, or why she chose that path in the first place, her commitment to her art allows the viewer to care for her despite the darkness she may have once embraced.
Equally compelling is the perspective shown in Star Wars: Visions season 2, episode 2 “Screecher’s Reach”. In that short, protagonist Daal chooses the Sith of her own accord, despite having friends who love her. She chooses to join the Sith because they represent liberation from her repetitive everyday life. Daal wants more for herself, and the Sith offer her that something more. Despite what the audience knows about the Sith, there is no real sense of malice here. Daal is a sympathetic character who needs a solution, and the Sith provide her with that answer. The Sith in Daal’s story becomes the hero, the one who provides her with the key to achieving her innocent hopes and dreams.
What Makes A Sith Hero So Attractive?
The idea of a Sith being a hero is a compelling one. Stories are all about perspective and point of view – the underlying message of a story can change depending on who is telling it. Daal’s tale is about discovering something new in the world and finding adventure, a trait she shares with many Star Wars protagonists. The idea that the darkness of the Sith can bring Daal that freedom she so craves is intriguing. It’s not a choice the audience might make for themselves, and yet it's an understandable one – the seduction of the dark is driven by an innocent desire, and Daal goes for what she wants. That’s courageous in and of itself.
Lola’s story also shows the audience a different side of the Sith. She has found beauty in color on both sides. She recognizes that the darkness will always be a part of her, and despite knowing that, it’s hard not to root for her. Being a Sith allowed her to embrace a different part of herself and find beauty in everything that surrounds her. Committing to the Sith is often seen as allowing for passion, beyond all else, and Lola embraces that quality without remorse. Star Wars: Visions season 2 proves that there is no one way to be a Sith – depending on who you are, the darkness may take on a different meaning entirely.
All episodes of Star Wars: Visions season 2 are streaming now on Disney+.
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