WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #4The triumph over evil is often depicted as a complete restoration, yet true victory often comes with immense, irreversible costs, leaving marks on both places and the people who have traveled through them. This poignant truth, powerfully explored inThe Lord of the Ringsbooks, finds a compelling echo in theStar Warsuniverse.
This subtle yet impactful theme resonates deeply inStar Wars: Legacy of Vader#4, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Luke Ross. The latest issue brings readers back to Naboo, revealing the once-elegant palaces and lakeside retreats have fallen into decay.
The portrayal of Naboo,a planet forever altered by its association with both Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker, captures a sense of lost innocence and irretrievable peace that even the defeat of the Empire did not fully mend. This echoes “The Scouring of the Shire”, a critical moment in theLord of the Ringstrilogy that Peter Jackson’s film adaptations unfortunately minimized.
You Cannot Go Home Again When The Home Itself Has Been Fundamentally Changed
Legacy of Vader, Written By Charles Soule With Art By Luke Ross
In J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsnovels, the hobbits return to their idyllic after defeating Sauron homeland, only to find it ravaged and corrupted by Saruman’s revenge.This devastating discovery emphasizes that even with the grand evil vanquished, the personal cost of war is enduring.Frodo’s inability to fully heal and return to his former life is a tragedy, showing that some experiences scar too deeply. He bears the weight of his journey and the Ring’s influence, preventing him from ever truly settling back into the quiet life he once knew.
Star Warsrarely delves into this specific kind of lingering scar, often presenting galactic victories as a swift return to a pristine status quo. However, the depiction of Naboo inLegacy of Vaderoffers a starkly different perspective. While the native Naboo citizens describe desolation at the hands of Vader years earlier, Kylo Ren’s forceful occupation and Vanee’s historical revisionism in current time leave Naboo fundamentally broken.The sense of utopia that once defined the planet is irrevocably damaged, symbolizing that certain wounds are not easily, if ever, healed. The very air of the once-pristine capital seems heavier.
The contrast withEpisode I: The Phantom Menace, where Naboo was a picture of beauty and unwavering democratic ideals, is striking.That idyllic image is now fractured.The planet’s citizens have witnessedwar and destruction firsthand, a violation that cannot simply be undone. The scars are not just physical; they are etched into the planet’s collective psyche. This subtle yet powerful shift in Naboo’s portrayal grounds the galactic conflict in a more personal and enduring tragedy, much like the enduring sadness that pervades the Shire after its cleansing. The utopian dream has been irrevocably tarnished, tainted by Vader’s rampage years earlier.
The Scars Of Conflict Remain Even After The Villains Are Gone
Like The Shire, Naboo Is Fundamentally Damaged By The Hands Of Evil
Naboo’s damage extends beyond physical destruction.The planet’s long-standing democratic traditions, its cultural integrity, and the very spirit of its people have been violated by Kylo Ren’s tyrannical declaration of kingship.This deep-seated corruption of its political and social fabric means that even if the First Order is ultimately defeated, Naboo will not simply revert to its former glory.The planet has already been weakened by Vader’s rage, but now the peace its citizens once took for granted and the belief in its inherent security are shattered. The memory of Kylo Ren on the metaphorical throne, demanding fealty, will not easily fade.
Naboo’s brokenness is a profound statement on the lasting impact of war, even on worlds distant from the front lines, acknowledging that psychological and political damage can be far more enduring than rubble.
This mirrors the idea inThe Lord of the Ringsthat the hobbits' innocence, once lost, could never be fully regained. Despite the destruction of the Ring and the defeat of Sauron,the Shire was irrevocably changed, creating a shadow in the hearts of the hobbits who live there.Frodo Baggins, in particular, bore the heaviest burden, unable to shed his psychological and spiritual wounds. His quiet departure to the Undying Lands, a bittersweet farewell, perfectly encapsulates the theme that some experiences, no matter how triumphant their outcome, forever alter a soul, preventing a complete return to untroubled peace.
Naboo, once a symbol of beauty and peaceful governance, now carries the indelible scars of the Empire and the First Order.Its people have witnessed vulnerability to aggressionand the corrupting influence of unchecked power. Naboo’s brokenness is a profound statement on the lasting impact of war, even on worlds distant from the front lines, acknowledging that psychological and political damage can be far more enduring than rubble. The future of Naboo will be one tempered by experience and loss.
Star WarsFrequently Shows That Victory Comes with a Heavy, Irreversible Price
Naboo Has Undergone Its Own Version Of The Scouring Of The Shire
While the “Scouring of the Shire” parallel with Naboo is particularly strong,Star Warshas, in other instances, explored the idea that triumph over evil comes with an enduring cost. The most obvious example is the Skywalker family itself.Despite Vader’s redemption and Palpatine’s defeat, the trauma of their actions reverberates through generations.Luke Skywalker carries the burden of his father’s pastand the weight of galactic expectations. Leia Organa grapples with the destruction of Alderaan and the revelation of her parentage, forever impacting her relationships and her sense of self.
The Force-sensitive children born after the Empire’s fall will grow up in a galaxy forever marked by conflict.Even the joyous celebrations at the end of the Original Trilogy, while a symbol of hope, cannot erase the lives lost, the planets destroyed, or the psychological wounds inflicted by the Empire’s reign.The Galactic Civil War cost countless livesand irrevocably altered the political landscape, leaving deep fractures in society and a sense of vulnerability that would continue to challenge the fragile peace for decades to come.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader#4 is available now.
Subsequent conflicts, like the rise of the First Order, further demonstrate thatpeace in theStar Warsgalaxy is often fleetingand purchased at an immense price.The “victory” is rarely a complete return to an untainted past, but rather a step forward into a new reality shaped by deep loss and lingering shadows,much like the hobbits returning to a Shire that was no longer quite home, forever altered by the darkness they had witnessed and the sacrifices made for a fragile, hard-won freedom.
The very fabric of galactic society is perpetually reshaped by these cataclysmic conflicts, leaving an indelible mark on its institutions, its heroes, and its ordinary citizens, who carry the weight of memory and the burden of rebuilding, forging a future defined by their resilience in the face of adversity.The ultimate victory over evil inStar Warsis always hard-won, and never without its lasting scars, a poignant reminder that even the most glorious triumphs cast long, often somber, shadows.
