This week's Your Nerd Sideshow:
Tales of the Jedi Season 2 could broaden its focus to lesser-known Jedi like Plo Koon and Luminara Unduli, but Kit Fisto stands out as a deserving protagonist due to his rare charisma and charm.
Fans rarely saw Fisto interact with other members of the Order, so exploring his friendships with characters like Plo Koon and Mace Windu would be intriguing, as well as his interactions with the maverick Jedi Quinlan Vos.
Fisto's past struggles, such as the death of his former Padawan Nahdar Vebb and his swift death in Revenge of the Sith, could be further explored and redeemed in new episodes, allowing fans to view him more respectfully.
Tales of the Jedi Season 2 was announced for 2024 at this year's Star Wars Celebration Europe. Since then, fans have speculated about what the focus for the new season could be. After a first season focusing on two well-known characters, the show's second season could broaden the focus, bringing in lesser-known Jedi to its anthology storytelling. Jedi like Plo Koon, Luminara Unduli, and Ki-Adi Mundi were introduced to Star Wars fans through the prequel films and The Clone Wars and could be properly developed in this second season. However, one Jedi in particular stands out as deserving focus: Kit Fisto, a master duelist and fan-favorite.
Fisto was one of the most powerful Jedi in the Order, holding a seat on the High Council during The Clone Wars. Mace Windu himself praised Fisto's dueling skill. The Nautolan Jedi could also fight underwater -- a rare skill among the Order's members. Most importantly, Fisto had a rare charisma and charm, often grinning during battle and joking with his fellow Jedi. He therefore stood out among an Order that encouraged stoic personalities and would be a very watchable protagonist for the next season of Tales of the Jedi.
Kit Fisto: A Charismatic Clone Wars Jedi
Tales of the Jedi's first season focused on Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, two characters central to The Clone Wars. Yet Ahsoka and Dooku are not at all conventional Jedi. Ahsoka left the Jedi after being framed for murder, and Dooku defected to the Sith after becoming disillusioned with the Order. Their struggles to come to terms with being Jedi make their narratives compelling, ensuring engaging plots for the first season of Tales of the Jedi. Whilst Fisto remained a Jedi until his death, his charisma set him apart from his fellow Masters and could lend itself to new and unique episodes.
Fans rarely saw Fisto interact with other members of the Order, which could be remedied with a new focus on the character. His friendships with Plo Koon and Mace Windu, already introduced in the recent Star Wars comics, could be explored further. In particular, interactions between Fisto and the maverick Jedi Quinlan Vos would be intriguing to watch. Vos was a daring adventurer who briefly turned to the Dark Side, while Fisto was charismatic yet fully devoted to the Order. Vos' willingness to bend the rules would either aggravate or amuse Fisto and could provide him with a new perspective on the Jedi. Vos' story has already been told through the novel Dark Disciple by Christie Golden, yet Fisto's uniqueness among the Jedi has gone relatively overlooked, and an animated episode could shed more light on his curious balance of playfulness and seriousness.
Fisto Could Not Save Nahdar Vebb From General Grievous
Fisto, however, was not infallible. His former apprentice Nahdar Vebb was killed by General Grievous after acting against Fisto's advice in the Clone Wars Season 1 episode "Lair of Grievous." After a moment of grief, Fisto remained calm as he battled Grievous and escaped the general's lair. However, Vebb's death would have had a deeper emotional impact on Fisto than the episode had time to explore. Though restrained in their emotions, Jedi honor the dead in traditional funerals and take pains to remember the sacrifices of their fallen brethren. As such, Fisto would surely have taken time to contemplate Vebb's death and reflect on whether he could have saved Vebb from Grievous.
This, then, is another direction an episode based around Kit Fisto could take. Following Nahdar's death, Fisto would have to deal with the loss of his former Padawan -- a loss that he could potentially have prevented. Through his grief, fans could see a new side to the Jedi, watching as he comes to terms with his loss. Exploring this unseen aspect of Fisto would reveal the depth behind the smiling warrior, making it clear that even the most powerful Jedi can make grave mistakes. Fans never saw in detail the effect that Nahdar's death had on the Nautolan, and an animated episode would be the perfect way to explore this theme.
Redeeming Kit Fisto After Revenge of the Sith
A new focus on Fisto could also redeem the character from his swift death in Revenge of the Sith. As a member of the squad sent to arrest Palpatine, Fisto died after deflecting only a few of the Sith Lord's lightsaber strikes. He outlived fellow Masters Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin, but his sudden death means many fans still perceive him as a disposable side character. New episodes exploring this skilled warrior's past and personality would influence fans to view him more respectfully.
The Sith considered Fisto to be 'possibly deranged' due to his optimism during combat, yet this lent him an edge against the dark side. He appeared cocky yet was always in control, remembering his training and the Order's teachings when engaging in duels. In his very first appearance, he grinned while pushing away the reconstructed C-3PO, immediately demonstrating his sense of humor even during the brutal Battle of Geonosis. However, fans only occasionally saw Fisto use this combination of discipline and charisma in battle. This could easily be remedied by an extended appearance in Tales of the Jedi.
Tales of the Jedi Season 2 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Star Wars projects, and the opportunities for creative storytelling are enormous. By adopting lesser-known Jedi as their primary focus, Lucasfilm can fulfill fans' wishes for their favorite side characters to receive fleshed-out stories. However, to remain accessible to Clone Wars fans, the series will likely continue to focus on prequel-era Jedi rather than delving into the Old or High Republic Councils. Few prequel-era Jedi are as well-liked yet underdeveloped as Kit Fisto, meaning episodes featuring the Nautolan would likely prove popular.
Kit Fisto is a charismatic screen presence who can easily carry an episode, as shown by his appearance in "Lair of Grievous." Now that Ahsoka's success has proven that a Star Wars show with an alien protagonist can work, it is time for him to take the spotlight. Fisto's legendary fighting skill, unusually playful personality for a Jedi and grief at the loss of his old apprentice have all been barely explored. He is therefore a clear choice for the central character of a new narrative as Tales of the Jedi Season 2 comes closer to release.