It’s taken 20 years, but Star Wars has finally gotten over Order 66. The culmination of all Palpatine’s plans, Order 66 was the ultimate revenge of the Sith; a single moment in which nearly 10,000 Jedi were slaughtered across the galaxy, cut down by the clone troopers they had been commanding mere moments ago.

No one moment in the prequels has shaped Star Wars like Order 66. Star Wars canon has revisited Order 66 so many times, and to staggering effect; meanwhile, every new Force-sensitive appears to have their own Order 66 story (including random ones like Jod Na Nawood in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew).

But that’s finally changed, because Star Wars is moving past Order 66 at last…

Star Wars’ New Knight Of Ren Hasn’t Got An Order 66 Story (Yet)

Charles Soule and Stefano Raffaele’s Legacy of Vader #8 introduces Tava Ren, the woman who took charge of the Knights of Ren after Kylo Ren left them to join the First Order. She appears in a story set between Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which surely means she won’t survive the story.

But that’s not the most interesting thing about Tava Ren. There’s one big difference between this new character and other Force-sensitives introduced over the last 20 years; there’s (currently) no hint of an Order 66 story, and one doesn’t even feel as though it’s needed. She’s a complete character in her own right, with no Order 66 or Inquisitor story behind her.

It Makes Sense For Star Wars To Move On From Order 66 At Last

We’re used to the idea that Force-sensitivity is inherited, but the Jedi were forbidden relationships – meaning the majority of their 10,000 members were simply random people with the ability to tap into the Force, with no need for a bloodline. The Emperor may have wiped out the Jedi, but countless Force-sensitives would naturally emerge.

That, of course, is why the Empire formed the Inquisitors; as we saw in Star Wars Rebels, they were tasked with scouring the galaxy looking for children who could wield the Force. But the Inquisitors had been wiped out by the time the Galactic Civil War began, meaning there’s now been an entire generation for the Force to emerge.

Order 66 stories are no longer necessary. By the time of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the effect of that horrific slaughter should be beginning to lessen, simply because so many Force-sensitives have emerged. Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Order was so much smaller, too, meaning few beings with the Force joined their ranks – instead staying with their own peoples, with many reproducing.

At last, Star Wars is moving beyond Order 66. And it makes perfect sense.