Tales Of The Empire Subtly Retcons A 10-Year Old Rebels Story, Revealing The True Fate Of An AotC Jedi Master

Warning! SPOILERS for Tales of the Empire.

Summary Barriss faced a life-or-death choice in Tales of the Empire; join the Inquisitorius or face immediate execution by the Empire.

Luminara Unduli likely faced a similar ultimatum as Barriss but chose to die rather than betray the Jedi.

Tales of the Empire subtly shows the difference between Luminara and Barriss.

Star Wars’ latest animated show, Tales of the Empire, alters the fate of one well-known Jedi Master from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. While the first half of the series largely deals with Morgan Elsbeth’s journey from Nightsister to Magistrate, the second half of Tales of the Empire focuses on Barriss Offee joining Darth Vader’s Inquisitorius. Yet the way she joins provides an interesting clue to how the Empire deals with former Jedi.

Barriss met a grim end in the Tales of the Empire finale, but it was nothing compared to the fate of her former master, Luminara Unduli. Star Wars Rebels reveals Luminara met a gruesome fate, far darker than most Jedi during Order 66. After death, her corpse was mummified and preserved by the Empire for the purpose of luring in stray Jedi for the Inquisitors to capture and kill. Yet the details surrounding her death have been unclear, until now.

Related Tales Of The Empire Timeline: When Each Episode Takes Place Tales of the Empire spans the Star Wars timeline from The Clone Wars to The Mandalorian, revealing key events between the movies and TV shows.

Barriss Was Given A Choice Between Dying Or Joining The Inquisitors

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In Tales of the Empire episode 4, the Fourth Sister—formerly known as Lyn—offers Barriss the chance to join the Inquisitorius. The moment she does, Barriss glances at the shock troopers at her door, and they flex and ready their blasters. While it isn’t explicitly stated, the message here is clear; if Barriss refuses to become an Inquisitor, they will execute her immediately. The Republic planned to let Barriss rot in jail, but the Empire has no desire or need to keep former Jedi around. If anything, people like Barriss only exist to keep the memory of the Jedi alive.

The Mirialan apprentice of Luminara Unduli, Barriss Offee became disillusioned with the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. She ultimately betrayed the Jedi, even launching a terrorist attack on the Jedi Temple itself, and framed Ahsoka for the crime. Exposed, Barriss was imprisoned - but she was recovered by the Empire shortly after Revenge of the Sith, joining the ranks of the Imperial Inquisitors. Created By George Lucas Cast Nalini Krishnan , Meredith Salenger , Tatyana Yassukovich First Appearance Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Alliance Jedi/Inquisitors Race Mirialan TV Shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Tales of the Empire

The shock troopers' actions speak louder than their words, and this may have been why Barriss chose to join the Inquisitors in the first place. In order to survive, she chose to adapt and learn more about the new “Empire” that her Republic had become. Of course, she eventually realizes it was far worse than the Jedi, and instead chose to walk her own path in Tales of the Empire episode 5. Yet it’s likely that Barriss wasn’t the only Jedi presented with this ultimatum.

Luminara Likely Received The Same Ultimatum

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Barriss’ former master, Luminara Unduli, met a tragic fate in Star Wars Rebels. She initially survived Order 66 while on Kashyyyk, but was eventually captured by the Empire. After being taken to the Spire—an Imperial fortress and prison—she was executed in the presence of the Grand Inquisitor. Nevertheless, Star Wars has been vague surrounding the actual details of how Luminara died, as well as why the Empire bothered capturing her in the first place. Yet Tales of the Empire seemingly provides the answer.

Luminara's remains were first seen in Star Wars Rebels season 1, episode 5, "Rise of the Old Masters."

The few Jedi left in captivity were likely given the same ultimatum Barriss was; join the Empire or die. As a steadfast advisor to the Jedi Council, Luminara refused to join the Inquisitorius. Unlike her Padawan, Luminara was ready to die for the Jedi rather than betray them. The Grand Inquisitor later says in Rebels that Luminara “died with the Republic,” insinuating she chose to hold fast to the ideals of the Jedi. In any case, Tales of the Empire finally brings a close to Luminara’s story by explaining why she was executed in the Spire.