This One Star Wars Droid Is the Secret Key to the Entire Jedi Legacy You’ve Never Noticed

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As a die-hard Star Wars fan, it’s fascinating to ponder just how ancient the galaxy and the Jedi Order truly are. The timeline of Star Wars is vast, with The Acolyte set a century before the prequels, and even that was recent compared to the grand scheme. The Jedi Order, as we know it, was founded around 25,025 BBY, over 25 millennia before the birth of Luke Skywalker or the rise of the Galactic Empire. This period is shrouded in myth and legend by the time of the Skywalker Saga, being countless generations ago even for long-lived species like Hutts.

However, it’s not just aliens that populate the Star Wars universe. Droids, if maintained correctly, could theoretically last forever. This was exemplified by one of Star Wars’ oldest characters: Professor Huyang. According to Star Wars: Timelines, Huyang was created in 25,020 BBY, just a few years after the Jedi Order’s approximate founding. By the time he appeared in Ahsoka, set in 9 ABY, he was an impressive 25,029 years old.

In essence, Huyang was a droid architect built to assist Jedi younglings. He had an extraordinary amount of knowledge due to his long existence, not just about traditional Jedi weapons, but also ancient Jedi wisdom. On the official Star Wars website, he’s referred to as a “repository of ancient Jedi lore.” Unlike other droids in Star Wars, Huyang appears to have never had his memory wiped. In the Clone Wars episode “A Test of Strength,” he mentioned remembering every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who crafted them. This knowledge would be valuable not only to those rebuilding or reforming the Jedi, like Luke Skywalker post-original trilogy, but also to enemies seeking to exploit Jedi weaknesses. Despite his significance to Star Wars lore, Huyang has had a minor role in the overall narrative. He featured in only three Clone Wars episodes and had a significant role only in Ahsoka, suggesting he could play a crucial part in the future of the Star Wars franchise.

Huyang Served the Jedi Order Throughout Its Entire Existence

In Season 5 of “The Clone Wars,” Huyang made his debut, with David Tennant lending his voice, best known for portraying the Tenth Doctor on “Doctor Who.” Ahsoka Tano escorted six young Jedi apprentices in crafting their lightsabers. On their journey back to Coruscant aboard a ship named the “Crucible,” Huyang started guiding the younglings through the process of building their lightsabers, taking into account their preferences like Gungi the Wookiee requesting a wooden handle reminiscent of his woodland home. As they didn’t complete their lightsabers before pirates led by Hondo Ohnaka attacked the “Crucible” to snatch the precious kyber crystals, Huyang displayed combat skills even without weapons and assisted in protecting the children from the pirate invasion. Regrettably, he lost his head and both arms during the battle, but for a droid, this was merely a momentary setback.

In the series Ahsoka, Huyang took on a more significant role. He assisted Ahsoka in her quest to find Grand Admiral Thrawn, frequently standing guard or piloting her ship while she was engaged in ground missions, and he also helped Sabine Wren refine her lightsaber technique. In this series, Huyang served as a counterpoint to Ahsoka. Following her unjust expulsion from the Jedi Order and the downfall of the Galactic Republic, she chose to protect the galaxy in an unconventional manner. Conversely, Huyang sought to uphold the Jedi’s teachings. To him, the Empire’s rise and fall was insignificant compared to his existence spanning thousands of years, so he felt that the Jedi should continue as they always had. This led to friction between Ahsoka and Huyang, which became apparent in the first episode, “Master and Apprentice.” In this episode, Ahsoka scolded Huyang for keeping the ship at a distance that caused communication issues. He defended himself by stating he was merely following standard Jedi mission protocol. Ahsoka reminded him that the Jedi were no more, to which he responded, “Regardless, I have my programming.” Similarly, Ahsoka believed that her low midi-chlorian count should not disqualify her from being a Jedi, but Huyang disagreed as the Jedi Order only accepted children with midi-chlorian counts above a certain level.

Despite having differing views with Ahsoka regarding the Jedi, Huyang proved to be a steadfast and indispensable ally. He instantly recognized Baylann Skoll from his lightsaber and thus identified him as a former Jedi Knight who disappeared during the Clone Wars. Furthermore, he assisted Ezra Bridger in crafting a new lightsaber since Sabine was utilizing Ezra’s old one. To honor Kanan’s legacy, Huyang provided Ezra with a distinctive lightsaber emitter that resembled Kanan’s own. After countless years, he continued to fulfill his purpose as he had been designed for in ancient times. However, conversations about lightsabers were not the only topics Huyang addressed; in the episode “Far, Far Away,” he and Ahsoka shared old tales that he used to tell her when she was young, with her requesting him to recount “History of the Galaxy, Part One.” He started by saying, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” These very words opened every main Star Wars film, fueling speculation that the entire Skywalker Saga could have been a tale told by Huyang, making him a crucial figure within the franchise.

Huyang Might Play a Major Part in Future Star Wars Projects

  • The novel Star Wars: Brotherhood stated that Huyang “arrived at the Jedi Temple in a big blue box thousands of years ago,” likely referencing .
  • In “Master and Apprentice,” Huyang said that he still consisted of “75% original parts.”

In other words, Huyang, who has previously lived for over 25,000 years before the Star Wars sequel trilogy, hasn’t made an appearance in any subsequent stories. Given this, there’s a good chance he continued to exist for another 26 years following the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. If Huyang is still operational post-Episode IX, his knowledge and skills could be crucial in rebuilding the Jedi Order after the fall of the First Order.

In Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Huyang used lightning to destroy ancient Jedi texts on Ahch-To, commenting that they were more like static pages rather than engaging reads. He suggested to Luke that Rey already had the wisdom needed to be a powerful Jedi, which aligned with the film’s central theme – letting go of the past to create a new future. As Kylo Ren famously said in The Last Jedi, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” This implies the importance of moving on from old ways and embracing change for a brighter tomorrow.

While it may seem as though there is no familial link between Luke and Huyang in the Star Wars universe, this does not diminish the value of learning from those who came before. History and legacy are integral aspects of Star Wars; indeed, a new film trilogy is reportedly underway that will focus on events following The Rise of Skywalker. If these films materialize, Huyang could play a crucial role in helping Rey restore the Jedi Order to its former glory. He could impart knowledge about lost Jedi techniques and traditions, but more significantly, he could share insights into the failings of the Jedi. The Jedi Order has collapsed twice in Star Wars canon – first under Chancellor Palpatine’s Order 66 and later when Kylo Ren slaughtered his fellow padawans on Ahch-To. Without learning from the Jedi’s past errors, Rey could potentially repeat them. Huyang, who has served the Jedi for countless millennia, could pave the way for a new era within this ancient order.

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2025-04-30 00:21