Considering how predominantlyStar Wars Jedi: Survivorteases it, it seems likely if not inevitable that Cal Kestis will at least lean into the allure of dark side temptations again during Respawn’s third and finalStar Wars Jediinstallment. Cal’s leniency with traditional Jedi rules and his alignment with the Force has never been straightforward, which is terrific for his character as it makes his fate impossible to pin down. IfStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwas to be looked at as an individual case study, Cal demonstrated all throughout that the possibility of him turning to the dark side was slim if not nonexistent, and yetStar Wars Jedi: Survivorupends that belief.
The inference made here is that evensomeone as classically and morally righteous asStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Cal Kestiscould be swayed to the dark side with enough anger or grief fueling his actions. This makes Cal far more complicated than the do-gooder who sought to restore the Jedi Order five years beforehand, especially as he wrestles with the losses that are piling in his life.Survivordoesn’t outright foreshadow that Cal will plunge into the dark side as many Jedi have, but it does suggest what specific loss in his life could precipitate such a fall from grace: the death of his lover, Merrin.
Merrin Dying in Star Wars Jedi Would Have a Massive Ripple Effect on Cal Kestis
Merrin and Cal Kestis mirror Santari Khri and Dagan Gera, and the latter’s relationship can be perceived as an omen of what could happen if Cal no longer has Merrin by his side. Not unlikePadme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, it’s easy to see how the dark side could poison Cal against Merrin.
That said, Merrin has proven how gifted she is via Nightsister magic rivaling Cal’s talents with the Force and has already shown she can assist Cal in stepping backward if he’s beginning to lose himself. Merrin is able to talk Cal down from wielding the dark side of the Force to kill ISB chief supervisor Denvik. Even if she and Cal weren’t now officially romantically intertwined, it is obvious that she is a rock for him and can tether him not only to the light side of the Force but his basic humanity as a person.
Not having that rock in his life anymore, especially with her being a love interest and not simply another trusted Stinger Mantis companion, Cal might unravel and not have anyone close enough to him who can prevent him frombleeding a kyber crystal as Dagan does inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Merrin nearly being killed by Bode Akuna on Tanalorr gave the final boss fight heart-wrenching stakes, perhaps too indulgently. Indeed, Merrin being an NPC companion accompanying Cal during this fight was stressful as it meant she was at risk of being injured if not killed the whole time, and if she had died there, especially following the recentdeaths of Cere Junda and Eno Cordova, there’s a high likelihood that Cal would’ve tapped into the dark side fully.
Cal “embraced the darkness” for much less when Bode pummeled him with strikes, and Bode’s death probably would’ve been much more violent than it was if things had gone south for Merrin.
Unfortunately, her death could still occur inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s sequel and such an event would be a salient tipping point for Cal, who has been largely composed and collected until Bode’s betrayal and the deaths of his loved ones increased tenfold. Indeed, Cal’s whole journey inStar Wars Jedihas been punctuated by traumatic loss trailing back toJaro Tapal and Prauf inFallen Order, butSurvivorstacks those body bags higher and the death of Merrin could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
