The race is on to locate two fugitive children before they fall into the iron grasp of the First Order in “The Children from Tehar!”
While installing, or attempting to anyway, an acceleration compensator in Yeager’s shop, Kaz assists Neeku and Tam but botches the effort and damages the part. Infuriating Tam, Kaz seeks solace once again at Aunt Z’s tavern hoping to forget about his problems for a little while but instead overhears patrons discussing a bounty on two runaway children to the tune of 20,000 credits. Thinking that he can both help the kids and make some money in the process, Kaz decides to become an amateur bounty hunter in “The Children from Tehar”.
With help from Neeku and his friends on the engineering level, the Chelidae, Kaz is able to locate the fugitives and learns that it is in fact the First Order that has placed the bounty on the two. Dark secrets are revealed about the First Order and their actions in the Unknown Regions before a daring chase and escape from Stormtroopers ensues led by the intimidating Commander Pyre.
On The Run
Kaz overhears a discussion in Aunt Z’s about fugitive children but some crucial details are absent in the conversation. Mainly the “who” in who has placed the bounty. Thinking that it’s a win-win situation Kaz takes on the bounty without knowing the heat and attention he’ll be drawing down on himself. With Kaz being who he is it’s doubtful he would’ve taken the bounty knowing who he’d have to turn them over to. Instead he would have dived in just the same but possibly with a little more caution.
Continuing a plot line from the previous episode, “The Children from Tehar” spends some time in Captain Doza’s office after he calls Kazuda up to the Tower. After “The High Tower”, Doza has developed an interest in Kaz, and is curious to know more. Mainly what his intentions are on the platform after spotting him in the marketplace with the two runaways. It’s Doza who contacts the First Order with the intel that their bounty is there on Colossus Station but it still seems that he is colluding with them reluctantly. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
When Neeku’s friends, an alien species known as the Chelidae, locate the kids, Kel and Eila, Star Wars Resistance immediately becomes more relevant and heavier than it has been up to this point. Kel and Eila hail from the planet Tehar which has been raided by the Order leveling their entire village and leaving them as the sole survivors. Eila tells Kaz that the leader of the army, a dark man called Kylo Ren, is responsible for the charge. And he wielded a lightsaber just like the Jedi did in stories they’ve heard. The Order is now desperate to silence them in order to hide their activities and not tip the New Republic, and The Resistance, off too early.
Kylo’s personal shuttle has already made appearences on Star Wars Resistance, and again here in “The Children from Tehar”, so it’s exciting to speculate what, or who, else is going to make a cameo on the show. Will Kylo, or even Supreme Leader Snoke, make an appearance someday? Only time will tell.
Might Of The Order
Although assuredly a phantom presence on the platform for some time, the Order has been increasingly visible on the series as its progressed. In addition to Major Elrik Vonreg’s recent visists to Castilon a new player emerges from the ranks.
Commander Pyre.
Previously only mentioned in “The Triple Dark” Pyre shows up with a contingent of Stormtroopers ready to do Captain Phasma’s bidding and tie up this loose end from the attack on Tehar. His armor is similar to Phasma’s, a metallic variation of the standard Troopers, polished flawlessly with a gold finish. Like Vonreg’s red armor, that differs from the traditional TIE pilot’s, there is a story to tell here that hopefully sees the light of day. Phasma’s unique armor, and how she obtained it, has been detailed and is the result of her skill and determination. How did Pyre rise through the Order and earn his?
By the end of the episode Commander Pyre has been fooled into thinking that the children have died and communicates this to Captain Phasma via holo. Effectively thrown off the trail the children are now safe and no longer need to constantly look over their shoulder.
Helping the children escape has earned Kaz a lot of information to relay to the Resistance. A couple major discoveries in particular. Attempting to get a hold of Poe, Kazuda speaks with Ello Asty, fellow pilot and Resistance hero, and hands over the details he’s learned. Ello tells him that General Organa will be very interested to hear of this immediately and praises his efforts.
Symbiotic Relationships
What “The Children from Tehar” does so well is show, as has been done many times before in Star Wars, that no one can take on the First Order, or the Empire that preceded them, alone. The strength of the Star Wars universe is the symbiotic relationships that exist between cultures and species. Kaz has been tasked by Poe Dameron and the Resistance with an important mission. But that doesn’t mean that he has to do it alone. As irritating as he may find Neeku Vozo from time to time he could not have rescued the children and thrown off the First Order without him.
Neeku stepped up in this episode and played an important role. He introduced Kaz to the Chelidae, essentially the eyes and ears of Colossus Station, who in turn kept a lookout and ultimately located Kel and Eila. A slow and gentle species, they did this with no other intention other than to just do the right thing, using their ability to slow down their life signs to lead Pyre and the Stormtroopers astray. In addition to this they also offer the runaway children with a place to stay for as long as they need. Their actions are selfless and are reminiscent of the Jedi. In fact it’s a similar situation to the Gungan’s in The Phantom Menace. There two species come together in the spirit of friendship for more than just self-preservation.
Neeku shines in this episode. An aloof but good-hearted friend who doesn’t hesitate to help Kaz even if he doubts his skill as a bounty hunter. There is an important lesson in this episode about kindness and compassion, and looking out for your fellow being, and it can be summed up with a quote from him:
Money should be used on the necessities, for anyone who needs it.
Mike Harris hails from the suburbs of Chicago and has been a fan for most of his life. Working as an industrial radiographer and raising a family with his wife take up most of his time, but there’s always room for Star Wars books and podcasts! Just looking to give back to Star Wars and the fan community, it’s been a source of fun and learning for him for so long.