A Profile Of Saw Gerrera

Saw Gerrera

Image Source: YouTube

The Star Wars universe is full of heroes. There are not so many antiheroes. Saw Gerrera helps fill that void. He has appeared in Star Wars: The Clone WarsStar Wars: RebelsRogue One: A Star Wars StoryStar Wars: The Bad Batch, and Star Wars: Andor. Andrew Kishino initially voiced him, but Forest Whitaker later took over the role. George Lucas originally conceived Saw to appear in Star Wars: Underworld, but that project never happened. Dave Filoni decided to introduce the character in The Clone Wars. The character has been through many ups and downs but has had a consistent characterization throughout.

Saw Gerrera first appeared on the scene during the Clone Wars. His planet, Onderon, tried to stay neutral in the war. However, the Separatists took over the planet, arrested the rightful king, Dendup, and Dooku installed a puppet government. Saw and his sister, Steela, led a rebellion against the Separatists, eventually liberating the planet from Separatist rule. 

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At this time, Saw showed a willingness to do whatever it took to accomplish his goals. For example, it didn’t matter to Saw if there were civilian casualties. It took his sister and the Jedi to rein him in. However, once his sister was killed in battle and the Jedi left Onderon, there was nothing to restrain Saw.

When the Galactic Republic fell and was replaced with the Empire, Saw continued fighting. He recognized the Empire for what it was right away and formed a group known as the Partisans. Saw used terrorist tactics to fight the Empire, bringing him into conflict with many other rebels. 

In 17 BBY, Saw met and helped the Erso’s get off Coruscant. He also helped them form an escape plan in case they were found. In 13 BBY, Saw adopted Jyn Erso. He raised her until she was sixteen. Saw abandoned Jyn with only a blaster and knife. Saw believed he was doing it for Jyn’s safety, but Jyn didn’t see it that way. 

In 5 BBY, as the rebellion was becoming more formalized, Luthen Rael met with Saw to convince him to join the other rebel cells. Saw refused. He would help when his goals aligned with theirs, but only then. 

In 2 BBY, Saw traveled to Geonosis to investigate the disappearance of the Geonosian people. There, he met the crew of the Ghost, the protagonists of Star Wars: Rebels. They found one last surviving Geonosian who had a queen’s egg. Saw wanted to interrogate the Geonosian, called Klik-Klak, and remove him from Geonosis. The Ghost crew disagreed. Their argument was interrupted by imperial arrivals, and they both fled the planet leaving Klik-Klak and the egg behind.

Saw Gerrera through the years

Image Source: StarWars.com

Finally, in 0 BBY, Saw captured an imperial defector with plans for the newly built Death Star. The Rebel Alliance wanted the intel, so they sent Jyn Erso to reunite with Saw and get the information. While Jyn was there, the Empire tested the Death Star by destroying the city of NiJedha (Jedha City), not far from where Saw was hiding. Jyn fled with the defector and several other people but Saw chose to stay and died in the blast.

Dave Filoni calls Saw “the first Rebel.” He was a lone wolf who didn’t get along with much of anyone. Yet he was pivotal in the early rebellion. Without Saw Gerrera, the galaxy’s fate would have been much different.

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