Ezra and Kanan is one of the main relationships of Star Wars Rebels.
It was of Master and Padawan and eventually, evolved to a father-son/older brother-younger brother relationship through their fourteen-year-difference.
Kanan (born Caleb Dume) is a Jedi and survivor of Order 66 while Ezra is a Force-sensitive, orphaned teenager who becomes Kanan's Jedi Padawan. Through the series, Kanan guided Ezra when he needed him most and Ezra helped Kanan realize his potential to be a Jedi once more.
History[]
First Meeting on Lothal[]
From the beginning of the series, Ezra had an unexplained Force connection with Kanan, who thought that he was always predestined to meet Ezra due to him and Hera feeling a connection to Ezra's home world, Lothal. They both sensed each other's presence but Ezra had quickly hiddden from Kanan. Kanan was at first, indifferent towards Ezra but actually saw he was a resourceful kid. Despite the boy being just as reckless as he was, Kanan was sightly impressed with Ezra, silently wandering in amazing who this kid was. He ultimately came to Ezra's rescue at least three times, all from the TIE fighters, imperials and later, Agent Alexandr Kallus. After Hera suspected that Ezra was Force sensitive, Kanan expected Ezra to enter his room and take the Jedi holocron that he had owned. He tested the teenager, seeing if he was truly force sensitive as Hera predicted, and wanted to see if Ezra could open the Holocron (as only a Jedi can open it). After their successful mission tos ave the wookies, Kanan smiles down at Ezra and puts a hand on his shoulder, and based on the boy's reaction, Ezra hasn't had physical countact with anyone in years and was glad to feel fatherly pride again. Kanan specifically tells Ezra to come with him to learn the ways of the Force Ezra returns Kanan's lightsaber and in response the Master puts a hand on his new apprentice's shoulder, glad that the kid made the right choice.
Beginning as Master and Apprentice[]
However, Kanan was hesitant in training Ezra, as he further delayed his Jedi training, as mentioned by Ezra and Hera. After seeing Ezra use the Force to save Zeb, Kanan decided that their Jedi Lessons would start the very next day. ("Droids in Distress")
When they began training, Kanan thought he was unfit to mentor the teenager. Only thinking of what was best for Ezra, when the Ghost crew learned of Luminara Unduli supposedly surviving the crew, Kanan thought she would be better at teaching his Padawan instead. However they were too late because Luminara had been dead since the beginning of the Empire and that the Inquisitor used her bones to lure other Jedi out. Because Ezra had no skills with a lightsaber yet, Kanan protected Ezra during his duel with the Grand Inquisitor. At the end of the episode, Kanan told Ezra he was not ditching him and told him that he was just trying to find a better teacher for him. Ezra really just wanted Kanan to be his teacher and doesn't want anyone else. Kanan realized he was done trying but that he was going to teach Ezra.
They stick with each other, both Master and apprentice reconciling with one another and this time, trying lightsaber skills without Zeb and Chopper watching them. ("Rise of the Old Masters")
Kanan was especially protective and worried about Ezra when he was undercover in an Imperial academy during the events of "Breaking Ranks." Though it was his idea, Kanan was reluctant to allow Ezra take this mission and wondered what he was thinking. When he heard Ezra had started behind at the academy, Kanan was wrecked with worry and constantly sled where he was when the Ghost was out of commlink signal with Sabine and Zeb. Kanan warmly welcomed Ezra back, glad to see that his Padawan was safe and that Ezra missed being on the Ghost. The whole experience taught Kanan that Ezra was capable of taking care of himself.
As the show went on, Kanan took his role as Ezra's teacher rather seriously, and showed him how to train creatures. However, he failed to realize that something was bothering his Padawan until Ezra revealed he did not mean to wear Kanan out on their mission; however, today was bothering him, as it was not only Empire Day but his birthday. However, Ezra refrained to share the last information with his master. Later, at Jho's diner, Ezra pulled out of his team's mission to disrupt the Empire's ceremony on the day it was founded, getting worried looks from Kanan, who was only further concerned for Ezra's wellbeing. Later, Ezra saved Kanan from being arrested by a Stormtrooper by pretending to be a son looking for his father. Kanan thanked Ezra for the favor. Later, Ezra took his friends to his home, where Ezra revealed some details of his past, mentioning his parents and their past friendship with the Rodian Tseebo. Kanan gave his student sympathetic looks when Ezra revealed his parents were taken from him when he was seven. He later learned from Tseebo that today was Ezra's fifteenth birthday. However, he never confronted Ezra about it, believing he was trying to solve his own problems. Later, Kanan stepped into protect Ezra by stopping a Stormtrooper from assaulting Ezra.
After the Ghost crew made their escape, Kanan tried talking reason into Ezra when he was still angry about Tseebo's role in failing to save his parents and that despite everything, Ezra cared about Tseebo. Kanan later announced he was going to take Ezra to Fort Anaxes and tame the Fyrnocks there to finish off the Imperials; he also promised to stand beside him throughout the whole time. Kanan overheard Ezra and Sabine's conversation and learned that Ezra had managed to get through life on the street this long by surviving. Later, on their way to the asteroid, Kanan soothed Ezra's troubles and told his Padawan he was brave by admitting he was afraid. Kanan later advised Ezra to let go of what he was afraid of when they were trying to tame the Fyrnocks and smiled proudly when Ezra finally succeeded by forgiving Tseebo. However, though Ezra was controlling the Fyrnocks rather easily, he immediately broke from it when Ezra saw Kanan was knocked on conscious and being attacked by the Grand Inquisitor. He sought to protect Kanan, especially temporarily falling to the dark side of the Force and rushing in to protect him. In doing so released a gigantic Fyrnock. When Ezra fell unconscious, Kanan ignored the Grand Inquisitor when he fought off the Fyrnock and immediately brought Ezra into his arms and immediately revived him. As soon as he woke up, Kanan comforted Ezra and carried Ezra back to the safety of the Phantom. After the duo made their escape, Kanan apologized to Ezra on how unprepared he made his student and failed to realize how much Ezra's powers were growing, especially letting him Tap into the dark side. Realizing the events left Ezra shaken up, Kanan told the others to let Ezra have some time to himself, but Kanan himself, feared what had happened. ("Empire Day", "Gathering Forces")
Despite Ezra falling to the dark side, Kanan decided to test Ezra yet again by taking him to the Lothal Jedi Temple. However, they were forced to split up when Ezra had to find a way to pass the test. Kanan revealed to Yoda that he does not hold back because of doubting Ezra's talents. When Ezra showed Kanan his kybercrystals, Kanan was proud of his student, especially not expecting it to happen, and had to explain to Ezra that the kybercrystal was used to power up lightsabers. He later helped Ezra construct it by giving him spare parts. Ezra let Kanan try it out, and the young man admitted that this lightsaber was different and admitted that it suited Ezra. ("Path of the Jedi")
Protecting Ezra from Darkness[]
Since their encounter with Vader on Lothal, Kanan feared that Ezra would fall to the Dark side of the Force and became determined more than ever to protect him. However Kanan revealed that while he couldn't protect Ezra forever, not even from himself but he still could train him as best as he could.
Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow[]
Following the events on Malachor, Ezra and Kanan's relationship became strained once again, up to the point where they distanced themselves from each other. Mainly, Kanan was grieving for the loss of his eyesight while Ezra blamed himself for Kanan winding up blind during their confrontation with Maul despite his master believing otherwise, but Kanan failed to tell Ezra this himself. Because of their distance, Ezra was left to lead the Ghost crew on missions. Without his master's guidance, Ezra focused his attention to the Sith Holocron, learning to give into his anger and teachings forbidden to the Jedi in desperation to protect his friends from ever getting harmed again, especially after what happened to both Kanan and Ahsoka on Malachor. Despite their social distancing, Kanan kept himself updated on Ezra's progression, as well as his promotion to Lieutenant Commander. Hera approached Kanan and eventually, convinced him to have a word with Ezra, wishing he would tell his Padawan how he truly did not blame Ezra for what happened in the previous episode. After some convincing, Kanan decided to talk with Ezra before his mission, who was surprised to see Kanan after distancing themselves from each other, causing them to act awkward for each other. However, it soon turned into an argument when Kanan realized Ezra opened the Sith Holocron after brushing up against it by accident and was further angered when Ezra informed him that he was using it. Kanan refused to let Ezra keep it and confiscated it from him, believing Ezra would go down the wrong path and succumb to the Darkness. In his anger, Ezra shouted he didn't need the Holocron or Kanan, rendering his mentor slightly upset at what his apprentice told him.
Their unbalance did not go unnoticed, for The Bendu sensed Ezra and Kanan's struggles, managing to call the older of the two Jedi out. When he met the Bendu, Kanan told the mystical force user that he feared the Sith Holocron was changing Ezra, but the Bendu told him that the Holocron couldn't change anyone. When the Bendu trained Kanan to "see" through the Force, the Jedi's first thoughts came to Ezra when he confronted the Atollon spiders and feared that his padawan was in danger. However, Kanan realized the fear was not about Ezra or the spiders, or rather, himself. Through the exercise, Kanan realized he distanced himself from everyone, including the Force and noticed the error of his ways when neglecting Ezra and his other teammates.
Ezra and Kanan reconcile
After learning that Ezra had turned the recon mission into a recovery one, Kanan joined Hera on the Ghost to rescue his wayward Padawan. Ezra on his part realized his mistake with the mission and felt remorseful for yelling to his master he did not need him and begged for his master's help. Kanan assured Ezra he was not alone and that he was there to help him now. He managed to pull Ezra into the Ghost before the space station collapsed. Kanan and Ezra finally began to reconcile at the end of the episode. The teen admitted that he should have told Kanan about the Sith holocron and only wanted to use it for good. However, Kanan assured his Padawan they would find another way together and that he hid the Holocron in a safe place. At the end, Ezra thanked Kanan for coming back to rescue him, with the older Jedi responding he would always come back for Ezra, who responded that he knew.
Dealing with Maul[]
However, the imbalance between the two lingered, which only continued to strain after Ezra continued arguing about the whereabouts of the Sith Holocron and Kanan constantly reminding Ezra that it was safe and reminding him how using it nearly destroyed him. Following their argument, they saw that their comrades were kidnapped by Maul to get the Sith Holocron he and Ezra acquired on Malachor six months ago. Kanan and Ezra were forced to put aside their differences and retrieve the Holocron from the Bendu, who still felt the imbalance between the two when they found him. The Force wielder revealed he placed the Sith Holocron in the caves where the Kryna spiders were at and hoped the two working together would cause them to repair their broken relationship. However, Ezra refused to let Kanan come with him and decided to go in alone while Kanan guided Ezra through his commlink and confiscating his lightsaber so Ezra would learn to fight battles without it.
Kanan and Ezra mend their broken bond.
However,Ezra soon came into trouble when the kryna began to attack him. Sensing his apprentice in danger when Ezra's comlink was accidentally destroyed when the spiders had attacked him, Kanan went to rescue Ezra yet again and this time, pulling him through to safety just like they had done back at Reklam Station. After the spiders left them alone, after Kanan revealed he was forced to see things differently since Malachor, Ezra apologized for everything that had happened six months ago. Kanan finally told Ezra he never blamed his student for what happened on Malachor and told his Padawan to forgive himself. Ezra decided to follow Kanan's advice and unexpectedly brought Kanan into a hug before his master returned the Embrace, finally mending Kanan and Ezra's broken bond.
Because they were balanced with each other again, Kanan and Ezra succeeded in retrieving the Holocron. With the holocron, Kanan told Ezra to open it if he thought it could help them defeat Maul. However, Ezra refused and decided to follow his master's wisdom: to remain calm, as Maul would use their anger against them and hurt their friends. When Maul mocked Kanan for his blindness, Ezra took offence to it but Kanan calmed his padawan down, as the former Sith lord was just trying to get under their skin. Maul made yet another attempt at Kanan's life by throwing him out of airlock, in another attempt at making Ezra as his own Apprentice. However, it failed, as Kanan was finally able to make it out alive. Ezra remaiend oblivious to what Maul had done and hoped doing what Maul told him to would protect his family. Meanwhile, Kanan realized Maul had no intention of letting the crew live and rescue Hera, Sabine and Zeb from execution. Kanan realized his apprentice was in danger, especially when Ezra and Maul were combining the Sith and Jedi Holocrons. Kanan was the only one to see through the blinding lights of the holocrons and approached Ezra, and told for the boy to look away and remember Bendu's warning. However, Maul attempted to coax Ezra into looking into the holocron and stay focused on it. Ezra eventually followed Kanan's advice over Maul's and looked away, causing the holocrons to be destroyed and a bond between Maul and Ezra grew. As soon as everyone recovered, Kanan did not hesitate to go to Ezra's side and tried waking him up. Ezra eventually pulled through and told Kanan what he had seen in the Holocron but was still confused because he only saw bits and pieces of the future. Kanan assured his Padawan they would discover it all together, as Master and Padawan.
The Antilles Extraction[]
Kanan calming Ezra down and to trust Sabine.
While Ezra was worrying about Sabine the whole time she was undercover, Kanan remembered how he was worried for Ezra when the boy went undercover in the Imperial Academy on Lothal and told Ezra to trust in Sabine to succeed. Following Kanan's advice, Ezra bided his time until it was time to rescue Sabine, Wedge and Hobbie.
The Wynkahthu Job[]
An Inside Man[]
During Kanan and Ezra's mission to Lothal, the young man expressed his sadness at how the Empire had oppressed his people and have taken over Lothal. Kanan appeared sympathetic to his student and promised they would do something about it. During their trip to the Lothal TIE Defender factory, Ezra nearly charged out at Thrawn but Kanan had to restrain Ezra twice for his protection. They were both genuinely shocked that Kallus was Fulcrum and they had to work with him to escape. Ezra later threw Kallus through glass and Kanan yelled at Ezra because he wanted to do it himself.
Visions and Voices[]
During a briefing on a recon mission for the attack on Lothal, Ezra was beginning to see the spectre of Maul, causing Kanan to turn his attention to his Padawan and question if he was alright and Ezra suggested he was "seeing something or someone," causing Kanan to become slightly alarmed. The visions begin growing worse, as Kanan asked Ezra what he saw again and continued to panic, causing concern from his crew-members. Suddenly, Ezra faints, causing Kanan to worry for his student as he and Zeb tend to him.
Ezra later woke up in Kanan's room in a panic, where Kanan immediately touched Ezra's shoulder and knee in a fatherly matter, calming him down and assuring Ezra that he was safe.The visions that Ezra described concerned Kanan because they were out of the ordinary Force visions. ]Kanan's concern for Ezra seeing visions of Maul only increased after his Padawan attacked a fellow rebel officer he mistook for the former Sith, where he was forced to restrain Ezra with the Force and convince him to see that the man is not Maul. After Ezra was relieved of duty, Kanan stayed behind to look after Ezra as Hera and Zeb went on the mission themselves. To keep track of his Padawan, Kanan had Sabine put a tracking device on Ezra's wrist comm. Fearing for his apprentice's safety, Kanan took Ezra to see Bendu to learn what had been affecting his Padawan after the connection with Maul broke when they combined the Jedi and Sith holocrons. Hearing their story, Bendu tells Kanan and Ezra that the fusion of the holocron left consequences, causing Kanan to tell bendu what he means by that, showing he is growing more concerned for Ezra.
When they saw Maul, Ezra and Kanan immediately drew their lightsabers and after Ezra deactivated his own, Kanan kept his ignited showing he would make a move on Maul if he hurt Ezra if necessary. In fear of his friends' safety when Maul threatened to expose Chopper Base to the Empire, Ezra decided to willingly go with him to protect them. However, Kanan put Ezra to the side and refused to let Ezra go with Maul. He could tell that Kanan was only expressing concern for his wellbeing but told Kanan he could trust him. Reluctantly, Kanan agreed and decided to trust Ezra on this one. However, not trusting Maul, he had Sabine track Ezra on Dathomir, where they attempted to save him. However, Kana and Sabine ended up possessed by the Nightsisters. During Maul and Ezra's duel with the possessed Kanan and Sabine, Ezra warnedMaul not to harm his master. Later, Ezra refused to abandon his friends and he went in to save Sabine and Kanan, offering himself to the Nightsisters if they released Ezra's friend. The Nightsisters left Ezra's master and defeated them by destroying their alter with his lightsaber and the Darksaber. Kanan proclaimed this was the last time they were going to help Maul, probably fueled by the fact the ex-Sith put Ezra in harm's way yet again.
Relationship in the Comics[]
In the comics that took place during season 1 of Star Wars Rebels, several tapped into Kanan and Ezra's relationship.
In the issue "Learning Patience," Kanan encouraged Ezra to move one of the mugs on the table but his Padawan kept getting impatient when Ezra couldn't do as his Master wanted him to. Kanan told Ezra he was teaching him patience and said he would learn it, one day. In the end, Ezra finally understood what Kanan meant and learned that you can't always rush into conflicts when things don't go your way.
In "Eyes on the Prized," Kanan panicked when he couldn't find Ezra anywhere. Realizing his Padawan was in trouble, Kanan went to find Ezra, only to see bounty hunters were kidnapping him. Unwilling to lose his Padawan, Kanan, infuriated they were taking Ezra, fought them off and effectively rescued him. Kanan cautioned his Padawan to be careful and let someone know where he is going.
Quotes[]
- “Very creative. Sounds like someone used to know.”
- ―Hera on how similar Ezra and Kanan were.[src]
- “I'll always come back."
"I know.” - ―Kanan and Ezra
- “I didn't mean to run, I just I feel lost without my master. He was wise and brave. And he cared. He was there for me when no one else was. There was so much more I needed to learn from him.”
- ―Ezra regarding his feelings about how Kanan cared[src]
Similarities[]
- They were both merely fourteen when they became Padawans.
- Under Jedi Training, they both favor Form III, a form that Kanan's Master, Depa Billaba, would teach him and what he would often teach Ezra.
- Both noted as being reckless, unfocused, and undisciplined.
- Since a young age, they lost a family (Ezra lost his parents while Kanan lost the Jedi Order.
- They were both were forced to take care of themselves at a young age before they met the Ghost crew, Ezra at age seven and Kanan at age fourteen.
- Befriended a pirate (Kanan met Janus Kasmir and Ezra met Hondo Ohnaka)
- They often get creative with their plans or means of escape, as noted by Kanan.
- They had a position in their respective affiliations (Grand Army of the Republic, the Rebel Alliance) as a Commander. However, Ezra made it to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
- Both have a will to protect their friends from anything. Ezra wants to protect his friends with his powers so they won't get hurt again while Kanan sought to protect Ezra from the dark side of the Force.
- Later, they both sacrifice themselves to save their friends. (Kanan gave the ultimate sacrifice to destroy the TIE Defender project on Lothal to save Ezra, Sabine and Hera and Ezra willingly allowed himself to be taken into hyperspace with Thrawn and the Purgill)
- Both didn't finish their Jedi training because of their Master's sacrifice.
Differences[]
- Ezra was raised by his parents while Kanan was raised by the Jedi Temple since he was a child.
- Ezra's been on his own since he was seven while Kanan has been a loner since he was fourteen.
- As the show goes on, Ezra and Kanan both want to help the rebellion. However, Ezra was more willing to commit in the rebellion from the start while Kanan wanted to back out of the rebellion as soon as they were done with their mission to Lothal when they returned to it.
- Ezra was more willing to trust the Clones when they first became acquainted with each other while Kanan distrusted them due to the history between the Jedi and the Clones circulating Order 66.
- Ezra was more eager to start Jedi training at the beginning but Kanan had his doubts at becoming a teacher when he couldn't complete his own training.
Trivia[]
- Ezra is fourteen years younger than Kanan, as he was born the day Order 66 was initiated
- Most of the time, Kanan would occasionally put his hand on Ezra's shoulder for emotional support (Spark of Rebellion, Call to Action, Ghosts of Geonosis, "Holocrons of Fate") and will always draw him into a hug when comforting him (Legacy, Twilight of the Apprentice) or reconciling (The Holocrons of Fate)
- It's implied through dialogue in "Jedi Night" that Kanan knew he was going to die that night and what would happen to Ezra in the future but didn't know how to tell him.
- They are the only members of the crew to be Jedi.
- Ezra and Kanan's color is blue (due to their lightsaber colors and both Ezra and Kanan's eyes being a shade of blue
- Kanan and Ezra's relationship is compared to Hera and Sabine's, Ahsoka and Anakin's.
- It is one of the three relationships of the main cast to have a parent-child dynamic, just is Hera and Ezra's, and Sabine and Hera
- Meanwhile, Chopper's Zeb'and relationships with Hera and Kanan can count but it is more of a sibling relationship with them
- Ironically, while Hera sees how similar Kanan and Ezra are, Kanan himself compares Ezra to Hera, claiming to Rex, "He takes after Hera sometimes"n ithe episode "Stealth Strike."
- In 9 aby Ezra constructed a lightsaber which hilt highly resemble's his late master Kanan's lightsaber based on place Huyang provided for him. Originally Huyang has these plans in case Kanan needed to replace his lightsaber if he lower it again. It also signifies that Kanan's is with Ezra in spirit.
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