Fallen Order: Cere's Jedi History & What It Means For Cal
While most of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order revolves around protagonist Cal Kestis, the past of his new mentor Cere Junda will have large ramifications on Cal's future. Before Order 66, Cal was a Jedi Padawan under the mentorship of Jaro Tapal, but after Tapal was killed by a group of clones Cal went into hiding from the Empire. During the events of Fallen Order, Cal is found by Trilla, one of Darth Vader's inquisitors, but is rescued by Cere, who helps him to become a Jedi Knight and begin to restore the Jedi Order.
With the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order sequel confirmed to be in development along with two other new Star Wars games, many fans are excited to continue the story of Cal as he journeys with the rest of the crew of the Stinger Mantis, although what they'll get up to next is unclear. Cal had a lot of development as a character in the first game, but still has lots of ways to grow and more to learn about. The same applies to Cere, who is a mysterious figure at the start, but one who players learn more and more about throughout the game.
The relationship between a Jedi and their mentor, like Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi or Luke and Yoda, is a key theme throughout Star Wars and is just as important in Jedi: Fallen Order. Cere's past and how it impacts Cal will be big in the sequel's story, especially as Fallen Jedi: Fallen Order 2 could be darker than the original if it kept up with the traditions of Star Wars narratives. Players are shown glimpses of Cere's past in Fallen Order, and those moments help to move the plot of the game along as well as explain some of Cere's decision-making. However, there are also a lot of important moments in her past that could impact Cal in the future.
Some of Cere Junda's past was shown to players during Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but she had dealt with a lot more that players didn't see, which is covered in the Dark Temple series of comics that precede the game, written by Matthew Rosenberg and with art from Paolo Villanelli. The first issue of the comic focuses more on Eno Cordova, Cere's Jedi Master - and the Jedi that left clues for Cal - as he and Cere are sent on a mission by the Jedi Council to oversee the excavation of a recently discovered temple. What occurs in this mission is important for Cere, but isn't necessarily important to include in Jedi: Fallen Order 2.
In the Dark Temple series, Cere and Cordova become separated multiple times as various entities try and attack the area surrounding the temple to claim what is inside. Cere teams up with the Fylar freedom fighters in stopping the Daa corporation but must do so alone as Cordova appeared to be killed during an ambush. The comic also features flash-forwards to an Inquisitor, who is fighting the Fylar over the temple as well. Cere's adventures in Dark Temple show the origins of her time after losing her master, and also shows her ability to work with freedom fighters. These two themes could play a key part in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2, with the first game having already shown Cal working with Saw Gerrera's Partisans.
It's possible that the Inquisitors will have a big role again in Jedi: Fallen Order 2, with new Inquisitors potentially appearing as new threats, but Cere's history with them is likely to have a big impact on how Cal deals with them. During the game, it is revealed that Cere was training a Jedi Padawan herself, Trilla, who later becomes The Second Sister, one of Vader's Inquisitors. The Second Sister is also the Inquisitor who is shown to be exploring the temple in The Dark Temple comics, which is likely how she began to track down Cere and other Jedi left alive after Order 66.
Cere was nearly an Inquisitor herself, having been captured and tortured by Darth Vader, revealing Trilla and the youngling's location. Cere managed to escape but used the dark side of the Force to do so, which she still regrets. Cere's history with the Inquisitors does not end in Jedi: Fallen Order's story, and her anger towards them will no doubt affect her decisions when she and Cal encounter the Empire in the future. If Cere cannot let go of her past, it could lead to her encouraging Cal to be more violent against any Inquisitors he encounters.
The ending of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order sees Cere slowly reconnect with the Force, wield an Inquisitor's lightsaber, and even conduct a ceremony that sees Cal become a Jedi Knight. This may mean that Fallen Order 2 will see the pair have a more traditional Master and Apprentice relationship, although there are interesting caveats that could make it more unique than the other pairings seen in Star Wars history. Both Cal and Cere were of the Jedi Order before its collapse, whereas the other surviving Jedi seen after the Prequels usually trained those who didn't know what the Order used to be like, as was the case with Kanan and Ezra in Star Wars Rebels, and of course Obi-Wan and Luke in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.
Depending on where in the Star Wars timeline Fallen Order 2 takes place, Cere might not have had the time to reconnect with the Force, which may put extra pressure on Cal to protect the Stinger Mantis' crew as its Jedi Knight. Furthermore, Cere also has many beliefs that are contrary to the old Jedi Order, doubting its reliance on dogmatic tradition and the importance of creating lightsabers when they are an order of peacekeepers. Cere's difficult relationship with the Force and the Jedi Order will likely have an impact on the big decisions Cal will have to make, and potentially on how the crew navigates the galaxy now that they've left the Order behind.
Cere Junda is going to play a big part in Cal Kestis' future, and hopefully, players will get to learn more about her past either during missions or while onboard the Stinger Mantis in Jedi: Fallen Order 2. Cere's relationship with the Force has been rocky, to say the least, but her motivation to survive is strong and her relationship with Cal has helped her to reconcile her past mistakes with her former Padawan, Trilla. Cere could become so important to Cal that she could become a playable character for parts of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's sequel, allowing her to have an even greater impact on the decisions Cal will make.