Major Spoilers Ahead for Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorStar Wars Jedi: Survivorpicks up Cal Kestis’ journey at an interesting point with new characters and new planets to learn about. Five years after the events ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,Jedi: Survivorsees Cal as a galaxy-trekking Empire saboteur who has met like-minded companions along the way. Cal had suffered the losses of Prauf and Jedi Master Jaro Tapal inFallen Order, butJedi: Survivorensures that this was only the beginning of his suffering. In this and many other ways, Cal’s experiences are remarkably similar to that ofEllie’s fromThe Last of Us.
The Last of Usis especially known for how traumatic its own events are, with the backdrop of a fungal apocalypse underscoring how terrible and desperate everyone’s circumstances are.The Last of Us’ Joel is highly divisive due to his actions and how fans or other characters have perceived him, but Ellie is seemingly given more leniency in her choices because she is the product of Joel’s choices.Star Wars Jedi: Survivortests Cal’s resolve likeThe Last of Us Part 2tests Ellie’s, and both characters undergo a lot of development following their similar five-year time jumps.
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The Last of Us and Star Wars Jedi Both Feature Tragedy and a Five-Year Time Jump
Indeed,Star Wars JediandThe Last of Usboth currently only have two installments to their name, but their protagonists have been prodded through a lot of harrowing experiences and had to grow up incredibly quickly under their particular circumstances.Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Cal Kestishad to flee from the Jedi Purge when he was only 12 years old, somehow making it to young adulthood before finally having to reveal himself through the use of the Force.
Rather,The Last of Us’ Ellie was only 14 when she lost Rileyand was smuggled by Joel and Tess through Boston, leading to all the tragic events that would follow between her and Joel. Therefore, neither character is exempt from loss.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorhas a decidedly darker tone than its predecessor, and that is an understatement as far asThe Last of Us Part 2is concerned. Both games take place half a decade later, when Cal is supposedly 23 years old and Ellie is 19, and both characters grieve the deaths of those close to them throughout. Each protagonist struggles with this grief, though Ellie arguably gives into it a lot more, and for Ellie, this grief becomes much more destructive and irreparable.
The Last of Us’ Ellie Has Youth on Her Side as Opposed to Jedi: Survivor’s Cal
Ellie has experienced much more heartache than Cal had at her age, and she is likely an older soul in that regard, but Cal is already in his early-20s. IfStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s sequel takes place after another time jump, which is likely in order to establish more of a lived-in environment on Tanalorr and a grown-up Kata, then Cal will already be much older still.
Ellie has not even reached the age of 20 yet inThe Last of Us, and this youth could be a great advantage for her character development and give her infinite room to evolve and change as a person. Ellie has age on her side as a way to redeem herself, whereas Cal might not need to remain young for too long depending on which directionJedi: Survivor’s sequel is taken. Either way, both protagonists are incredibly alike, and it would be interesting to see how they are developed further if they appear again as protagonists in their franchises’ third installments.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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