What Are the Purge Troopers in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’?
Obi-Wan Kenobi Part IV dropped on June 8th, 2022, and continues to thrill us with the Jedi: Fallen Order similarities. Jedi: Fallen Order is a video game released by Respawn Entertainment in 2019. Since the game takes place roughly five years after Revenge of the Sith, it makes sense that Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to have drawn from it. In particular, both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi: Fallen Order closely follow the Inquisitorius program. In Jedi: Fallen Order, the main protagonist is on the run from the Inquisitors. Likewise, Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) is on the run from the Inquisitors in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
We knew that there would be plenty of Jedi: Fallen Order references once it was revealed that the Fortress Inquisitorius from the game was recreated in Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is a stronghold of the Inquisitors, located underwater on the moon Nur, where captured Jedi are tortured and turned into Inquisitors themselves. It is this place that Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Baird) is taken to once she is captured by the Third Sister (Moses Ingram). Throughout the episodes, we’ve seen bits and pieces of the Fortress’ interior, particularly the meeting room that we see the Third Sister and Fifth Brother (Sung Kang) frequent.
However, we got our closest look at the Fortress yet in Part IV, when Obi-Wan infiltrates the Fortress to rescue Leia. During his mission, he encounters several dangers and horrors, including droids, stormtroopers, and a disturbing trophy vault with the preserved corpses of Jedi, including that of a Youngling. Meanwhile, the show remembered that the Fortress is heavily guarded by Purge Troopers and gave us our first live-action look at the terrifying Stormtrooper variation.
What are the Purge Troopers?
While Purge Troopers are prominent in Jedi: Fallen Order, their first appearance was actually in the 2017 Star Wars: Darth Vader comic book series. Originally, they had no name and were referred to merely as death squads of the Inquisitor Program. Leading up to the release of Jedi: Fallen Order, they were finally officially called Purge Troopers. These expendable death squads were produced and trained after the Great Jedi Purge. However, the earliest of these death squads belonged to the last batch of Jango Fett clones. Hence, these squads were specially designed to obey Order 66 and never had a chance to exhibit any free will before the Empire took over.
These Purge Troopers are specifically designed to hunt down any remaining Jedi. Thus, they frequently can be seen accompanying Darth Vader on his travels and answering to the Second Sister and other Inquisitors. They are also frequently stationed to guard important landmarks, including the Fortress Inquisitorius. Purge Troopers are a heavy security component of the Fortress, which is why it makes sense they appeared in Obi-Wan Kenobi and flanked the Third Sister in her pursuit of Obi-Wan.
How powerful are the Purge Troopers?
Of course, Purge Troopers aren’t the only elite variant of Stormtroopers to pop up. Death Troopers previously made their live-action debut in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The Death Troopers are an elite unit that demonstrates expertise in stealth and lethality. Their stealth meant that foes of the Empire never knew quite when these operatives would strike. Meanwhile, these Death Troopers would perfectly cover up their tracks and leave no evidence of their murders or missions. Despite the Death Troopers expertise, Purge Troopers may be even more dangerous.
First of all, Death Troopers are almost simply death machines—they are created to kill in general. However, Purge Troopers are specifically designed to be Jedi hunters and have never existed without being hostile to Jedi. So while Death Troopers are certainly deadly, Purge Troopers may be more dangerous to Jedi in particular. Since they are built to hunt Jedi, they also have specially-made armor that can somewhat tolerate lightsaber blows.
To sum it up, these Troopers have the mindset of Inquisitors, lightsaber tolerant armor, and are brainwashed to serve the Empire and hunt Jedi exclusively. It is quite a terrifying combination, making us even more curious if they will return for the last two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan is a powerful Jedi, but he is still very much trying to reconnect with his Jedi past after 10-years of isolation. If these Purge Troopers come after him, alongside the Inquisitors, it will certainly be a difficult battle for Obi-Wan.
(featured image: Respawn Entertainment)
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