There are many unique ways of life in the Star Wars universe. The daily life of a Jedi, for example, is full of intricate traditions and ancient ceremonies. The Jedi Order is a cross between a religious institution and a military branch, combining both trappings. When a youngling is prepared to assemble their primary weapon, they turn to the ages-old wisdom of the droid professor Huyang.
In the early days ofthe Star Wars franchise, many details were deliberately left blank. Over the years, additional sequels and spinoffs have filled every notable gap. Some questions sound dull, but fascinating answers make them worthwhile. It turns out that the previously unnamed character who helps Jedi create their lightsabers is a truly special droid who raises many new questions.
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Who is Huyang?
Professor Huyang is an architect droid tasked withguiding young Jedi throughthe ritual known as the Gathering. Younglings are expected to face their fears and failures to gain mastery over their dark side and find balance in the Force. Once a Force-sensitive child has defeated their internal demons, they must construct the weapon they’ll rely on when fighting external ones. Building a lightsaber requires deep soul-searching and an innate connection to the Force. Once a youngling has discovered their personalized kyber crystal and seen its distinct glow, the technical details of the lightsaber require a learned hand. Huyang is the mighty architect who helps younglings construct their lightsabers. The character was introduced inThe Clone Warsand will appear again inthe upcomingAhsokaseries.
No one knows where Huyang came from. He was constructed over 25,000 years before the events of the films. Younglings shared rumors about Huyang’s origins. They most prominently suggested that he inexplicably appeared at the Jedi Temple in a big blue box. Huyang lives on a Jedi ship called the Crucible, which takes younglings to and from a planet called Ilum for the Gathering. He’s been doing his job for over a thousand generations. He offered his aid to the seeminglyancient Jedi Master Yodaand Mace Windu. Almost every notable Jedi has spent some time with Huyang, but he very rarely leaves his post. Huyang is one of the most essential beings in the universe, though the people of his order rarely sing his praises. After a thousand generations, Huyang is a linchpin in the Jedi Order and an educator of the highest order.
Did Huyang Survive Order 66?
Every Star Wars character affiliated with the Jedi Order must face one devastating question. How did they fare against the sudden reversal of fortune andwildly successful genocide thataffected the group? Huyang’s fate was left in the dark for a long time. The character has only appeared inThe Clone Wars, the series in which he debuted. However, Huyang will be a part of Disney Plus’s upcomingAhsokasolo series. The trailer depicts Huyang meeting Ahsoka again after years apart. She played a substantial role in Huyang’s one significant story beat inThe Clone Wars. That series featured one of Huyang’s routine trips to Ilum being interrupted by a sudden pirate attack. Huyang is dismantled during the battle but reassembled after the younglings are safe. Huyang presumably returned to his duties after that terrible outing. Hisfate during Order 66has never been depicted. However, his presence in theAhsokatrailer proves his survival. Huyang may have spent years out of order, but he will be a player in the new show. His one line, “Perhaps it is time to begin again,” suggests that he could be preparing to help the Jedi again.
Who Portrays Huyang?
InThe Clone WarsandAhsoka, Huyang is portrayed by David Tennant. That “big blue box” line is more than a non sequitur. It’s a meta-joke about the voice actor’s best-known performance as the 10th Doctor in the beloved BBC sci-fi series,Doctor Who. Though many fans still only know Tennant for his work in the suit and sneakers, the actor has enjoyed a tremendous body ofvaried roles over the years. Tennant portrayed Kilgrave in Marvel’sJessica Jonesand Crowley inGood Omens, receiving due praise for both performances. He’s a prolific voice actor with beloved characters like Scrooge McDuck under his belt. Tennant’s work as Huyang will reach a new audience in the upcoming series.
Huyang raises a lot of interesting questions. Why would a simple droid be charged with one of the most important moments in millions of Jedi’s lives? How has a machine become such a carefulstudent of the Force? Would the Jedi Order ever reach its height without him? Where did he go after the fall of the Jedi? Huyang could grow to be a beloved figure in the franchise if he’s ever given his day in the sun. Huyang did a necessary but thankless task for hundreds of thousands of years. Every Jedi knows his name, but the fan base hasn’t been as lucky.
