Star Wars canon and Legends collide in this incredible concept film that sees Mara Jade and Doctor Chelli Aphra team up. The old Star Wars Expanded Universe may not be canon anymore, but the stories and characters are still so fondly remembered. Nowhere is that more true than as regards Mara Jade, once the Emperor’s Hand, who ultimately became Luke Skywalker’s wife. Although Legends characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn have become canon, Mara is sadly still Legends-only.
An incredible concept film in the AFK webseries imagines how Mara Jade could work in canon. Here, the Emperor’s Hand crosses paths with Darth Vader’s “pet archaeologist,” Doctor Aphra, when the two are both sent to retrieve the same Jedi Holocron. It’s an incredible two-part adventure, filled with rich humor.
Mara Jade & Doctor Aphra Are Perfect Rivals
Doctor Aphra is Star Wars answer to Indiana Jones, albeit a lot more corrupt because she’s in it for the credits. This is the Star Wars galaxy, after all, where ancient artifacts aren’t just sought because they’re precious; they can also be incredibly powerful. She wound up catching the eye of Darth Vader himself, who forced Doctor Aphra to work for him. Aphra only escaped the deal when she faked her own death.
Mara was soaked in the corrupting influence of Imperial culture, and the idea she remained untainted is absurd.
Aphra is the perfect counterpart to Mara Jade, the Emperor’s Hand, who served the Emperor out of a misguided loyalty because she believed he wanted the best for the galaxy. Amusingly, the concept video shows Mara Jade in a lot more negative light than some of Timothy Zahn’s Legends novels set during this period, which does make sense; Mara was soaked in the corrupting influence of Imperial culture, and the idea she remained untainted is absurd.
The Sith tradition encourages rivalry between master and apprentice; it’s literally baked into the Sith Rule of Two, which encourages every apprentice to seek to replace their master. What few have considered, though, is that the inevitable and “natural” rivalry between Darth Vader and Palpatine would naturally mean their agents and emissaries often wound up working at crossed purposes as well, even violently so. The burgeoning (yet strangely comradely) rivalry between Mara Jade and Doctor Aphra here feels so very right.
Many viewers long to see Mara Jade brought back into Star Wars canon, and this concept film really does show how that’s possible. The best focus would be to look beyond the idea of Mara marrying Luke, and instead focus on setting her up as a villain – so any redemption story truly feels impactful. This is definitely the approach Star Wars should take.
Source: AFK webseries
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Upcoming Star Wars Movies |
Release Date |
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The Mandalorian & Grogu |
May 22, 2026 |
