Full Series Alexsandr "Hot" Kallus

I want to see the return of the white ISB uniform.

 

Does anybody know what kind of pistol Imperial SideBurn(ISB) Agent Kallus was using in the Season 2 trailer?

 

I don't remember it much, looked kinda retro like this:

 

Whatever it is, it is clear Kallus does not like standard issue guns! It is a nice trait for this character, and perfectly in line with his ISB identity allowing him to be a little more choosy with his guns.
Perhaps he even took it from another fallen foe. I think that would add another dimension to him. He seems like that kind of guy.

 

Maybe he just grabbed the nearest blaster he could find, or its a prototype. The blaster above is from the Tie Fighter Pilot, Hasbro started remaking the blaster for the Tie Pilots recently.

 

Gah! I know what happens in the Season 2 premiere but can't go into detail about the episode without ruining the experience for people. Not to mention getting struck with the ban-hammer. Right in the face. At least there's only a few more days to go.

I hate to be vague, but when you get to watch the episode and fully understand what's going in that scene... well, I suspect that Kallus intentionally left his stolen Bo-rifle out of his personal inventory and replaced it with a more 'normal' looking gun. I doubt most people would know what a Lasat Honour Guard's Bo-Rifle would look like, but with what happens in that particular sequence, it's possible Kallus doesn't want to pique peoples interest or arouse suspicion.

While we don't know yet know the capabilities of that blaster pistol, it's probably safe to say that while the Bo-Rifle presumably has a slower rate of fire (heavier recoil, etc), it is more powerful - Kallus is a calculating guy who really, really enjoys combat, and so I do think that there's an ulterior psychological motive for him to discard his usual favoured trophy weapon in exchange for a less 'exotic' weapon which could pass for a standard issue model, at a glance, to the regular citizen... but maybe I'm just full of Bantha poo-doo.

Perhaps we'll get an updated SWR Visual Guide covering the second season, which will confirm what model that weapon is - though I'd prefer to see the information online rather than having to buy numerous reference books for my lore fix! Here's hoping that it will be featured on the starwars.com Siege of Lothal episode gallery and there'll be confirmation of the blaster pistol's origin, such as if it's another trophy weapon taken from a previous opponent or if it's a prototype only available to specific branches (such as the ISB/Imperial Intelligence, etc) within the Empire, etc.

 

Quite a lot of 'spy/secret agent' characters do tend to be portrayed as having some sort of signature/favourite sidearm, right back to James Bond. I don't know what that gun actually is or how it rates in-universe but he probably has some sort of personal attachment to it and makes the most of not being just another drone who lacks the independence to pick their own weapons.

 

I've always thought if Kallus dies it has to be ironic and make a sort of poetic justice.

For example the Disruptor mentioned in the first season got me thinking he'd be the one hit maybe he loses it in a fight with Zeb and it falls into the hands of a fellow agent or storm trooper and when they use it, they hit him instead leaving how he dies off panel to highlight how bad it actually was.

Is it bad I'd like to see a certain character from the Agent of the Empire comic series make an appearance?
Very unlikely since we're talking a Dark Horse Comic, but it would be nice to see other Agents so we get an idea on where Kallus stands in the ISB.

Yularen making an appearance would be really nice though... guess they won't read that!

 

A little review of Kallus in TSoL:

His character seems to be slowly established. He continues to be ruthless to achieve his goals, he also continues to be fearless in the face of the enemy, and he continues to be quite a fighter. Standing alone against the Rebel crew with a handgun...
Unlike what I expected at first, I think we can state that he is more the enforcer than the strategic planner, but he is very good at that. Vader also confirmed what I believed before: when the force user does not fail, Kallus is successful too.

His rank is still a mystery to me. Vader has chosen him as direct subordinate (and that works out extremely well! Both in-universe and as an element of the TV show), and he gives orders to even Admirals. Is it because he is Vader's executive officer or because he is ISB?

Setting up Tua and killing her... not nice, but it fits the character. Excellent villain.

 

Yes, he and Vader seemed to work very well together.

Spoiler

As for him being Vader's direct subordinate, well with Gov. Pryce apparently still off-world and both The Inquisitor and Minister Tua both dead, maybe the idea is that he's the next highest-ranking Imperial on the planet. He did work directly with the former two in S1 after all.

 

Well yeah... as I hoped: he could be the Imperial Wedge. Everybody around him dies and he gets through all of it.
So far, the show is totally heading in that direction. I like that.

 

It does seem that he is intended for better things. Tua, Grint and Aresko are all terminally fired, Tarkin is nowhere to be seen (but still around off screen), Vader seems content to let the Inquisitors take over... Kallus looks like he might get to be an active presence in his own right instead of just hanging around as a lackey. Perhaps he gets sent along with the Inquisitors as Vader's 'personal representative' - they do seem to get along pretty well, oddly enough.

 

But then his ISB identity is more of a problem than useful: the ISB does not run the show as much as it controls those who do, being the state security. He may be an interim solution, but governing a planet would seriously detract from the ISB mission, especially since he is still the only ISB member on the planet.

Actually this is probably what I dislike the most about that character: his ISB affiliation is pretty meaningless most of the time. I wish Filoni would embrace the opportunities this affiliation offers, like really dirty counter insurgency stuff. So far his counter insurgency activities were entirely conventional and could have been handled by the Imperial Army, too.

By the way, I am not surprised Vader and Kallus like each other. Both are warriors, both are ruthless and fearless, and very good at their job. They have got a lot more in common than Tarkin and Vader.

 

It'd be kind of amusing if he was that "cockroach" kind of character who constantly survives/weasels his way out of trouble when everyone else is dropping like flies all around him.

(Vader begins choking random flunky): "You have failed me for the last time."

Random flunky: "Why are you punishing me? It was Agent Kallus's operation, he let them escape."

Vader: "His sideburns, I must know more about them. Truly it must be the will of the Force that they are so glorious."

Kallus (standing in the corner thinking to himself): "Never shave these things, EVER!"

 

So what did everyone think of Kallus' glance back at Vader before leaving the room? I kind of took it as Kallus saw, for a moment, that Vader had a boss he had to answer to. And while Vader was successful in routing the Rebels, he wasn't completely victorious. I think the glance, to me, reads as "Hmmmm, even the great Darth Vader has limits after all, perhaps I can exploit it." Even Kallus is playing the Game of Sith.

 

Kallus actually gives two looks at Vader:

The first one is just after "clear the bridge". Here Kallus first looks at Konstantine, as if to send him away, and then turns to Vader, half leaving but also half waiting for Vader. Maybe he thought for a split second that Vaders order did not include him. Considering their excellent cooperation this could be a reasonable thought. Also, remember, he is ISB and therefore privy to stuff regular Navy officers like Konstantine are not.

The second one is after he realizes he has to leave too, shortly before the door closes. He is surely wondering what is secret enough to send him away - him, the ISB officer. I think he knows who Vader is talking too though.

 

I think the show may be leaning towards Kallus as the main baddie of the series, because Our Heroes can't interact / fight Tarkin and Vader all that much, they'd be destined to lose simply due to continuity of the Star Wars saga history. It's limited how many stories they can tell vs. those antagonists. Also, after Oyelowo's star rising in the past year, they realize they have a great actor that they can work with. Sure, they'll be more Inquistors and Vader showing up but basically Kallus would be running the show.

The thing is, they kinda scrapped Lothal in the most recent episode, is Kallus going to venture out into space to catch those Rebels? Hell, I'd be okay with it. Get him off planet and running a Star Destroyer down their throats!

 

Kallus was indeed confirmed to have a 'tremendous' role in Season 2! Here's hoping Disney don't have Kallus go totally OOC-stupid for contrived plot reasons which results in his death.

Anyway, this is my take on the odd looks: We've seen Kallus get burned by Tarkin (there's just something about a big, strapping stoic man who suddenly looks like a nervous, scolded schoolboy - ahem), and now he's been burned by Vader - though in a different way; it looked like Kallus was attempting to form some kind of camaraderie with Vader concerning the victory over the rebels, but then Vader was like 'Whatever. Get out.' :')

Apologies for parroting this yet again, but over the last few episodes in Season 1 and now with this episode (but right at the end), Kallus' facial expressions have suggested that there's something going on below the surface but it's difficult to discern exactly what emotions he's experiencing - particularly as he's a reserved, observant and manipulative (and of course, deeply unpleasant) character... Damn it - we need a short story from his perspective!

Kallus looked like he felt awkward or unsure of himself because he might be starting to feel very hard-worked with the pressure, yet under appreciated. In the numerous guide books available, he's said to have a superiority complex, yet with the snubs by Tarkin and Vader (the top dogs below the Emperor), his dignity and his pride are likely being eroded so he could start to feel under-valued/resentful, i.e and thus not making as much difference on ensuring stability within the galaxy as he'd like to think because the rebels keep slipping out from his grasp.

Of particular interest to me is how his relationship with the two new Inquisitors is going to play out - it would be a surprise if he forms something akin to an alliance with one of them. However, when the rebels keep slipping from their clutches, it's possible that his new Inquisitor friends won't have the same icy professionalism as the previous Inquisitor did - which could result in Kallus being pushed, inch by inch, before the figurative bus. He might decide he'd rather desert than die in the Empire's service. Given his background and attitude towards lawlessness and disorder, it seems unlikely he would become a pirate or anything related to the criminal underworld... but you know what they say about desperate times.

We need more development for Kallus - I love the Ghost's crew, but as I mentioned to one of my lovely friends on Tumblr, if you'll pardon the corruption of the adage: for me, familiarity breeds boredom. Disney should really develop the Rebels antagonists and have a separate storyline plot for them - every time we've seen the Imperials, it's either been schemes, threats or executions - there's no elaboration on their pasts, if they have families, etc.

To summarise the above, I want villains who are actually fleshed out and given nuance. I don't want more cardboard cutout villains whose sole purpose is to snarl, look scary, yet have nothing else to them and die in droves.

On another note, I absolutely loved how deliciously evil Kallus was in the Siege of Lothal. He's the most despised person on Tumblr right now, particularly amongst the Mallus shippers and Tua fans - yet he's still my favourite character precisely because of his conviction (as messed up as it is) and drive. Kallus is like the nastier version of Jahan Cross or the evil space-KGB version of James Bond and I love it: suave, smooth, ruthless and very capable. Oyelowo's voice-acting was exceptional, too, conveying the perfect mixture of feigned concern, sly malice and dark amusement.

We'd seen few examples to show just how he became a senior ISB agent; yes, he boasted about his part in the Lasat genocide, but we hadn't seen just how, well, vicious he could be. The false flag operation was Vader's idea, but to see Kallus participating in it and being gleefully smug (quite unlike his usual scowling self) when escorting Tua to her death was quite disturbing.

Also, did anyone find it interesting how the relationship between the two changed over the course of the show? I don't mean that in a romantic way, either. It was nuanced in an intelligent way - for me, it was superior to shoehorning in what would have been a contrived romance. (Due to the possible implications of a trusted ISB agent becoming susceptible to corruption/incompetence/negligence, I'm also quite certain that the director of COMPNOR would have had serious words to say about getting involved with a figure in government).

In Droids in Distress, Kallus was rather smooth and accommodating to Tua, but then in Empire Day and Vision of Hope, he was clearly irritated yet still respectful towards her. In the Siege of Lothal, while polite, he became incredibly smug and even condescending - it illustrated just how far their working relationship had deteriorated. It was clear that Kallus and even the Inquisitor did not like Tua, and I interpreted that with Vader's arrival as overseer, Kallus knew that Tua’s days were numbered and couldn’t wait to get rid of her - and his attitude showed it. That... troll.

Here's looking forward to more trolling from Agent Sideburns! I can only hope he survives beyond the show's running.

 

Well said!

Regarding his future relations to the coming inquisitors... He did not like the first inquisitor very much. Actually, in Vision of Hope, he voiced his contempt about the inquisitor's narrow-minded mission goals (i.e. concentrating on the Jedi, rather than the whole group). After having worked with Vader, and having seen how powerful he is, Kallus probably won't look forward to cooperate with lower inquisitor ranks again.

Anyway, what makes Kallus so interesting is that he has no force powers. We expect Sith and Dark Siders to be evil; they are almost cartoonishly evil, corrupted by a supernatural force. But Kallus is 'just' a man, who likes his despicable job. Oyelowo's acting indeed adds a lot to this impression. It is a perfect blend of professionalism and joy, without totally being an over-the-top Bond-villain and without being a mindless automaton. Indeed like the KGB or Gestapo professionals, who are convinced they have to do what they do and do it with passion, but also joy. We love to hate them.

I only hope that Kallus does not get too ambitious. His professionalism should remain the defining trait of his character.

 

Thank you! I wish I was actually succinct when expressing myself, but never-mind. Ramble, ramble it is. :3

The professionalism and absence of the Force are a few of the many reasons why I find Kallus fascinating - he's forced to rely on his wits and physical prowess, and drives himself hard to achieve his goals because he truly believes in the Empire.

Speaking about Bond villains and loopy behaviour, I just hope that we don't see Kallus roll around the floor giggling again (Droids in Distress) - it was like he got high on glitterstim and it was too much. IMO, he's terrifying when he's 'normal,' or rather when he's calm, calculating and casually provocative, such as when he 'reassured' Tua in the Siege of Lothal. It's the stark contrast of the fake charm/friendliness against his schemes which make him menacing and yet very human - you can find someone like that in the real world. Quite unlike the Inquisitor and his cheesy 'Bwahahaha! I'm going to trash your house! Kill your dog! Kill your goldfish!' theatrical speeches. I thoroughly enjoyed Isaacs performance, but the character he played... meh.

Re-watching that bridge scene where Kallus gushed to Vader about his victory over the rebels and to clarify the points in my previous post, I think that Kallus probably expected Vader to acknowledge his efforts in contributing towards the success of Vader’s plans with praise or a commendation. Also, as Kallus enjoys rooting out and destroying insurgents, he probably also expected Vader to take the praise well. But no, Vader doesn't even acknowledge the victory or Kallus' comments.

To break the scene down, after Vader brusquely orders him and Konstantine to clear the bridge, just before the shot turns to show the facial expressions of Kallus and Konstantine, you see Kallus flinch like he’s being struck. And then when you do get to see his facial expression, his jaw has dropped open before he cedes to Vader’s order and gives him a slightly annoyed ‘Fine. The bridge is yours’ type of look. He was clearly surprised and upset (though the latter was better hidden) at Vader’s response.

Throughout their time working together, Tarkin is openly dismissive, mocking and contemptuous towards Kallus - enough to throw Kallus off balance (though the executions of Aresko and Grint also played a part in that) and make him behave in a tentative, uncertain manner.

With Vader, they were on the same wavelength and worked together extremely well with cool efficiency - however, upon succeeding in turning the people of Lothal against the rebels and stomping on the rebel faction's fleet, Vader treated Kallus with indifference. Like he was insignificant.

So, that's a vicious savaging to his pride - made even worse when it's come from men serving directly below the Emperor. Despite being a capable, genocidal, murderous, arrogant *******, and a grown man, Kallus is a bit of an insecure little boy at heart, isn’t he? LOL. I do enjoy that we're seeing his 'enormous ego and superiority complex' getting worn away at gradually; it's a great opportunity to develop his character beyond the somewhat two-dimensional 'cold, ruthless, fanatical ISB douche.'

If anyone managed to read the SWR magazine comic, Kallus Hunt, when Kallus spoke about his shared history with Jovan to Aresko, Kallus mentioned that he may not have graduated from the Academy without the help of Jovan. So, was Kallus a poor achiever in his youth? Did he come from a troubled background? Was he ill-disciplined and didn’t take anything seriously? In short, in addition to his long years of service to the Empire, did his background also play a part in giving Kallus a complex? I hope that Disney will expand on what made Kallus into what he is. Because if not.... FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU!

And we never did get confirmation of that blaster pistol Kallus used or his reasons for doing so. Oh, well! Perhaps we should go with the unofficial explanation that it was his preferred blaster pistol taken from a dead enemy or from the Empire's arsenal, and that he also didn't want to make the people of Lothal suspicious by using a rare, alien weapon from a race almost wiped out by the Empire. IMO, they're legitimate and reasonable assumptions.

 

They REALLY need to take care of this agent kallus *******

 

What like, shave his head and burns and toss him in a cage with a starved Yarna d'al' Gargan.

 

In the old EU the Inquisitors were a part of Imperial Intelligence... the arch rivals of the ISB. No telling if that's true still or not, but if it was that would automatically warrant a certain level of friction.

 

That doesnt appear to exist on Rebels. ISB calls in Inquisitors to deal with Jedi or Jedi-like beings that they cannot deal with on their own and it appears to be their directive call them in.

 

So as per some new clips an stuff Kallus gets a promotion from agent to

Spoiler

Commander? since that makes sense.