Full Series Fenn Rau

Okay, so, judging from Rau's statement that Maul used the Darksaber to divide Mandalorians, I think we can safely say either he and the Protectors are the same group that guarded Satine (and were opposing Death Watch and Maul from that standpoint) or hold to Bo-Katan's belief that only Mandalorians can rule Mandalore. It also sounds like it was a major fracture among the Mandalorians.

And here's a theory on why Skull Squadron could operate as Republican Mercenaries; they were simply on loan to Republic forces, and the New Mandalorian government supported this because using the warrior traditions outside of Mandalorian space was seen as a productive and practical outlet. The New Mandalorian government was overall about disarming and staying off a war footing, but was not ultra-pacifistic, considering their cops and guards.

 

Fenn's new armor from the Rebels Concept Art:


Best shot of his new helmet we've had. It kind of looks like it shares similarities to Pre Viszla's blaster helmet, but without the "horns" and the lower parts of the cheek, and the top part of the "visor".

 

I was rewatching Protector of Concord Dawn, and in light of the confirmation that the Protectors are the same group as Satine's guards, I found that line Rau has about how he "fought one losing war for the Jedi" has some interesting implications. Finn's already got this clear respect for Jedi abilities and martial ethos, even when he rejects their idealism, and here we see him directly tie in working for the Republic as working *for* the Jedi. I really like how it implies that the Protectors might have a more measured opinion of their conflicts with the Jedi, since they'd be on the front lines against and alongside Jedi as enemies and allies, at least in comparison to the views someone like Pre Vizsla has of them.

The Protectors may have more clear respect for the Jedi because they've had enough conflict to recognize the parallels between their own organization and the Order; they thus recognize that Protector objectives and Jedi rules may not align, but that you can trust the Jedi and their word. Meanwhile, Clan and House leaders would be less likely to encounter Jedi to the same degree, and when they did, it might be almost always as enemies. Thus you get why Fenn the Protector starts his Darksaber story talking about a Mandalorian Jedi while Viszla's begins with the lightsaber being stolen; the Protectors would see being accepted into the Jedi Order as an honor, while Vizsla does not see that distinction.

 

So... what would you guys prefer for Fenn’s fate given events in The Mandalorian?

Is he dead in the Purge, possibly as one of the biggest elements that collapsed Bo-Katan’s authority alongside losing the darksaber...

...Or is it possible he supports a different Mandalore candidate now?

 

Talk about a great idea!

...though now I’m tempted for them to do a full on live-action flashback to Sabine’s duel as well, just so we can see Gar Saxon in life action as well. Titus and Pullo, reunited!... As enemies!

 

Plus... that armor of his is really sweet, and I want to see it in live-action.

...And his Fang Fighter as well.

 

It actually just occurred to me that, as much as I consider Sabine to be a clear cut Pro-Republic, Pro-Jedi Mando... how much do those descriptors fit Rau?

He seems to have a positive view of Tarre Viszla that Pre Viszla didn’t share, was implicitly working as a Rebellion member between his second and third appearances, and the Protectors seemed to share Satine’s own overall positive if wary view of the Old Republic and Jedi Order.

How much is it possible he might have political motives for viewing Sabine as a good candidate as well?

 

Thats’s a Pretty good rundown, but looking back, I think there’s even more than that.

His men seemed more wary of her affiliation at first, as a the Protectors fought Death Watch, and then she defeated him in battle and he didn’t act like she’d won his loyalty there... but instead when she struck back against Gar Saxon and arguably humbled him by acting more honorable again there.

I think her character impressed him markedly more than her heritage, since he would have known the good and bad of the main Viszla family, and that his opinion isn’t just based off Mandalorian traditions either.

He could be optimally primed to give Don the kind of critical analysis of Sabine’s strengths and weaknesses beyond the politics of her heritage and personal history, perhaps even offer a counter-argument when her designing the Duchess gets brought up.

 

I’m rewatching Rau’s first appearance now, and I actually noticed something that I think foreshadowed his eventual support of Sabine and work as a Rebel asset. He actually puts away his blaster after Kanan identifies himself as a Jedi, even though he was covering him as a Rebel. And he clearly states in both that episode and in his next appearance that he has no love for the Empire, and is only serving them because he’s grown weary and cynical of fighting whatever good fight there once was. He actually seems to still have a quiet admiration for the Jedi and hopes to see Mandalore outlast the Empire.

He actually works really well as a more heroic Mandalorian fallen into depression and despondency by the time of Rebels, who simply needed to be reminded why heroism was better than pragamatism.

 

The implication that Rau and the Protectors probably recognize and admire the honor of the Jedi in a kind of kinship is also a nice touch, especially in contrast to Death Watch’s very nationalistic type of “honor” that is exclusively for its own members and adherents.

If the Protectors show up again, they might be de facto the most righteous Mandalorian faction if Rau maintained his re-invigorated altruism from hanging out with the Ghost crew.

 

The Protectors have the moral advantage that's included in their very title - they protect Mandalore, whether the ruler, the planet, or the people. While this does mean that they can, in theory and likely in previous practice, protect a tyrant or despot, we also know that Rau was likely inducted into the Protectors of Satine’s New Mandalorian regime, who were willing to forsake even their traditional armor if need be to serve the peace and prosperity the New Mandalorians were arguing for.

It forms an interesting parallel with the Jedi as keepers of the peace and guardians of the Republic - which would play further into the obvious respect and politeness Rau gives Kanan even when employed by the Empire, as well as his reference to fighting a losing war “for the Jedi,” since there’s some ambiguity as to why Protector fighters were armored up and giving air superiority to Republic forces when the planet was neutral.

Perhaps there were some Protector volunteers who left to help the Republic out of a belief in the righteous strength of the Jedi, or Rau was already a pro-Jedi Mando before joining the Protectors?

*If* he and the Protectors show up again, their possible absence form Bo’s faction (since there is a chance they could be at her headquarters or such) could be a rather meaningful repudiation of her authority as a Pretender Mandalore.