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Leia Gets Her Dress

The small details and big lessons

of Forces of Destiny

Star Wars Forces of Destiny, Season 1, Episode 3, “Ewok Escape”

Writer: Jennifer Muro

In Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia is separated from the Endor strike team, finds a new friend in Wicket, and reappears as the Ewoks’ apparent guest of honor in Bright Tree Village, wearing a fancy new dress. Did the Ewoks make it for her? Did they just have a collection of dresses in a back hut? Did she request the dress? How did Princess Leia go from Combat Poncho Ready to Forest Dress Sheik? It was a question many had been asking since 1983 and we finally got the answer. It wasn’t on the big screen, in a novel, or even a comic book. The answer…as well as several other little details and fun canon morsels…arrived in the 2017 YouTube animated series Force of Destiny.

Written initially by Jennifer Muro and later Nicole Dubuc, the series has the daunting duty of being directly aimed at a younger generation of Star Wars fans—and in many cases completely new younger fans—while also attempting to satisfy the old guard in this current era of mining every corner of Star Wars content for canon implications and saga-expanding moments while focusing on the female characters in Star Wars.

I wouldn’t have been brave enough to try that.

Yet Jennifer Muro came out swinging with the first eight episodes. Seamlessly working in charming, offbeat fun stories with traditionally big Star Wars morality lessons, Forces of Destiny is a bite-sized, delightful thrill. Combine this with the Hasbro line of action dolls and it’s the perfect recipe for Star Wars made for kids.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ADULTS? CAN ADULTS WATCH IT?

Calm down.

Yes. Yes, they can.

To date, the series has presented fans intriguing moments built around popular characters in previously never before seen—or even thought of—team-ups with other popular characters. It also led to a reunion of Clone Wars characters and voices fans thought they’d never see again. (This was before the celebrated return of The Clone Wars series.) And it even gave us Mark Hamill voicing Luke Skywalker in a tale set during the original trilogy! All impressive points on the resume of this micro series, but you might have easily overlooked all of this. Written this whole series off as kid’s stuff. But in every moment of this series, the DNA of Star Wars can be found. Forces of Destiny episodes aren’t love letters to Star Wars—they’re little postcards.

The series succeeds best when it has fun with the little corners of Star Wars where the saga doesn’t have time to slow down and provide us with those tiny details we crave. This is embodied best by the revelation of Leia’s dress. Was this a giant, perplexing issue for Star Wars fans? No. Not at all. However, it was discussed. People wondered. People joked about it. People wanted answers.

And answers they received! Leia and Wicket are leaving their Return of the Jedi interaction with the biker scouts when they run into some evil agents of the Empire, dreaded stormtroopers, harassing two other Ewoks. Without hesitation, Wicket jumps in to save the day. While the Empire is knee-deep in overlooking the might and threat of the Ewoks, Leia immediately sees an ally. She helps save the Ewoks and is presented with a gift. The dress we’ve known, loved, and questioned since 1983. She accepts the gift, asks for a spear, and cements a partnership that would eventually topple the Empire.

It’s perfect.

The series goes on to teach bigger themes for sure. Ahsoka learns the value of individuality from Yoda, something that would factor into her leaving the Jedi Order. Padmé shows her diplomatic acumen in solving problems. Jyn Erso, a criminal on the run, displays her good-natured heart in helping a young stranger. Time and time again, Forces of Destiny builds wonderful moments out of the saga’s core DNA and it constantly reminds fans the importance of passing on the love of Star Wars to the next generation. Small lessons and big reminders for everyone with the gift of answers for a generation in the making.