When the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative officially launched in February 2021, Star Wars fans knew they were in for a number of new characters.
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In fact, Master Yoda is the only familiar face in this “untethered and unchained” new era of the Star Wars story. Set during the Golden Age of the Jedi Order 200 years before the Skywalker Saga prequel trilogy begins with Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), the High Republic has introduced us to characters like Jedi Knight Keeve Trennis, 15-year-old Jedi Knight Vernestra ‘Vern’ Rwoh, Wookiee Padawan Burryaga, and the villainous Nihil.
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One character nobody was expecting, though, is Geode — a literal rock with sentient properties. The character first appeared in Claudia Gray’s novel “Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark” and has now shown up again in a High Republic comic issue, “Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #6″.
ScreenRant confirmed Geode’s reappearance in the Star Wars universe on Twitter:
A rock named Geode who first appeared in The High Republic: Into the Dark novel just appeared In Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures 6.
A rock named Geode who first appeared in The High Republic: Into the Dark novel just appeared In Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures 6. https://t.co/j8TL4FYlTS pic.twitter.com/a6Jsx58oO5
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) July 31, 2021
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The Star Wars fan community is deeply divided about the polarizing character.
Stephen ‘The Star Wars Guru’ Ren shared a meme of Dwayne Johnson/The Rock clutching — you guessed it — a rock, writing:
Me protecting Geode with my life.
Me protecting Geode with my life.#StarWarsTheHighRepublic @claudiagray @djolder #StarWars pic.twitter.com/Gh6Vfebss3
— Stephen 'The Star Wars Guru' Ren (@TheStarWarsGuru) July 31, 2021
A fan named Noah is also a big Geode fan, sharing:
Finally caught up with The High Republic Adventures, and this is seriously one of my favorite Star Wars comics ever. Also, Qort and Geode being bff’s is something I never knew I needed until now.
Finally caught up with The High Republic Adventures, and this is seriously one of my favorite Star Wars comics ever. Also, Qort and Geode being bff’s is something I never knew I needed until now. pic.twitter.com/S9U2d5nY2I
— Noah (@keldorjedii) July 26, 2021
Even Phil Szostak, Lucasfilm’s creative arts manager has weighed in on the Geode controversy, noting:
Love me some Geode. The kyber crystals which power lightsabers and Imperial/First Order/Sith superweapons are also living rocks (minerals, technically) of the #StarWars universe, don’t ya know.
This is particularly fascinating because it gives a glimpse of how the High Republic team might have hit on the idea that a sentient rock was worth creating in the first place — Szostak’s inside info certainly is thought-provoking, at any rate.
Love me some Geode. The kyber crystals which power lightsabers and Imperial/First Order/Sith superweapons are also living rocks (minerals, technically) of the #StarWars universe, don’t ya know. https://t.co/XqjI2mGieI
— Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) March 9, 2021
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Others, though, still aren’t sure about this divisive character. Crabbok posted:
I absolutely love The High Republic. Well almost everything about the High Republic – I can certainly do without Geode. Seriously it’s a rock it’s not even a real person – everyone on the ship is too stoned to realize! Love everything else though! #StarWars
I absolutely love The High Republic. Well almost everything about the High Republic – I can certainly do without Geode. Seriously it's a rock it's not even a real person – everyone on the ship is too stoned to realize! Love everything else though! #StarWars
— Crabbok (@Crabbok) July 22, 2021
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Patuu has some strong opinions about Geode’s place in the Star Wars franchise:
If the droid doesn’t become a Jedi, then no issue here xx. Geode is def stupid tho. Star Wars is campy and humorous but it takes itself much more seriously than a comic relief rock that’s purposefully nonsensical. George would never. That’s Star Trek, not Star Wars.
If the droid doesn’t become a Jedi, then no issue here xx. Geode is def stupid tho. Star Wars is campy and humorous but it takes itself much more seriously than a comic relief rock that’s purposefully nonsensical. George would never. That’s Star Trek, not Star Wars.
— patuu | sw and marvel era✨ (@ramquinluv) July 4, 2021
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Despite the polarizing nature of the character, Szostak’s defense of Geode makes it seem as though he isn’t going away anytime soon. At this time, the High Republic era hasn’t appeared onscreen, but that will change with Leslye Headland’s (Russian Doll) upcoming series, The Acolyte.
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We know little about this show right now, but it’s certainly possible that Geode could make a live-action appearance down the road — after all, his lifespan is presumably quite long…
What do you think about Geode? Is there a place for him in the Star Wars galaxy?