Warning! Spoilers ahead for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #12!
The High Republic era centuries earlier. IDW Publishing's Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures proves that the Jedi could have been more powerful if they had embraced love instead of discouraging it.
Even though High Republic Jedi don't outright forbid attachments, the Order is obviously doing something to make its Padawans avoid such thoughts because the Padawan Lula Talisola has been struggling with these feelings for the last couple of issues. However, the moment she realizes the perfect utilization of love comes during the most important mission of her budding career. Lula is able to snag victory in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #12 by writer Daniel José Older, artists Harvey Tolibao and Pow Rodrix, colorist Rebecca Nalty and letterer Jake M. Wood.
In a crucial flashback, Lula re her master telling her long ago that Jedi must not be ruled by their feelings but that they can still care. Lula obviously fails to grasp what he meant all these years later. She has recently became overwhelmed by the love she has for her Padawan friends when those emotions soon cripple her with fear at the thought of losing them. As a result, she can't focus, even though she is the top-ranking Padawan, nor can she enjoy or feel excited about things she is ionate about. She even has trouble connecting to the Force. So, when she embarks on a critical mission to attack the villainous Nihil, these feelings understandably resurface when her best friend Zeen Mrala s her. At the most critical moment of the mission, she begins to realize that the Jedi can fall apart if they hold on too tightly to love but that they still can't shut the world out, either. And then it comes to her: It's all about balance. And that is what gives her the strength to be victorious.
Upon the introduction of the High Republic era, Star Wars made it abundantly clear that the Jedi were more relaxed about attachments during this time period than in the prequels. The fact that Lula comes to this epiphany the moment she achieves victory is proof that this mentality strengthened them. Meanwhile, the Jedi from the prequels actively denounce attachments, creating the logical impression that this must have weakened them based on how balancing her love empowers Lula. It's obviously what helps lead Anakin Skywalker towards the dark side as he was forced to keep his marriage to Pé Amidala a secret and ed Palpatine to save her. However, it's clear that some terrible tragedy must have happened during the High Republic to cause future Jedi to completely denounce attachments. It's possible, however, that this undisclosed event might have been caused in part by a Jedi being unable to find the balance that Lula does.
It's also intriguing that the Jedi of the High Republic are not only more accepting of attachments but even fear. Earlier in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, an imprisoned Padawan named Farzala is only able to save the day after he uses his fear as a motivator to break free. This utilization of such powerful emotions like love and fear undoubtedly can give Jedi strength but reining them in is another matter completely as failure to do so can lead to the dark side.
