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“Into exile, I must go. Failed, I have.” With these words to Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits), Yoda (Frank Oz) kicked off the final stage of his life, a stage which he would spend in hiding. With Darth Vader hunting down surviving Jedi while Imperial forces assumed control of the galaxy, a life of exile enabled the Jedi to bide his time and prepare the next generation to overthrow the Sith.
Throughout Star Wars shows and films, Jedi have hidden for a variety of reasons. These reasons often didn’t give the Jedi much of a choice in where they hid, but some of these locations were undeniably better than others.
Coruscant’s Underworld
Every city has locations that cater to the criminal underworld. In Coruscant’s case, the underworld was a literal place. The capital planet of the galaxy was a beautiful and impressive city that sprawled across the entire planet’s surface. But many levels down, under all the high-rises and air traffic, was an area so separated from the gleaming surface that it functioned as another city altogether.
Large ventilation shafts granted air and access from the surface to the underworld. Much of the underworld consisted of old construction that had long been abandoned. Only the poor were stuck in this dark part of the city and criminals could operate largely unchecked in its shadows. Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) spent some time hiding in the underworld after being framed for bombing the Jedi temple. This dangerous location was not a desirable place to hide, but her experience helped prepare her for a life in hiding after the Empire conquered the galaxy.
Dagobah
Dagobah was a remote planet covered in swamps. Though uninhabited by sentient beings, it teemed with living creatures. It boasted a powerful Force connection. This Force connection was primarily dark and centered on the Cave of Evil, a location where Jedi were tested by dark visions. The powerful Force presence helped mask Yoda’s own overwhelming presence and helped him to remain hidden from Vader.
The swamp planet was a pragmatic choice for a Jedi Master who needed to remain hidden while exploring the deeper mysteries of the Force. Yoda was even able to communicate with Jedi across the galaxy via the Force when they entered temples. That said, it certainly feels more “exile” than “retreat.” No one chooses to take a prolonged vacation in a swamp. Of course, that’s a human-centric evaluation of Dagobah; Someone of Yoda’s species who enjoys feasting on frogs might feel right at home.
Tatooine
Anakin’s (Hayden Christensen) rant about sand has been joked about often, but was he wrong? Sand getting everywhere is the worst part of a beach trip, but it’s all Tatooine has to offer since its oceans have long run dry. Tatooine was a hard place to live with constant threats from crime lords, conflict with Tuskens, massive predators, and the inherent dangers of a desert climate.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) hid here watching over Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he grew up. This hiding place was chosen so that Luke could live with family members. Important as that may be, he got the worse end of the deal as his twin sister got to hide in a much nicer place.
The Ghost
Caleb Dume (Freddie Prinze Jr.) was a padawan who survived Order 66. Eventually, he took on the name Kanan Jarrus met a gifted pilot named Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall). The two fell in love and Kanan wound up living on Hera’s ship, the Ghost, and fighting in the Rebellion. Star Wars: Rebels follows the adventures of the Ghost’s crew.
The Ghost was a VCX-100 light freighter that had been modified for rebel missions and housing the crew. The ship offered Kanan something the other hiding Jedi did not have: freedom. A stealthy ship constantly on the move meant Kanan got to experience a variety of worlds and to maintain a number of friendships. This came at a cost, though, as direct involvement in the Rebellion resulted in the discovery of the Jedi survivor and attacks from the Inquisitors. Other Jedi could not afford this risk.
Ahch-To
Ahch-To was a planet covered in oceans and rocky islands. The Jedi Order was born on this planet and it held their first temple and the original Jedi texts. It offered a blend of rich Jedi history and beautiful scenery. Luke Skywalker exiled himself on Ahch-To after his failure with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the destruction of the new temple.
The isolated Ahch-To didn’t offer much in the way of amenities, but it did have everything you need to survive. All in all, it’s an appealing location if you want to be alone for a long time.
Alderaan
Alderaan only gets a little screen time in an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the end of Revenge of the Sith, and for a few brief moments in A New Hope before being blown to pieces, but the comics elaborate on its characteristics. In Princess Leia issue 2, Bail Organa says Alderaan is known as “the planet of beauty.” It had a rich history, beautiful landscapes, and impressive cities which were built to respect the planet’s natural beauty.
Although the planet was destroyed before Leia (Carrie Fisher) began her training, Alderaan seems like a great place to spend your childhood hiding from your Sith father. It is certainly nicer than Tatooine, and Leia was raised by the planet’s royalty. Alderaan did put Leia much closer to the conflict with the Empire, but she developed street smarts for navigating the galaxy sooner than Luke as a result.
Secret Temple
Luke constructed his new Jedi temple on a lush, forest-covered planet. So far, that planet has not been identified, but the Mandalorian, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), visited in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. That episode offered an extensive look at the planet as Luke trained Grogu. It’s a beautiful world that looks like an excellent space for a retreat while you learn the ways of the Force.
It seems to offer a great balance of desirability and safety since it wasn’t destroyed by an external threat, but by someone on the inside who had been corrupted.