The Fifth Brother, portrayed by actor Sung Kang in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, is one of the most dangerous and feared members of the Inquisitorius, the Empire’s elite group of Force-sensitive Jedi hunters. Trained in the dark arts of the Force and lightsaber combat, this Inquisitor played a significant role in the Empire’s efforts to wipe out the remaining Jedi following Order 66. The Fifth Brother appeared prominently in the Star Wars Rebels animated series and has become a recognizable figure in the lore of the Star Wars universe.
Origins and Recruitment into the Inquisitorius
The Fifth Brother’s journey began after the collapse of the Jedi Order during the rise of the Galactic Empire. Once a Jedi Knight, the character fell to the dark side, either during or after the execution of Order 66. Palpatine and Darth Vader orchestrated the rise of the Inquisitorius, recruiting former Jedi and Force-sensitive individuals to track down and eliminate the Jedi survivors.
The Grand Inquisitor led this group, and the Fifth Brother quickly ascended the ranks due to exceptional skills and a relentless commitment to his mission. This character became known for ruthless efficiency in hunting Jedi, mercilessly pursuing those who had escaped the initial purge.
The Role in Star Wars Rebels
The Fifth Brother made a significant impact in Star Wars Rebels, where the Empire’s Jedi hunters pursued the Ghost crew and their Jedi members, Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. Working alongside the Seventh Sister, another Inquisitor, the Fifth Brother was relentless in the quest to destroy these rebels and their Jedi companions. The Inquisitors, as seen in the series, served directly under Darth Vader’s command and were equipped with advanced training in lightsaber combat and the dark side of the Force.
Fierce battles with Kanan and Ezra demonstrate the Fifth Brother’s prowess. One of the most notable engagements occurred when the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister attempted to capture the Jedi on Malachor, a location of great Sith significance. Despite their combined strength, the Jedi managed to outmaneuver the Inquisitors, but the Fifth Brother’s menace left a lasting impression on the audience.
The Fifth Brother’s Lightsaber and Combat Style
The Fifth Brother wielded the signature double-bladed spinning lightsaber, a weapon of choice among the Inquisitors. This lightsaber not only allowed for devastating offensive maneuvers but also acted as a defensive tool, capable of deflecting blaster fire and disarming opponents quickly. The spinning function of the blade provided a significant advantage in combat, overwhelming adversaries with its unpredictability and speed.
In combat, the Fifth Brother employed a brute force approach, focusing on overpowering opponents with sheer strength and aggression. This method contrasted with the more agile and cunning tactics of the Seventh Sister, yet the two often fought as a deadly team. The Fifth Brother’s intimidation and physical presence on the battlefield made this Inquisitor a formidable opponent.
Encounters with Other Jedi
The Fifth Brother had several intense confrontations with surviving Jedi during the reign of the Galactic Empire, proving to be a formidable threat. One of the primary targets of the Fifth Brother’s relentless pursuit was Kanan Jarrus, a former Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66. Throughout Star Wars Rebels, Kanan and the Fifth Brother clashed multiple times, with each encounter further escalating the stakes. The Fifth Brother’s brute strength and combat style provided a direct contrast to Kanan’s more measured approach to battle.
Another significant encounter involved the Fifth Brother hunting down Ezra Bridger, the young Force-sensitive Padawan of Kanan. As a key figure in the rebellion, Ezra became a prime target for the Empire, and the Fifth Brother, alongside the Seventh Sister, relentlessly pursued him. These confrontations pushed Ezra’s abilities as a Jedi, forcing him to grow stronger in the Force to evade or counter the Fifth Brother’s powerful attacks.
The Fifth Brother also crossed paths with Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi who had left the Order before its fall but remained active in the fight against the Empire. Ahsoka proved to be a more seasoned and experienced opponent, and her encounters with the Fifth Brother showed the limitations of the Inquisitors when faced with a well-trained Jedi. In one of the more notable battles, Ahsoka confronted both the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister, easily outmatching them and demonstrating her superior skill in lightsaber combat. Ahsoka’s swift and calculated maneuvers left the Fifth Brother and his partner no chance of victory.
In another confrontation on the ancient Sith world of Malachor, the Fifth Brother found himself facing Maul, the former Sith Lord. Maul, now operating as a rogue dark side user, had his own agenda involving Ezra and the Sith holocron. Despite the Fifth Brother’s considerable abilities, Maul’s vast experience and mastery of the dark side quickly overwhelmed the Inquisitor. In a swift and deadly encounter, Maul killed the Fifth Brother, demonstrating that even an elite Jedi hunter could fall to the power of a true Sith Lord.
The Fall of the Fifth Brother
The Fifth Brother’s pursuit of the Ghost crew and surviving Jedi came to a tragic end on the planet Malachor. In one of the most intense battles in Star Wars Rebels, the Fifth Brother, alongside the other Inquisitors, confronted Maul, the former Sith Lord who had survived the Clone Wars. Maul, now operating as a rogue dark side user, had his own designs on Ezra Bridger and the Sith holocron hidden on Malachor.
In a swift and brutal confrontation, Maul killed the Fifth Brother and the other Inquisitors with relative ease, demonstrating that even highly trained Jedi hunters were no match for his experience and raw dark side power. This marked the end of the Fifth Brother’s story in the series but cemented his legacy as one of the elite hunters in the Empire’s ranks.
Legacy of the Fifth Brother
Although the Fifth Brother met a violent end, the character’s legacy continues to resonate within the broader Star Wars narrative. As a key member of the Inquisitorius, the Fifth Brother symbolized the Empire’s desperation to eliminate the last vestiges of the Jedi Order.
The role of the Fifth Brother in Star Wars Rebels demonstrated the brutal nature of the Empire’s crackdown on Force-sensitive individuals and highlighted the Inquisitors’ importance as enforcers of the Emperor’s will. The methods and combat style of the Fifth Brother provided a stark contrast to the more noble ways of the Jedi, further emphasizing the dangerous allure of the dark side.
The Inquisitorius, of which the Fifth Brother was a central figure, continues to play a significant role in Star Wars media. As an extension of the Sith’s influence in the galaxy, the Inquisitors represent the ultimate corruption of former Jedi and Force-sensitive beings, twisted by the dark side to serve the Emperor’s brutal agenda. Their stories serve as a grim reminder of what happens to those who fall to the dark side and the relentless nature of the Empire in its quest for total dominance over the Force.
