Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard

Presenting the Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard from the Star Wars Rebels toyline.

This will be a very short review. You'll realize why a little later on.

To the uninitiated, the Jedi Temple Guards were Jedi who were dedicated to the protection of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant - a position considered to hold great honor. As Jedi - to be distinguished from the regular non-Force Sensitive security guards - they reported directly to the Head of Security, which during the time of the Clone Wars was the Legendary Battlemaster, Jedi Master Cin Drallig.

Cin Drallig was a master of ALL seven forms of lightsaber combat and was considered unmatched as a swordsman.

Ironically he would die at the hands of his pupil Darth Vader during Oprtation Knightfall.

Which is also when, presumably, all of the Jedi Temple Guard died as well.

The Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard's blister pack reads: "Members of the Jedi Order, these guards are armed with double-bladed lightsaber pikes and are sworn to protect the Jedi Temple on Coruscant."

The most distinguishing feature that marks the Jedi Temple Guard is not the double-bladed lightsaber - frankly we've seen enough of them what with Darth Maul and Bastila Shan running around. No. The most distinguishing feature of the Jedi Temple Guard is the face mask.

The Jedi Temple Guards use face masks in order to exude the higher level of emotional detachment that should accompany their chosen profession. We also believe that it would be really cooler if they did not talk - a vow of silence. But they did in the scant 3 episodes that they appeared in Star Wars the Clone Wars.  

What's to like about the Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard?

The FIRST and ONLY thing to like about the Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard is the concept. 

It literally looks like the security guard a fanatical religious sect. What with the stoic yet ornate mask and those keys! Everytime we look at the Jedi Temple Guard, we find ourselves wondering "Just what areas of a Jedi Temple are forbidden that they have to be guarded by someone out of our nastiest dreams?"

So what do those keys open? And who has the authority to tell them what to do? Do they answer solely to Master Cin Drallig, as they should given the chain of command, or would they answer to the council.

And of course "What happened to them when Order 66 was given?" So the Jedi temple was not as defenseless against Darth Vader and the 501st as we were initially led to believe. They had a Jedi Battlemaster and a few Jedi Masters, Knights (Hell there was no reason for the Librarian Jocasta Nu to be off planet), Padawan Learners and the guards. How many were there? We count at least five-or six in the cartoon. A complex as large as the Jedi Temple on Coruscant should have more than that. So how did they fall?

The Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard keys:

The Jedi Temple Guard Mask - check out that detailing:

What's NOT to like about the Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard?

Simple FIRST: The damn thing can barely move!!!

What gives? You go to the store, you pay what you should for an action figure and Hasbro/ Disney hopes that you will love the nostalgic five points of articulation action figure!

Note! The Jedi Temple Guard does not even HAVE 5 points of articulation because his cowl practically locks his head in place. What you see to your left is the extent of his movement - well you could raise his legs higher but he looks really stupid.

THEY COST ALMOST AS MUCH AT RETAIL THAN THE HIGHLY COVETED AND ARTICULATED BLACK SERIES FIGURES THAT WE REALLY LOVE!!!!

What a waste.

But what do we know? On Amazon a brand new Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard will set you back a whopping US$ 39.99 (Roughly PhP 1, 799.00 plus shipping). We purchased the Jedi Temple Guard for PhP 449.75 (Roughly US$ 9.99). We suppose people just want the Jedi Temple Guard to stand. We want them to do more than that and look forward to a more articulated version of him in the future.