Episode 9 (Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge)

Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge features Jedi Master Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best), the witty protocol droid AD-3 (Mary Holland), and astromech LX-R5 as they guide Padawans Evangeline and Valentina (Blue Team), Christopher and Christian (Orange Team), and Ella and Maddy (Purple Team) on their journey to become Jedi Knights!

The episode commences with an introductory statement from Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, who explains that for over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights have served as the galaxy's guardians of peace and justice. He states that three teams of Padawan learners must demonstrate their strength, knowledge, and bravery to earn the title of Jedi Knight.

First, we meet Evangeline and Valentina, 11-year-old twin sisters who comprise the Blue Team. They are followed by the Orange Team, consisting of brothers Christian (11 years old) and Christopher (13 years old). Lastly, we are introduced to Ella and Maddy, 10-year-old best friends who form the Purple Team, and who express their readiness to become Jedi Knights.

Master Beq elaborates that the contestants will face three challenges: strength trials on a remote planet, knowledge trials aboard a Jedi star cruiser, and a bravery trial within the Jedi Temple, all in pursuit of becoming Jedi Knights. He questions whether the Jedi Padawans will succumb to the allure of the dark side or remain steadfastly aligned with the light side of the Force. He then declares that it is time for them to confront their Jedi Temple Challenge.

On the wooded planet, Master Beq formally introduces himself and his dependable droids, AD-3 and LX-R5, to the Padawans. AD-3 greets them, and LX-R5 beeps. Beq inquires if they are prepared to become Jedi Knights, to which the Padawans respond with an enthusiastic yes. Beq observes that they appear to be a confident group, while AD-3 reviews their files.

Evangeline states that their strength as a team lies in their twin connection and "twin telepathy." Valentina adds that they can sense each other's thoughts. Christian explains that he and his brother Christopher are confident in their chances of winning due to their strong teamwork and competitive spirit. Christopher emphasizes their teamwork mentality. Ella asserts that they are fearless, and Maddy adds that they are willing to take risks, jokingly suggesting that their opponents might see them in their nightmares. AD-3 reminds the Padawans of the core attributes of a Jedi: strength, knowledge, and bravery, which the contestants then repeat.

Master Beq supports AD-3 and unveils the first challenge of the day: the Strength Trials, a Jedi obstacle course that they must conquer to assemble their lightsaber. AD-3 details that the Leap and Lift tests their jumping ability, the Power Pull tests their strength, Saber Stability tests their balance, and the Swing of Strength tests their swinging and strength. She clarifies that each completed obstacle unlocks a piece of their lightsaber hilt. The first two teams to successfully navigate all obstacles and gather their hilt pieces will advance to the Knowledge Trial, bringing them one step closer to entering the Jedi Temple.

Master Beq instructs the Padawans to stand on the Jedi platform before employing the Force to levitate rocks. AD-3 expresses her enjoyment of Beq's use of the Force to lift rocks. Master Beq then dispatches the Padawans to begin their trials.

The Blue Team begins with the Swing of Strength, where one partner swings across a gap while the other retrieves the correct key from a tree stump to access their hilt pieces. Evangeline and Valentina collaborate to locate a square. The Orange Team starts with the Power Pull, working together to pull themselves to the opposite side and then use a token from their backpack to access the hilt pieces. Christian struggles to maintain his grip and calls for Christopher's assistance as they approach the end of the Power Pull. The Purple Team enters the Leap and Lift challenge, where they must jump on the Force pad and seize two meiloorun fruits to reveal their hilt pieces. Ella and Maddy alternate turns grabbing the fruits.

Meanwhile, the Orange Team secures their first set of hilt pieces, earning praise from Master Beq and AD-3. Christopher and Christian begin their return journey on the sled, with Beq cautioning them that the return trip can be challenging. The Blue Team obtains their first piece in the Swing of Strength. As the two sisters return with their hilt pieces, AD-3 commends them for their dominance in that challenge, while LX-R5 beeps. The Blue Team is the first to return, and they place their hilt pieces on the assembly stones.

The Blue Team enters Saber Stability, which involves traversing fallen logs and knocking down floating rocks using their training sabers. Master Beq reminds AD-3 of his "Sabered Hand" nickname, much to AD-3's annoyance. LX-R5 beeps. Maddy struggles to reach her hilt piece, and Ella retrieves it for her. Master Beq praises their teamwork, while AD-3 commends Ella's climbing abilities. The two sisters head back with their first set of pieces to the assembly stone.

The Orange Team returns from the Power Pull with their first set of lightsaber hilts. Master Beq praises Christopher and Christian for tying the challenge, with each team now having one. He encourages them to stay together.

The Purple Team attempts the Swing of Strength, but Maddy falls off. Master Beq encourages her to try again. Meanwhile, the Orange Team enters the Leap and Lift trial, where Christian obtains the lightsaber hilts with encouragement from Christopher, Master Beq, and AD-3. The Blue Team quickly completes the Saber Stability trial and returns with their second set of hilt pieces. Evangeline and Valentina take the lead with two hilt pieces and enter the Power Pull challenge. Master Beq hopes that their weighted backpacks do not slow them down.

The Orange Team returns with their second hilt pieces to the assembly table and heads to the Saber Stability challenge. Meanwhile, Ella takes over for Maddy on the Swing of Strength and reaches the other side. Maddy checks if the key from the tree is correct, but Ella says no. Maddy picks up the second piece, and Ella confirms it is correct. Master Beq praises them for their success.

The Blue Team obtains their third hilt pieces, earning praise from Master Beq and the droids. Christopher and Christian unlock their third hilt pieces in the Saber Stability challenge and head back. Meanwhile, the Blue Team returns with their third set of hilt pieces, placing them in the lead, with the Orange Team having found two sets of hilt pieces and the Purple Team one set.

While Christopher guides Christian back on the log challenge, Ella and Maddy exit the Swing of Strength. Master Beq praises Ella for helping Maddy. The Orange and Purple Teams soon return with their hilt pieces. Orange has three, while Purple has two, tying Orange with Blue.

Evangeline and Valentina enter the Leap and Lift challenge and work together to grab their meiloorun fruits. The Orange Team enters the Swing of Strength. Christian swings across the gap while Christopher guides him, telling him that it is a circle. The Blue Team takes turns grabbing their hilt pieces from the log, while the Purple Team enters the Power Pull challenge. Maddy almost falls off, but Ella helps her up. Master Beq encourages Maddy, telling her that they believe in her. The two pull themselves across the Power Pull challenge.

Evangeline and Valentina return with their fourth set of hilt pieces. Master Beq congratulates them for being the first team to finish the challenge. AD-3 is excited and says she hopes they can finish it quickly. LX-R5 beeps. Christopher and Christian obtain their final hilt pieces from the Swing of Strength and hurry back to assemble their hilts.

The Blue Team finishes assembling their lightsaber hilts, earning praise from AD-3, who says they will be the first to enter the next trial. Christopher and Christian return to the assembly table and work together to assemble their lightsaber hilts. As Ella struggles to hold on, Master Beq encourages them by telling the Purple Team that they are still in the race. Ella falls off to the alarm of AD-3. Meanwhile, the Orange Team finishes assembling their lightsaber hilts, becoming the second team to complete the Trials of Strength. Master Beq announces that the challenge is complete.

Following the Strength Trials, Master Beq congratulates the Blue and Orange Teams, telling them that they will be moving on to the next trial. Master Beq reassures Ella and Maddy that they "gave it their all" but that they need to return to the Jedi Order for more training. He wishes that the Force will be with them. AD-3 wishes them goodbye.

In a follow-up video, Ella says that if she could do it again, she would concentrate more on what she is doing. She says that it was a fun experience being here and that she would love to do it again. Maddy agrees and says that she would love to do it again.

Master Beq tells the Blue and Orange Team that the journey continues for the rest of them and asks if they are ready. The Padawans shout yes, while AD-3 jokes about being in the front seat but admits that her legs do not fit the console. LX-R5 beeps, but AD-3 says that he does not have legs.

In space, Master Beq welcomes Padawans Evangeline, Valentina, Christopher, and Christian aboard the Jedi star cruiser Athylia. He asks if they are ready for their second trial, and the Padawans respond affirmatively. Beq explains that they will listen to a story, after which they must collaborate with their teammate to locate items from the story that are hidden throughout the Athylia. Each correct answer will be stored as data on their team's holocron. As a storage device lifts the holocrons, LX-R5 beeps.

Master Beq clarifies that the first team to correctly answer all five questions will be awarded holocrons, which they will need inside the Jedi Temple. AD-3 mumbles "temple" repeatedly, while LX-R5 beeps. Master Beq asks the Padawans if they are ready to hear their tale, and they respond with a yes.

AD-3 begins her tale: "In a galaxy filled with obnoxious aliens, beeping droids, and buzzing lightsabers, Ryla found solace in quiet observation and photography. One morning, while capturing holopics of her wooden convor bird, ten armored soldiers suddenly marched into her village, warning of a blue gas leak and instructing everyone to evacuate their red stone homes as a safety precaution. Ryla's family and the other displaced villagers evacuated, but Ryla found something suspicious about the soldiers' mismatched black and white armor.

Her little brother tugged on her tunic, crying, "I forgot Too-Too; we need to go back!"

Ryla knew that her brother would not rest without his favorite white and red stuffed tooka. She broke away from the crowd and sneaked back to her village. Upon arriving, she found four soldiers inside her house. Three of them had removed their helmets and were devouring all the food and jumping on their beds.

"These aren't soldiers at all; they are Weequay pirates! We've been tricked!" Ryla realized. She reached into her brown satchel for her holocam to capture a holopic as evidence. She then ran back to her family and the other villagers to reveal the truth about the soldiers.

Enraged, the villagers stormed their homes, forcing the pirates to retreat. Everyone in the village slept soundly, knowing that no one had soiled their beds with muddy boots. And so ends the best and only story I have ever told this group of Padawans." LX-R5 beeps.

Addressing the Padawans, Master Beq instructs them to choose who will search for clues in the cockpit and who will take the engineer's position, searching for clues in the cabin. Christian and Evangeline choose to be the engineers, while Christopher and Valentina choose to be the pilots. As the Padawans choose their roles, AD-3 tells the Engineers to pick the right object and return to their consoles. She also tells the Pilots to click the button on their consoles if they are the pilot. Master Beq reminds the Padawans that they can use their headsets at any time to help their partner get the right answer.

Master Beq poses the first question to the engineers and reminds them to retrieve a tile for their correct answer. He asks what material the villagers' homes were made of. Evangeline is the first to answer, picking a brick. Master Beq informs her that it is incorrect. After finding that Christian has picked up a tile showing stones, he says that is correct. The Orange Team gains one point.

Master Beq then asks how many villagers were evacuated by the soldiers. Christopher correctly answers that it was 40 villagers, earning the Orange Team two points.

Master Beq then asks both pilots and engineers the third question. He asks about the alleged danger that was detected in the area. Valentina correctly responds that it was a gas leak, giving the Blue Team one point. The Orange Team leads by two points to the Blue Team's one. AD-3 remarks that this is getting intense.

Master Beq asks the engineers to retrieve a tile showing the item that Ryla's brother forgot. Evangeline retrieves an Ewok, but Master Beq points out that it is incorrect. Christian retrieves a red and white stuffed tooka, which Master Beq accepts as correct. He awards the Orange Team three points. AD-3 adds that the Orange Team is two points closer to winning the Knowledge trial. Master Beq thanks AD-3, who says that puns are her strength.

Master Beq asks the pilots the color of the leaking gas. Valentina correctly replies that it was blue. Their scores are three to the Orange Team and two to the Blue Team. Master Beq reassures the Blue Team that they are still in this and to use the Force. AD-3 adds her headsets, prompting Evangeline to smile. The Blue Team gains two points.

Master Beq then tells the engineers to retrieve a tile showing the shape of the soldiers' helmets. He reminds them to communicate. Evangeline correctly answers that their helmets were square. The Blue Team gains three points, putting the two teams at a tie.

Master Beq asks the pilots how many armed soldiers walked into the village. Valentina logs in first and says ten, giving the Blue Team four points. Master Beq tells the Blue Team that they are one point closer to winning. AD-3 adds that they are very close, while Master Beq tells the Orange Team that they are two more points closer to winning.

Master Beq asks the engineers what Ryla was taking pictures of when the soldiers arrived. Evangeline retrieves a wooden convoy bird. Master Beq tells her that she is correct. He tells the Blue Team that they have completed the Trial of Knowledge and will be moving on to the Jedi Temple. AD-3 mumbles "temple" repeatedly, while LX-R5 beeps.

In a show of good sportsmanship, Christian and Christopher shake hands with Evangeline and Valentina. AD-3 praises them for their sportsmanship. Master Beq addresses Christian and Christopher, telling them that he is proud of them for putting their all into the trials today. He reassures them that their path to becoming a Jedi is not over but that they must return to the Jedi Order to continue their training.

In a follow-up video, Christopher says that they are okay but disappointed because they could have also won if they did things a little differently, like working on their memory skills and also their teamwork. Master Beq wishes that the Force will be with them before sending them off. One of the brothers says thank you as they exit the Athylia.

AD-3 remarks that Master Beq loves using the Force instead of the door button. Beq admits that is the case. Master Beq tells Evangeline and Valentina that they have completed the Trial of Knowledge first and will receive two holocrons, which they will need because they are headed to the Jedi Temple. AD-3 says ooh.

Master Beq tells the Padawans to take their seats. After the sisters have climbed into their seats, he tells them that he has entered the coordinates to the Jedi Temple and that there is only one thing left to do. Beq and AD-3 shout "punch it" as the Athylia enters a hyperspace tunnel. The Athylia approaches a rocky world, orbited by two moons.

Outside the Jedi Temple, Master Beq congratulates Evangeline and Valentina for making it to their final trial: the Jedi Temple. AD-3 mumbles "temple" repeatedly, while LX-R5 beeps. He tells them that they will face a series of obstacles inside that Jedi Knights may encounter throughout the galaxy. He tells them to leave their hilts here. If they are successful in the Temple, they will get their crystal which will power the sabers. He explains that the kyber crystals are inside the Temple.

AD-3 reminds them to bring their holocrons because they will need them. Master Beq says he will be outside focusing on the Force to keep an eye on them. He warns them that the dark side will tempt them to take the easy path forward but warns them to choose wisely because it may make a later challenge more difficult. LX-R5 beeps. Master Beq asks if the Padawans are ready to enter the Temple. The sisters say yes. Beq tells them that time is of the essence before sending them off.

Evangeline and Valentina scale the Summit Scramble and reach the Galaxy Globe, where they will need to work together to match the correct color combination of the flashing orbs on the control panel. The two sisters work together to find and match the colors. After an unsuccessful attempt, Master Beq tells them to pay attention to the color combination. The second attempt does not work, and Team Blue tries again, successfully completing that challenge.

Evangeline and Valentina split up and slide down the slide into the garbage masher, where they have to work together to assemble the correct color code to unlock the doors. The two sisters work together to find the correct color-coded panels to place on the console. One of the sisters takes the lead and guides her sister.

The dark side voice tempts the Padawans by daring them to touch the dark side object. He casts doubt on their judgment and abilities. As the sisters work together to match the pieces, the dark side voice reiterates his offer to give them an easy path out. The dark side tries to drive a wedge between the sisters by imploring one of them to press the button. However, Evangeline and Valentina managed to match the panels and unlock the doors. The dark side voice screams in frustration.

Having overcome the temptation of the dark side, Team Blue enters the Power Circuit chamber, where they must attach circuit connectors in the correct order to open the door. The two sisters work together to find the pieces, with Master Beq telling them to pay attention to the markings on the circuit board. Master Beq and AD-3 encourage the Padawans to work together. The two sisters work together to match the pieces. Master Beq and AD-3 fear that they are running out of time and will not have enough time to complete the challenge. The two Padawans manage to complete the Power Circuit challenge and scale the frigid ridge.

Near the top, one of the sisters slips, causing their ropes to get entangled. The two sisters have to try the challenge again. They scale the ridge but run out of time. Master Beq tells them that they have unfortunately run out of time and tells them to return to the entrance of the Temple.

As Evangeline and Valentina exit the Jedi Temple, AD-3 reassures them that they were so close. Master Beq explains that the ice trial is a difficult one, with AD-3 adding that she could not do it. Master Beq commends the sisters for their teamwork. Even though they did not complete the challenge today, he tells them that their determination allowed them to overcome the dark side. Master Beq tells them that they are on the right path and foresees that they will become extremely talented Jedi. LX-R5 beeps, while the voice of Yoda tells them that there will always be trials but that they will become Jedi Knights one day.

In a follow-up video, Evangeline says that she feels very proud about how well they did. For Round One, she says that she was very excited to do the obstacle courses and that it was really fun. We ended up winning the Trial of Knowledge. Valentina says that the questions were not hard because they listened to the story. Evangeline says that they could probably have done better but accepts that they tried their hardest and that is what matters.

Master Beq, AD-3, and Yoda wish that the Force will be with them always.