Poor Kara went through a lot in the series
(1am post oml) Finished the Ninth Jedi series a few days ago. And I've been enjoying it, pleased with what we got after the roughly five year wait. But one thing I've cathartically(?) enjoyed with Kara's character and don't seem to see much discussion of is just how much hardship she went through over the course of her story. For someone who's roughly I presume in her teen years and a compassionate young girl (and the fate of the galaxy resting on her shoulders! No trouble!), Kara's been through the ringer.
For starters her Dad got kidnapped by Eht and Bee-toh, mentions in the next short she felt powerless to do anything to prevent this kidnapping. At this point she doesn't know what the bounty hunters want with her Dad and naturally for a young girl she would be in a lot of distress over that.
Teto had to sacrifice himself to save her from Jedi hunters. While she didn't get to know Teto for long, she mourned Teto's sacrifice.
Had to consider the possibility that her father may not have been as much of a saint as Kara thought he was. Though this was brief, it's clear Kara had a lot of internal conflict learning about Zhima killing Reno; worse still that she would've spent a majority of her life idolising Zhima and that viewpoint likely was shattered.
Almost died from Nawaam's kyber cannon. If that cannon had been angled just a slight amount the series would've certainly ended there. Even then, she had to help evacuate Bibin and they had to deal with the fallout caused by the cannon.
Juro died, and she blames herself for her mentor's death. Like damn, Kara watched him fade away. Likely she felt directionless without a mentor to train, guide, or lead her to the next step. I presume that's why she felt like a failure while stranded on the forest planet with Eesha's people. Then those aliens got attacked by Nawaam's forces.
Fell to the dark side after her rampage against Nawaam's forces... That red saber reveal likely contributes to her feelings of unworthiness as a Jedi. She quite literally ran off from the saber itself. Oh yea, then Bee-toh and Eht came and took the aliens hostage; Kara gets chased by the aliens she's befriended and then has to hand herself in as a prisoner to avoid any more harm. Oh and of course, during her escape attempt almost died again.
For the final fight, Kara actually thought her Dad died to Nawaam. At least for a while until all the battle was over.
But I guess all of that tough moments makes Kara's victories feel well earned in the series when they do come by. And I'm quite satisfied with the direction Kenji took her character, through all the hurdles and such.
What do you think? Should Kara have went through more or less hardship to grow from? Like the direction Kenji took her character towards?