Should Kyp be punished for his past transgressions? Or should he be pardoned and given (yet) another chance?

There's an entire thread here dedicated to that very question...

So his record isn't exactly spotless. Need we forget:
* Comatizing (yes, I invented that word) Luke
* The Sun Crusher Fiasco
* Wiping Qui Xux's mind completely
* Complete and Total Disregard for All Superiors
* Private War with Pirates in the Outer Rim
* Private War with Vong
* Tricking Jaina
* The list continues...

Sure he's an arrogant little pain-in-the-rear and more than a little rude at times, but who's not? One tends to get louder when they're ignored, so I would expect that from him. His past has totally discredited him and people in high places don't listen to him.

After the events in Dark Journey and he witnesses Jaina's flirting with the Dark Side, something changes in him. He begins to question whether even he can condone Jaina's fanaticism. Even he admits that he couldn't just sit back and watch a man be experimented on until he was near-death while Jaina could (and did). It's as if he's looked in a mirror and saw what people really see him as and is disgusted with it.

Granted, he still doesn't like taking orders from Luke, which is completely understandable. Luke seems unwilling to understand Kyp's point of view. He is dragging the Jedi down by his inactivity. It doesn't matter who or what the Jedi exist to serve, at least Kyp is willing to go out and act on what he's been taught. Neither side seems to be doing much good, but neither side is willing to compromise either.

It's not as though he ignores everyone. He respects Jaina, trusts her leadership (and Jedi abilities) and obeys her mandates. I'm not saying that he's doing it because he's infatuated with her - far from that, in fact. He respects her because she's willing to take action. He even comments to her in a vision: "Did you ever thing that you might be the one who's saving me? Come on back. We'll figure this out together." There are some people who have gained his respect, and once they do, he will go to hell (or the equivalent) and back for them.

Yes, he's fallen to the Dark Side, but he gets back up and keeps going. He's not the only Jedi to have fallen and been redeemed - look at Jaina, Zekk, and even Luke. No one's perfect, and he illustrates this point. Kyp has tried to make ammends for what he's done, including saving the lives of Han, Leia, and their family several times while nearly getting himself killed in the process.

Kyp is fallible, he makes mistakes, and gets caught. Even as Leia says, "You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them." It's this fallability and persistence which makes him an amazing character. He isn't a person who can do no wrong. He knows he makes mistakes and tries to make up for them.

He isn't the perfect Jedi by a long shot, but I do believe he should be forgiven for his past.

~ PeaceofStar

*whew* that little rant felt good...