The Saddest Star Wars Story Secretly Has A Happy Ending
In the Original Trilogy of Star Wars films, the Rancor Keeper is arguably the saddest character of them all. After Luke Skywalker narrowly escapes the clutches of the rancor and manages to kill this fearsome beast, we see his trainer view the dead body and begin openly weeping so much that he needs to be consoled by a random alien. This is a shockingly depressing scene for a film best known for its cutesy teddy bears, but this might cheer you up: in a later Star Wars book, we discover that he teams up with Jabba’s top chef so they can open a restaurant in Mos Eisley.
Malakili, Rancor Keeper
What do we know about the Rancor Keeper? His real name is Malakili and, like Han Solo, he originally comes from Corellia. Sadly, this man was abandoned by his mother and might very well have eventually died on the streets if he wasn’t rescue by a Utai beast healer named Scraps.
The hits just kept coming for the Rancor Keeper: Scraps was killed by pirates who invadeed their home and enslaved Malakili. He was sold to various masters and, along the way, was hired as a beastmaster for various Hutt circuses.
This was how he learned how to domesticate and train rancors, but his burgeoning career as a beastmaster ended when one of his monstrous menagerie got loose and killed a bunch of people.
The Death Of Pateesa
At this point, the Rancor Keeper was forced back into slavery and sold to Jabba the Hutt. He had to take care of all the crime lord’s exotic creatures, but he formed a special bond with the pet rancor named Pateesa (no, really). This man trained and healed the creature and, after Luke Skywalker killed it (admittedly in self-defense), was left distraught by its death.
No Help From The Sarlacc
Onscreen, that was the end of the Rancor Keeper’s adventures, but later books filled us in on what happened next. Like many, he stuck around in Jabba’s Palace waiting for a new Hutt to arrive after Princess Leia killed their master.
Relucantly realizing that nobody was coming, he became one of the last to leave the palace, forcing him to say goodbye one last time to the dead rancor.
Perhaps feeling a tad suicidal, the Rancor Keeper decided he would try to tame the Sarlacc Pit or just throw himself in if he failed. Tragically, he found the mighty Sarlacc to now be completely helpless, crying as Jawas cut into its exposed parts while looting for wreckage from Jabba’s exploded barge.
Don’t worry, though: this is when the poor man’s fortunes finally take a turn for the better.
Rubbing Elbows With Cobb Vanth
The Rancor Keeper heads toward the town of Mos Pelgo, and after getting shaken down by some local thugs, he is rescued by Cobb Vanth. Soon, Vanth put him to work taming rontos and even training a baby Hutt, something that would end up saving both of their lives.
When the town is attacked by raiders and Malakili and Vanth are tied up, the Rancor Keeper got the wee Hutt to send a signal to some Tusken Raider allies who came in and saved the day.
Settling In Mos Eisley
It’s not entirely clear how one thing led to another, but Malakili eventually hooked up with Jabba’s former head chef, and they went into business together, opening the Crystal Moon Restaurant in Mos Eisley. Until we hear more about it, we’re going to be consumed by a simple question.
Is Malakili a really chill restaurant owner like Dexter Jettster or is he super intense like that guy from The Bear?
