So, the explanation given to the kids about the nature of the Force was simply some mystical cosmic "string" that attaches between living things. The "blood tests" Tommen was taking, that was for midi-chlorians though, right? And so those are cosmic string now?
Anyhow, I did get some of the answers that I wanted, but it wasn't the most riveting of TV. Actually, it was possibly worse than that -
The four Jedi (Indara, King Tommen, Wookie Jedi and Sol) came across as very arrogant, domineering, lying jerks. There was little peace, love and understanding on offer, so no wonder they are despised. Is this deliberate? Do they want to make the Jedi out to be the bad guys here?
I think the idea is that there is a level of arrogance that has crept into the Order. This is essentially the height of their power - and the lead up to their downfall. You could easily label the Council of Obi Wan's time just as arrogant as well. But they're not the 'bad guys'. Just guys, likely with both ends of the spectrum counted amongst their members. Sol, for instance, seems less arrogant and more of the typical embodiment of the Jedi.
Definitely not a great way to endear themselves to people, though, going around and forcibly taking children.
Clearly, there must be more to the fire than we were shown, because Tommen killed himself over what he had done there, and why does Mae seek revenge for something she supposedly did herself? And in the room of dead bodies none had burnt to death or been crushed by debris. So, are the Jedi responsible for this massacre? Are they complicit in the Force witches deaths? But surely a Jedi shouldn't lie? And that's exactly what Sol had just told Osha earlier.
Even though they were very clearly only on Brendok to find and test the girls and must have had intel.
Definitely more going on. Perhaps both sides are being manipulated by a third party we've already seen?
There was a throwaway line how Osha and Mae were "created", since the witches were all female. And another that their "mother" didn't "carry them" herself. I would expect that genetic engineering and midi-chlorian eugenics is frowned upon. Or, were they "created" using the Force in some mystical twisted stringy way? Were the Jedi aware of this when the allowed Osha to be trained? Isn't there a Jedi Council yet that would act on such information? Like Anakin in the future, Osha "has no father" and is too old to begin training, but probably also scores highly on the midi-chlorian scales. However, she also comes with a heap of personal baggage that would surely ring alarm bells somewhere, so the fact that she opted out early was probably a good thing? And yet, they were very keen to test both girls and take them to Coruscant for Jedi brainwashing as quickly as possible, even though they must have known already that the origin of the girls was suspect?
I'm not sure the Jedi knew that the girls were created in a non-conventional way, unless I missed something. It is interesting that their age isn't remarked upon, though - perhaps that restriction came later (due to a bad experience say, a hundred years ago), or perhaps Anakin was just a little older?
Some of the lines given to the child actors were poorly written (and acted) but I guess I can live with that.
Agreed, there's been a fairish amount of clunky dialogue scattered about this show so far....
The complexity of spirituality on Earth supports a far more diverse approach to spirit in a galactic sense. The appearance of the old mother at the end was a wonderful treat after her introduction in Tales of the Empire. And we know all about Dathomiri witches from TCW and Ahsoka.
I'd watched Tales and did not pick that up!
Agreed on the spirituality angle. The 'thread' concept reminded me a little of the White Current of the EU Fallanassi. In the High Republic novels, they even talk about how different Jedi experience the Force - for some it is like music, others like the ocean or wind...
A Star Wars show that might for once pass the bechdel test and get girls interested.
Of course I’ve seen the usual ignorant prejudice online. Some men are so easily emasculated…
Yup. Sigh.
This certainly was not a favorite episode, but it was a necessary one. My biggest complaint is that this should have been episode one. Why start the story and then flash back to what brings you to this point? Are people so uninterested in why two twin sisters hate each other and why this might become an interesting moment in the history of the Old Republic? The logic behind these decisions baffles me.
To create a sense of mystery and tension, in what is being pitched as a tense, mysterious show?
I am also noticing how the Jedi powers are less than originally displayed. Darth Vader could sense Luke on a planet from orbit. But these Jedi can't even sense another force user in the same ship?
I assume you mean Mei? I'm not sure they didn't know she was Force sensitive, or that she was lying - but perhaps their protocols only allow them to take a child if they test well. Not sure how the blood test plays into it - but perhaps they have to have high midichlorian counts and a certain level of aptitude.
But also - the entire Council didn't know Palpatine was right there on Coruscant for the majority of the prequels, so...
A third thing that is rankling me is that the Jedi of this series (and they are historically earlier ones at that!) are much less inclined to help the "little guy" and risk themselves for justice. They seem much more concerned about a selfish agenda than a true Jedi should be. --- I know! I know! I'm an outlier. I like stories with easily identifiable good guys and bad guys. That was a part of my almost fanatical love for the original Star Wars Movie. At that time the theaters were filled with very flawed heroes and extremely flawed but kinda likable and interesting villains. I don't believe that's the way the world works. Surely everyone is flawed. (Remember I'm not only a Christian, I am a Calvinist!) but I believe that a lot of people do the best that they can given their information and abilities. I don't believe anyone is served by having a nihilistic view of life. In a world without people who are striving to be the best that they can be there is only the merest whisper of hope.
I talked about this above - but what I think we are seeing is the over-bureaucratisation of the Order, leading to a sense of superiority and a false belief in their own infallibility that will ultimately lead to their downfall. But again, it does seem like there are characters here who may still embody that Jedi nobility.
In general, I've seen a lot of responses to this show complaining that they changed this, added that, contradicted this other thing, and I just don't understand that type of thinking. Do people just want the same things rehashed over and over, with no original thoughts or ideas introduced? I don't see the point in that, myself. I want to see new creators with interesting visions being allowed to play in a world I love. It's exciting not knowing what to expect. It's not always going to work for me, and I'm fine with that - but most things have some redeeming qualities.
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