This newfound concern about Star Wars frustrates me because, instead of using the many valid arguments against some of the lower quality shows and movies (Episodes 8 and 9, The Book of Boba Fett), these so called "critics" resort to misinformed culture war nonsense to make points that don't exist. Let's look at it from a canon standpoint:
- Anakin was "The Chosen One" of prophecy because Palpatine orchestrated it. He used the Force to influence the midichlorians that created Anakin. This is in a cut scene from Episode 3, if I'm not mistaken, and is part of the lore and canon of the saga.
- However, in light of the above, it's entirely possible that other beings have been conceived using the Force, meaning whatever the episode introduces is within what the canon has allowed for 20 years. Nothing in the prophecy states that there will be one single being born of the Force who shall bring balance.
- I'm not sure what "the Force can be whatever you want" means, so I will not comment on that.
As for additional "OMG they killed everything sweet baby inc disaster woke" comments being spread around:
- Anybody complaining that the Jedi are somehow being reframed as "evil" has missed the point of the prequel movies. The Jedi embraced fundamentalism and became, in a sense, an oppressive force. Any Force user not following their teachings was deemed evil, and any government or organization not following the Galactic Republic's wishes was deemed separatist or evil.
- They would literally take kids from underprivileged families with vain promises so that they could train them for their little religious army. This is clearly seen in Episodes 1 and 2, with Shmi being left behind as a slave (the Jedi didn't care) and with Anakin being alone trying to save her.
- "Modern" Jedi are majorly black and white, ironically dealing in absolutes (Jedi good, Sith bad).
- Star Wars Episode 1 introduces a Jedi who operates within a massive grey area, called Qui-Gon Jinn. It's also funny that Star Wars fans usually like him.
- Legends is full of Force users that find themselves in a moral grey area and do not align with the Jedi or the Sith.
- If any further proof is required that the Jedi are essentially a fundamentalist religion up until Order 66, I hope this is clarified by the changes they made to the Jedi Code:
Original Jedi Code
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force.
"Modern" Jedi Code
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
These two Jedi Codes were introduced during the Legends timeline, which is pre-Disney. Here's a link that covers this in more detail:
Screen Rant article on Jedi Code differences.
So, most of these complaints are just red herrings, obscuring their actual issues, which are clearly showcased by their "concerns." They don't truly care about Star Wars and have demonstrated that they do not even understand Star Wars as a whole. Again, these concepts were ALL introduced pre-Disney and have been part of the canon for almost two decades.
Rant over.
To make it abundantly clear as well - I think Disney Star Wars has been very hit and miss, but anybody saying that Ep 7, Rogue One, Mandalorian, and Andor, are not great or stellar, needs to take their head out of the sand. Other shows like Ashoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi are more mid, but still very acceptable. There are obvious stinkers like I mentioned in my first paragraph, of course.
@Sircaw Star Wars has not been like that since the late 80s or mid-90s, if I want to be charitable. Just look at the Legends lore, which was previously the expanded universe.
This is a timeline for books in the Legends continuity. It is not for comics or short stories in the Legends continuity. This timeline is organized by chronology, and separated by era, as defined by Lucas Licensing.
starwars.fandom.com