DominicCobb said:
There is one thing that I feel like is possible they could clarify in IX. It’s there in TFA and TLJ, though it’s vague, but basically it’s the concept of the awakening. I think that both Kylo Ren and Rey have both been granted (for whatever reason) incredible force capabilities. Training, for them, isn’t so much gaining skills as it is learning what to do with the skills they are being granted. When you look at it this way, it’s not so much important how Rey has these skills or even why, but what she chooses to do with them that makes her story compelling.
On a similar train of thought, when the announced the title of TFA, I thought it was possible that there was an awakening in the force that had caused people all over to suddenly be in tune with the force. After seeing the film, I thought it might just refer to Rey, though I kept the possibility at the back of my mind. With TLJ’s ending, I think there’s still a chance I might not have been too far off.
We’ll see what IX holds.
I can see that, but my question is, if Spider-Man can fly like Superman, and shoot lasers out of his eyes in future comics and films, is that still Spider-Man, just because he wears the Spider-Man suit? Alternatively, if you have a superhero who looks like Spider-Man, and has all his powers, but doesn’t have the great power means great responsibility angle, is that still Spider-Man?
The way Jedi powers were acquired was about more than working hard to achieve something. It was also about the idea, that once this world would open to you, you would be tempted by the dark side. You would be tempted to take the quick and easy path to attain power, great power without the responsibility. These were important themes, that have defined Star Wars for four decades. The process of how you went about to obtain, and use these powers determined whether you would end up on the light or dark side. Certain powers were even specifically asscociated with one of these sides. The PT was largely driven by Anakin wanting to learn the unnatural dark side power to control life and death.
Now that these powers simply awake inside a person, the Jedi and their enemies are more like super heroes. Acquiring these powers is no longer connected to personal growth. That’s a major change which for me is like having Spider-Man, without the great power means great responsibility angle. That for me is not Star Wars, just like it’s no longer Spider-Man. It something different, that has the aesthetic of Star Wars. I can appreciate it on it’s own terms, but it will never be Star Wars.
Ps. Happy New Year everybody!