Since it’s been roughly a month since I last posted here, I thought I’d just clarify that I’m still fully intent on finishing this edit. However, I think I may end up taking things further “in a few places”, if you get what I’m saying 😉
With The Bad Batch show directly referring to things such as “M-Counts” it’s only a matter of time before they finally say the darn word out loud again. It’s really interesting how they want to use the concept of them in that show but refuse to name them out loud because of the stigma behind it. I think I’m gonna say “screw it” and make the connection to ROTS as clear as possible through Kylo’s revelation speech to limit people being confused:
“Rey… I know the rest of our story”
“Tell me.”
“Palpatine influenced the midichlorians to create… life. First my grandfather, and then you. Both were his chosen heir. You… are a rightful Palpatine. Now, the Emperor wants us to fight each other, so the strongest can inherit the throne. But he doesn’t realize we are one in spirit, by the power of the Force. We can end him, and the Sith. And create a new order, together.”
In my opinion, the problem with midichlorians is that they served no narrative purpose in the grand scheme of things. Sure, they tell the characters who has strong potential, but they could have done that with a more abstract concept. I feel as if mentioning the midichlorians would make the concept of somebody being born without relations more understandable, and retroactively justify their entire existence. Luke’s dialogue about nobody being able to claim what the Force made would remain unchanged, but that’s only because the “how” and “why” the Force is able to conceive life has been explained. The biggest problem with the way I had originally worded things here was that more casual fans would be completely confused how a mystical Force could influence such a purely biological process.
Besides, the ultimate message of this edit would be that, ironically, the midichlorians don’t define you. Sure, Palpatine might have used them to create Rey, but Luke would be telling her that she is the only one with the right to define herself.