Post #556097

CWBorne said:

danaan said:

Edit: Oops, pressed the wrong button.

Diverging slightly from the current discussion, I find some common problems/mistakes among many prequel writers (myself included to some extent):

1) In ANH, Obi-Wan states that Anakin was "already an excellent pilot". Yet, I've seen prequel re-writers turn him into a farmer, or street urchin, or some such that does not click very well with Anakin being a pilot.

2) Making Anakin too special. We all know that Anakin has to be exceptionally talented, that's why Obi-Wan trains him. Yet, I've seen writers exaggerate his talents in ways that do not correspond very well with the tough requirements for becoming a Jedi established in the OT. Some have him already self-trained. I've even seen one writer have Anakin keep a spaceship from crashing, using the Force, as if he was already like Yoda. Less is more here, I think.

3) The Republic and the Jedi. The Jedi order are clearly officially sanctioned, from what Obi-Wan tells us. And yet, it doesn't seem like they would be the armed forces of the Republic, because the Republic is a democracy that probably wants to retain control over its own military, not hand it over to a strange sect. This relationship needs to be plausible in the storyline. I've seen too many writers who create something not very convincing.

1. My current idea involves Anakin being a navigator on a space frieghtor who in the rare  opportunities he does get to directly fly is quite remarkable, shown to Kenobi when he and Skywalker first leave Tatooine. In general its tricky because you have to establish why Anakin is such a great pilot and yet still is on a place like Tatooine.  

2. Agreed. I think Anakin's distinct quality should be one of emotion not abilities. Its the temptations he faces, and ultimately how worldview in compared to Kenobi and other Jedi led him down a darker path. It creates a more interesting picture if other than possibly Obi-Wan the other Jedi and Yoda didn't really see anything all that notable. In fact if Skywalker is largely under the radar of most other knights and masters it helps to explain why his fall was such a surprise since most would have assumed  Palpatine would seduce a more powerful Jedi.

3. That is an issue, plus it would seem to be a discrepancy that Obi-Wan and Anakin fought in the wars, while Yoda states that a Jedi uses the force for defense and not attack. However I think there is a way to make it work. If the Jedi were utilized in more of an advisory capacity in defense and dodging (utilizing precognitive abilities to alert about ships, planning strategy, very occasional use of the mind trick) they would be critical but overtly powerful. In fact, my thinking has that fact as a growing point of conflict between Kenobi and Skywalker, as the latter grows discontented as the Jedi not being more directly involved in offensive assults in the war