Screaming

i just realised that the next time leia sees obi-wan he gets killed and i am not well.

Diaphanous Gown, Jeremy Lipking

The End of the Jedi & Republic vs The End of the Empire Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover | Aftermath: Empire's End by Chuck Wendig

These institutions were both dead from the beginning due to self-inflicted wounds of corruption and ignorance. Destruction will continue in a vicious cycle if its mistakes are not obliterated from its foundations. The end of the Jedi and Republic warns of this. It became the Empire, then the New Republic, which failed as it only reinstated what the previous Republic was without uprooting its flawed systems. The Empire transformed into the First Order, but both were already doomed being led by power-hungry figures who end up trying to kill each other and force the world into an order utterly unnatural. Fascism is unsustainable and will always devolve into consuming itself in pursuit of selfish individualistic power.

There's also an interesting contrast between both of these passages. When speaking about the Jedi and the Republic, the supposed Light-Side, there's this tone of hopelessness and utter despair. Their corruption consumed them and you can't stop it or save it. Anakin will always be the dragon that burns thousands of years of legacy to the ground. But when speaking about the Empire's end, there's an underlying tone of hope even as the story closes on it's successor rebuilding in the shadows. Because even when the galaxy continues to rebuild kingdoms of oppression, hope and resistance will always coexist against it simultaneously. The Empire is doomed, and The First Order too, because it dared to rebuild while those willing to fight for justice still exist.

Was the galaxy saved or doomed the moment Anakin stepped onto the scene. Both? Neither? It’s about how hope and perseverance exist even as institutions continually seek power.

ANDOR 2.08: "WHO ARE YOU?"

The Fallen Angel (1847) by Alexandre Cabanel vs Anakin Skywalker: Revenge of the Sith (2005) Dir. George Lucas

Initially, I thought the whole “Luke looks like Anakin but is more like Padme; Leia looks like Padme but is more like Anakin” thing was kind of cute, but it’s become bit of a pet peeve of mine. It’s not horrible or anything like that, but it’s such an oversimplification of all four characters. And it’s not even that accurate, yet it’s become so common and is treated like indisputable canon. And I just don’t get this interpretation of them.

First of all, I want to start by stating Luke and Leia are who they are because their parents raised them to be that way. However, I know these movies are works of fiction, and when George Lucas was writing the prequels, he did so with Anakin and Padme’s children in mind. So, with that being said …

This fandom tends to treat Anakin and Padme like they’re opposites, which just isn’t true. They have a lot in common. Both are kind, brave, intelligent, stubborn, reckless, strong leaders, determined, loyal, idealistic … They love with their whole hearts, following their emotions and what they believe is right, even when common sense might dictate otherwise. And we can see these traits in BOTH Luke and Leia.

The main difference I see between Anakin and Padme is that the latter is the more rebellious one. I know TCW likes to portray Anakin as the type of Jedi who doesn’t care about the rules, but just going by the movies it really isn’t the case. Anakin is pretty subservient to those in authority, which makes sense considering he was a slave for nine years. He apologizes to Padme for disobeying orders by going to Tatooine to search for his mother. He apologizes to Obi-Wan for seemingly disappointing him for not being an ideal student. Even when he shows some defiance by arguing with the council for not being granted the rank of master, Anakin quickly submisses after a few words from Mace and a look from Obi-Wan. His marriage to Padme being an exception, Anakin just isn’t the rebellious type. Padme is though. Throughout the PT, we see her doing what she wants, and to hell what others think. The Republic isn’t going to help Naboo? Fine. She’ll save it herself. Obi-Wan’s in trouble? Well, Anakin can come with her or not because she’s going to Geonosis either way. And of course there’s her questioning the war and whether she’s on the right side and the Delegation of 2000, which should have never been cut from RotS because it added so much to Padme’s storyline. Anakin was part of the Empire’s birth, while Padme was part of the Alliance’s beginning, and I love that the Rebellion is included in Padme’s legacy. And this rebellious, defiant spirit was passed onto Luke and Leia. Luke is going to help his friends, even if Yoda and Obi-Wan thinks it’s a bad idea. And Leia is just Leia. She doesn’t care that she’s a prisoner and sentenced for execution. Tarkin and Vader are beneath her, and she’ll happily remind them of that fact.

Also, it’s kind of annoying how people associate Luke’s kindness with Padme and just forget about Anakin, who was a genuinely good person. He helps Padme, Qui-Gon, and the others when they’re stranded on Tatooine, putting his own life at risk, and not once did he stop to consider how he would benefit from the whole thing. Anakin just knew they were in trouble and he wanted to help them. And then people overlook Leia’s kindness. The girl had to watch her whole planet blow up, yet she still has enough empathy to comfort Luke after Obi-Wan’s death. But some people describe her as having anger issues like Anakin, and I’m always like WHAT anger issues?? Leia has never expressed anger in a situation where ANYONE wouldn’t be angry. And I don’t agree with the idea that Leia would be more drawn to the dark side than Luke. I see her as being similar to Padme in that they are both very strong in their convictions. They both know who they are, what they stand for, and they won’t let fear, anger, or temptation cloud that. Even when the Death Star’s laser was aimed toward Alderaan, Leia STILL had the clarity of mind to lie about the Rebellion’s location. When Leia says that she wishes she could leave with Luke in RotJ, he knows she wouldn’t even if she could, and he reminds her of that. Because Leia has always been strong, just like Padme, and neither will turn their backs on what they believe is good and right.

As for Luke, he is compared several times to Anakin in the OT, and the prequels include multiple scenes where Anakin parallels his son: his love of flying, wanting to leave Tatooine and explore the galaxy, blowing up the Trade Federation’s control ship, losing a limb and having it replaced by a cybernetic, his battle with Dooku in RotS … Lucas clearly wanted to show how Anakin and Luke’s storylines mirror each other, but Luke’s choices ultimately lead to him taking a different path than his father’s. And it’s not because Luke is a pure, innocent cinnamon roll (which he isn’t) just like Padme (which she also isn’t; let women have flaws jfc). Anakin lived the first nine years of his life as a slave, was separated from his mother only to be reunited with her a decade later when she dies in his arms, and has been groomed by Palpatine since he was a child. And due to the flaws within the Jedi Order, Anakin wasn’t able to cope with his fear and trauma in a healthy manner. Luke, on the other hand, lived a relatively normal life for nineteen years with friends, hobbies, and a loving family. And this normal life helps him cope with his own loss and trauma in a way that Anakin couldn’t. And Luke IS drawn to the dark side, and he does struggle with it because he is angry and impatient, and he hates the Emperor and Luke wishes he could just kill him because then the galaxy would be a better place. But Luke actively chooses not to give into the dark side, which is why him tossing away his lightsaber, refusing to kill Vader, and declaring himself a Jedi “like his father before him” is so important. But I still see people trying to argue how Luke’s story actually mirrors Padme’s?? Yeah, maybe in a few ways, but his similarities to Anakin play a larger part in Luke’s journey.

And I’m not saying that Leia doesn’t resemble Anakin in some ways or that Luke isn’t similar to Padme because I know that’s not true. I just don’t think how they reflect their parents is as clearcut as some make it out to be. And it’s become slightly annoying how some fans keep repeating this like a knee-jerk reaction.

one of my buddies is occupying a fortified position on high ground. i'm going to kick his ass with ease

Andor S02E08 "Who Are You?"

I’m a Yoda fan. Not an apologist. I just think his crimes were funny. I think he should hide in bushes around the senate and trip Palpatine as he passes. I feel like he could have fixed the galaxy that way. I think he should eat raw frog on live tv while they try to stop him. He should be allowed to infiltrate dreams in the form of that frog crying out in pain. I liked his crimes I think he should have gone farther with them.

Rogue one I will always love you