This isnt about good or bad, one character ominously forewarns in a teaser forThe Acolyte.
This is about power and who is allowed to use it.
But this universe is also colder, which is no better exemplified than by the Jedi themselves.
They sit above the rest of the galaxys leaders while affecting a feigned disinterest.
They are also intended by Lucas to be somewhat oblivious.
Take our heroes, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
They begin the movie by rescuing Naboos imprisoned Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) from occupation.
However, their sense of superiority over the young royal also makes them easily deceived.
And as the prequel trilogy continued, that pattern became increasingly dangerous.
Padme saw that firsthand inStar Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clonesafter surviving an assassination attempt on Coruscant.
The Jedi dismiss her out of hand.
He couldnt assassinate anyone.
Its not in his character.
Mace Windu, Yodas right hand Jedi, should be the baddest mother in the galaxy.
But hes oblivious about that Dracula-looking mofo raising an army, or that hes (surprise!)
Yoda sees the problem in this cockiness when Obi-Wan brings the same problem to him.
Truly wonderful the mind of a child is, Yoda smiles.
Too sure of themselves, they are.
Even the older, more experienced ones.
And this proves to be their, and the galaxys, undoing.
InAttack of the Clones, they even prove complicit in Palpatines first major steps toward a naked power grab.
It was a Jedi Master who was responsible for the training and creation of Darth Vader.
Instead he is the most deadly example in a pattern of systemic failure.
Obi-Wans failures with Anakin no longer looks quite so shocking, eh?
He was a Dark Jedi.
But this is not the way… when you call yourself Jedi.
