The Greys

Note: This is Part 2 of our “Filmnesia” series, following on directly from Part 1.

“Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace” was that rare example of a sequel (in terms of release date – prequel in storyline) that actually manages to make the original worse. It’s not quite the most horrific example of this phenomenon (that one is dealt with in the next strip), but it’s pretty close.

The biggest problem in The Phantom Menace is the midi-chlorians. Yes, even worse than Jar Jar Binks. Worse than taking the franchise’s emphasis on action and adventure, and turning it into a dull tale of trade negotiations. Worse than building up a potentially great villain in Darth Maul, only to kill him off before the film ended. Worse than all these, because the introduction of midi-chlorians turned Luke Skywalker from Batman into Superman.

In watching Episode IV for the first time countless kids felt that they could be Luke Skywalker. The Force was sold as some mysteriously spiritual field pervading the universe. Anyone could tap into it if they were prepared to train and study hard enough. Just like anyone could be Batman, if they put in the effort. Yes, the millions of dollars of inheritance certainly helps in that case, but the core of Batman isn’t in the gadgets it’s in the man, the vigilante, who fights crime despite his lack of super powers. Anyone could be Batman, just as anyone could learn the ways of The Force.

But with the introduction of midichlorians access to The Force has become the sole domain of some genetically privileged few. You have to be born into the right lineage, and the Jedi (and Sith) go from being monastic orders available to the most devoted novices, to nepotistic public schools (what we in the UK perversely call the most non-public of private schools) open only to children of the existing old boys network. Nobody can become Superman, it’s an accident of birth. So, it now seems, are the Jedi.

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