Yoda: The Empire Tells the Truth

This is part two of The Jedi Suck Trilogy. Click the link for part one, Kenobi: A New Lie, why Obi-Wan Kenobi sucks. Stay tuned for the finale.

Yoda doesn't suck, he's no Kenobi, but he represents the suckiness in the Jedi. Yoda is the Jedi most responsible for the fall of the Jedi Order.

Yoda is supposed to be one of the wisest and most powerful Jedi. He survives Order 66 and a battle with Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine. If Yoda is the wisest and most powerful Jedi, then he is most at fault for the fall of the Jedi order. Even though Yoda shows skepticism in the Star Wars Pre Trilogy (PT), he fails to step up and alter or correct the Jedi's mistakes. Yoda and the Jedi fails to do the following:

1. Identify Palpatine as the Sith: it is Palpatine who reveals himself to Anakin Skywalker and Skywalker tells the Jedi. The Jedi couldn't figure it out on their own.
   
2. Oppose Senator Palpatine: The Jedi are wary of Palpatine. The Jedi and Yoda do not like Palpatine's rise in power, but they go along with it. They go along with it for years as Palpatine rises in power and makes political gain after gain. When the Jedi finally learn that Palpatine is the Sith master, it is too late. The Jedi Order is physically fractured across the galaxy, fighting the Clone Wars. A group of Jedi try and fail to arrest or stop Palpatine. After the attempt on Palpatine, Palpatine ascends to Emperor and officially destroy the Jedi Order.
   
3. Address the obvious weakness in the Jedi order: When Jedi learn about their inability to protect the Republic, they decide to conceal their deficiencies. At that point, it may have been too late, but still, the Jedi didn't have any significant response to their obvious decline.
   
4. Prevent the Clone Wars: Yoda leads the Clones into their first battle. The Jedi go from being peacekeepers to generals in a galactic civil war. The Jedi are a powerful force in the Republic (pun intended). Where are they when it is time to prevent a war?
5. Teach Anakin Skywalker: Yoda initially rejects the Skywalker. Yoda senses Skywalker's fear and anger. This creates a bad relationship. The Jedi don't want Skywalker and he knows it. Later, they know Skywalker's attachment to a hot young senator. What do they do? Send them alone together without supervision. Skywalker wasn't raised a Jedi. And still, the Jedi fail to see that Skywalker has different needs than the typical Padawan. They sense Skywalker's pain and trouble and they neglect giving him the proper counseling and Jedi Council. The Jedi struggle to conform Skywalker which ultimately leads to his fall and their own destruction.
   
6. See the value in attachments: Attachment makes us human. Denouncing attachment brings imbalances in the force. It allows the rise of a Palpatine and the fall of a Skywalker.
   

Pick any problem with the Jedi in the PT, and Yoda is more to blame than any other single Jedi. Yoda is close 800 years old. He failed with Anakin Skywalker and then he repeats the mistakes with Luke Skywalker. Yoda doesn't learn from the Jedi's mistakes.

Yoda continues the strict teaching of the Jedi. Yoda tries (not does) to get Luke to "unlearn what you have learned." Luke, like Anakin, isn't the traditional Padawan. And Yoda still tries (not does) to train Luke by the traditional methods. Yoda wants Luke to detach from his friends and emotions. Yoda was raised a Jedi. He is stuck in the traditional Jedi ways. He can't see the value in what makes Luke and Anakin the ones. It's attachments. Luke's attachment's to his friends and then his father eventually save Anakin Skywalker and restore balance to the force.

Like Kenobi, Yoda has and withholds the truth from Luke. Once again, Yoda doesn't trust Luke, just like the jedi didn't trust Anakin. Palpatine won over Anakin because Palpatine manipulated Anakin with trust. He told Anakin what the Jedi wouldn't tell him. Anakin shouldn't have trusted Palpatne, but he had every right to mistrust the Jedi. The Jedi rejected him over and over. They didn't want to train him initially. They didn't trust him for important missions he was qualified to command. They didn't trust him with the title of "Master Jedi." And Yoda repeats this mistake with Luke. He doesn't trust Luke. He hides the truth from Luke because he doesn't trust Luke. Yoda fears Luke will fall like Anakin did. Yoda is wrong.

Luckily for the galaxy, Luke ignores Yoda's advice. He confronts Darth Vader, who tells Luke the truth! It's the truth and Vader that give Luke the key. Luke needs to rescue his friends. Luke needs to learn the truth about his father. Luke needs his attachments. Once again, another Jedi is wrong and the evil Empire has to step up and tell our hero the truth.

To be clear, Yoda is a product of his environment. He is a product of a declining Jedi Order. Simply more proof that the Jedi suck.

Conclusion

Take what is useful from Buddhism, but remember humans are social animals. Give whatever metaphysical explanation that floats your spaceship, but remember attachments are a net positive for humanity.

The Shitty Thrilogy (Star Wars Episodes 7-9) (ST) made a huge blunder by neglecting the idea the unified the Original Trilogy (OT) and Prequel Trilogy (PT).

I Used to Love Her, But I Had to Kill Her

This is an extra rough draft.

This is the longer explanation of my background with Star Wars from The Jedi Suck Trilogy.

I loved Star Wars (SW) growing up. Luke Skywalker was my favorite. I took apart brooms to use as light sabers. I pretended I to use the force with the help of the wind and or a fan. I had and played with the original toys. I watched the Original Trilogy (OT) on VCR over and over again. As an adult, my love for Star Wars continued. I argued with people in person and online. I watched Star Wars on DVD many nights before bed. A few minutes at a time, I'd take days to months to finish each film. I explored the expanded universe books and comics. I spent hours reading Wookiepedia.

My love for Star Wars took its first blow upon the release of Revenge of the Sith. I went opening night with a group of friends. My buddy next to me was texting his girlfriend throughout the movie which annoyed and affected my experience. Overall, I was disappointed. No Darth Vader! I liked the dark side in Anakin slaughtering the village of sand people in Attack of the Clones. I wanted to see a modern Darth Vader killing Jedi knights, not a crying Anakin throwing a tantrum at Obi Wan Kenobi. I've since come to appreciate Revenge of the Sith, especially with the addition of the deleted scenes that sell the fall of Anakin a lot better.

Since Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars has produced disappointment after disappointment. So much potential energy wasted. Meanwhile, I have broadened my tastes and knowledge. Now, it's really hard to enjoy Star Wars. So many childish and silly characters, creatures, or technologies. The worst part is the inconsistencies in both logic and continuity. With the abundance of Star Wars nerds, it's truly alarming that the movies and shows can continuously produce content that creates and furthers discontinuity. Seriously, hire one person, or program an AI, whose only purpose is to fact check and verify continuity. This could start to bring balance to the force.

I might expand of this later. In recent years, I find the commentary and fan productions to be the best Star Wars content. I find them a lot more enjoyable than the original content. I have a playlist of my favorite fan edits. The animations are the only Star Wars content I've been able to enjoy in the last decade plus. I'm more forgiving with the animations, for some reason. The exploration is fun. The animations have some great moments and scenes. Tales of the Jedi and The Seige of Mandalore are my favorite stories Star Wars has released in the last 19 years. Here are my recommendations for where to go and start with the animations.

Kenobi: A New Lie

Obi Wan Kenobi is manipulative and a liar. 

My Background

I loved Star Wars (SW) growing up. Star Wars was a big part of my childhood, but now it's hard to care. Click here for a longer version of my background. Because Star Wars is a global empire, I'm often called to action in a Star Wars discussions. Thus, this rant.

Introduction

The World According to Star Wars, by Cass R. Sunstein, provides excellent Star Wars commentary. Sunstein's passion and intellectualism inspired me to rewatch the Prequel Trilogy (PT) and the Original Trilogy (OT) in chronological order, episodes 1-6. A few friends joined me and we discussed, mostly argued about, the movies. I was mostly complaining about logical inconsistencies and the childish storytelling. Watching the movies became more like work than fun. Most of the time, I would have preferred to do something else. There are a lot of great scenes and shots, but the non great aspects distract me so much from the story.

This time, it is blatantly obvious that the Jedi are wrong about most important issues addressed in the Star Wars trilogies. This topic inspired a three part series titled The Jedi Suck:

• Kenobi: A New Lie - Obi-Wan Kenobi sucks.
• Yoda: The Empire Tells the Truth - Yoda's mistakes highlight how Jedi suck
  
• Jedi Suck: Return of the Same - not sure yet, but it needs a 3rd essay.

The Jedi Suck series will sum up why the Jedi suck by focusing on the errors of the two remaining Jedi in the OT. (don't get me wrong the Sith suck too, but no essay required for that).

Master of Manipulation

Shortly after Obi Wan Kenobi saved Luke Skywalker and the droids from Sandpeople, the camera shoots to Luke and Kenobi discussing Anakin Skywalker. Kenobi uses Anakin Skywalker to manipulate Luke against Uncle Owen: (click here to read or watch the full scene within the original context)

"That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."

This sets up Uncle Owen as the opposition. According to the Prequel Trilogy, Uncle Owen is a step sibling with next to zero interactions with Anakin. Kenobi insinuates Uncle Own choose to lie about Luke's father. But Kenobi was the one who delivered Luke to Owen. Kenobi most likely instructed Owen to raise the newborn and hide his identity. Why not tell Luke more of the truth? Why not give Luke a clearer and more complete version of the story? Luke is with Owen because of Kenobi and the Jedi! Not because of Luke's parents or Uncle Owen. Kenobi and Yoda decided to hide Luke and keep the truth from Luke. Owen has been the father to Luke, not Kenobi. Kenobi has been a strange old hermit. You could argue Owen is more concerned with Luke's well being than Kenobi. For these reasons, Kenobi manipulates Luke. Kenobi adds:

"I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this {light saber] when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did."

Straight lie. Anakin Skywalker didn't tell Kenobi about his wife's pregnancy, not to mention leaving a light saber for a child. Kenobi further pits Luke against his Owen. Kenobi implies that it's Owen who prevented Luke from training, fighting, and adventures.

Luke asks Kenobi how his father died. Kenobi says:

"A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force."

This is the most acceptable lie in the conversation, but still a lie, and questionably acceptable. 

After Leia's message, Kenobi wants Luke to join him on a mission. Luke says no. Kenobi says:

"That's your uncle talking;"

Kenobi is constructing Owen as the manipulator. According to Kenobi's reasoning and information provided, Owen holds Luke back from Anakin's wants and desires.

Recap of manipulation, Kenobi creates an opposition between Luke and Owen by describing differences between Anakin and Owen (the accuracy of these claims are questionable). As far as Luke knows, Kenobi reveals the truth about Luke's father (although Kenobi intentionally didn't). This exposes Uncle Owen as untrustworthy (but Kenobi is as, if not more, untrustworthy than Owen). In conclusion, Kenobi links Luke's ideas with Uncle Owen's lies.

Finally Kenobi reminds Luke that the choice is Luke's, not Uncle Owen's. Kenobi says:

"You must do what you feel is right, of course."

Of course! Kenobi gives Luke the illusion of agency. Luke is free to choose. Except, Luke can not properly" feel" what is right because he isn't well informed. Kenobi is well informed, and he could have better informed Luke. Yet, Kenobi plays the "you must do what you feel is right, of course" card.

This is text book manipulation. The scene structurally parallels how Palpatine deceives Anakin in Revenge of the Sith. Palpatine draws attention to insecurities of Anakin's. Palpatine uses those insecurities to cast doubt on the Jedi, Senator Amidala, and Kenobi. Palpatine's manipulation is more blatant, but Kenobi is doing the same thing. He's lying or bending the truth to manipulate Luke against the inevitable argument with Uncle Owen about leaving home. Kenobi doesn't know Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru are dead. So he needs to distance Luke from Owen and create reasons to build credibility over Owen. Kenobi does this by using Luke's attachment to his biological father (more on this to come in parts two and three). Kenobi is building his authority and argument by aligning himself with Anakin and the jedi. Kenobi ignores Anakin's fall to the dark side and the responsibility Kenobi feels about his role in Anakin's fall. Kenobi leaves out all the parts about the jedi being incompetent and misguided which would be very important for a person considering following an old hermit on a suicide mission.

Luke isn't informed enough to "do what he feels is right." Owen doesn't get the chance refute what Kenobi says, and Kenobi controls the flow of information. After Owen's death, Luke is left with few, if any, alternative options than following Kenobi. 

(I'm going to note, but not expand, that Luke could have and would have banged his sister because of Kenobi's lies)

Was Kenobi Right?

Hell no.

Kenobi is controlling Luke's decision by not giving Luke more information. I doubt many Star Wars fans would want to be treated that way by a mentor. I doubt many education, psychology, or economic studies find that being less informed makes for preferable decision making.

Kenobi is the school district that only teaches abstinence only sexual education. It's ineffective, but even if it was effective, it'd be questionable because it doesn't help students make informed choices. It doesn't help students understand the complexities of sex, sexual relations, biology, etc. It's a manipulative approach to education that attempts to control young people. Abstinence only policy makers may have the students best interest in their minds, but that doesn't make it right. Kenobi isn't being selfish, but that doesn't make him right either.

Kenobi doesn't trust people because of the fall of Anakin and the Republic. Kenobi doesn't trust Luke to make the right choice. Kenobi thinks he knows what's best for Luke because he learned from his and the jedi's failures with Anakin. As usual, Kenobi and the Jedi learned the wrong lesson. Luke restores balance to the galaxy because of his attachments, not because of old jedi living in isolation. More to these ideas in the next essays.

Conclusion

Don't be like Kenobi! (Luke eventually makes similar mistakes with Ben Solo)

Teach your children, students, mentees, etc by educating them. Education isn't and shouldn't be a selection bias to protect students. Students and young people are resilient. Don't let the Darth Vaders of the world earn credibility by telling or teaching young people "the truth." The truth about topics that teachers/parents avoided for someone's protection. Tell your Lukes yourself. They can handle it and learn from it. Teach them to think critically and attempt to make rational choices. Teach them a variety of systems of thinking. They'll be able to use the force better with the more tools and knowledge they have.

Kenobi and Luke Scene

This is the full scene for anyone who wants the full context for my essay Kenobi: A New Lie. Watch the scene here in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, or read the scene below. I bolded the text I used in my essay.

In Kenobi's home.

LUKE: No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a spice freighter.

BEN: That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.

LUKE: You fought in the Clone Wars?

BEN: Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.

LUKE: I wish I'd known him.

BEN: He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a good friend. Which reminds me... I have something here for you. Your
father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did.

Ben hands Luke the saber.

LUKE: What is it?

BEN: Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.

LUKE: How did my father die?

BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.

LUKE: The Force?

BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.

They play the Leia message.

BEN: You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan.

LUKE: (laughing) Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is.

BEN: I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.

LUKE: I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here.

BEN: That's your uncle talking.

LUKE: (sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?

BEN: Learn about the Force, Luke.

LUKE: Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going.

BEN: You must do what you feel is right, of course.

Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith Extended Edition

I listened to and really liked this book, The World According to Star Wars, over summer and now I am finally rewatching Star Wars Episodes 1-6. A few friends and I are discussing, mostly arguing, about them on whatsapp.

I just finished Episode II Attack of the Clones. I'm going to make an extended watch list for Episode III Revenge of the Sith that included the best from the animations. Here it is in order:

Tales of the Jedi:

• "Justice" S01E02
• "Choices" S01E03
• "The Sith Lord" S01E04
• "Practice Makes Perfect" S01E05 why Ahsoka is a badass!
  

Here is a fan edit combining the following in one chronological narrative:

• Clone Wars The Siege of Mandalore S07E09-E12
• Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith

I'm excited to watch this extended version of RotS.

Animated Star Wars Starting Points

The final season of Clone Wars was okay, but the last arc of the series was awesome. It made me excited about Star Wars for the first time since I saw Darth Vader in Rebels and previously Vader in Rogue One.

The final four episodes of Clone Wars, S07E09-E12, take place during Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith. The soundtrack and visuals capture the tension of those final events leading to the collapse of the Republic and the rise of the Empire.

Here is a watch list for anyone who wants to dive into Clone Wars (CW), Rebels, and the other animated stories while avoiding most of the silly childish recycled plots.

All you need to know before starting my recommended runs is that Ashoka is a padawan assigned to Anakin. Ashoka is similar to Anakin in many ways. Darth Maul didn't die and is a struggling bad guy. Rex, one of the clone troopers, is one of the main characters of Clone Wars. That's it; skip all the trash; and you'll be fine.

Clone Trooper Stories

• Clone Wars "Clone Cadets" S03E01- a clone trooper boot camp story with a good moral for kids and adults.
• Clone Wars "Rookies" S01E05- continuing with the troopers from "Clone Cadets." Echo, Fives, and Cutup join Rex. These characters will play larger roles in the future arcs.
• Clone Wars "ARC Troopers" S03E02- the main trooper characters protect their homeland.
• Clone Wars Battle of Umbara S04E07-E10- the clone troopers start questioning their purpose and value as soldiers. (very popular run)
• Clone Wars The Clone Conspiracy Arc S06E01-E04- Order 66 is discovered and covered up. (my favorite Clone Trooper story)
• Clone Wars The Bad Batch Run S07E01-E04-  if you are interested in the Bad Batch series, it starts here.
  

Count Dooku's backstory in Tales of the Jedi 

• "Justice" S01E02
• "Choices" S01E03
• "The Sith Lord" S01E04

Ahsoka

• Tales of the Jedi "Practice Makes Perfect" S01E05- why Ahsoka is a badass!
• Clone Wars Ahsoka’s Exit S05E17-E20- Ahsoka is set up, leading Anakin to casts doubts on the Jedi Order.
• Clone Wars The Clone Conspiracy Arc S06E01-E04- Order 66 is discovered and covered up.
• Clone Wars The Siege of Mandalore S07E09-E12 (The Best!)- Ahsoka finds out everything about Darth Sidious's plan. She tries to warn Anakin that he is a pawn to Darth Sidious's. Written by Dave Filoni!
• Start Episode 9 at 6 minutes when Ahsoka arrives
• Tales of the Jedi "Resolve" S01E06  
• Ahsoka Tano Rebels Arc (lots of overlap with Vader Rebels Arc

Star Wars Rebels- seasons 1 and 2 are fun for a kids show.

• "Twilight of the Apprentice" S02E21-E22 (Awesome Darth Vader!) Directed and written by Dave Filoni 
• Edits from Disney XD youtube channel:  
• Darth Vader Rebels Arc (highly recommended Darth Vader this 25 minute edit. James Earl Jones is Vader!)
• Final Maul vs Obi-Wan Rebels Rebels S03E20- my favorite Kenobi scene in all of Star Wars
  

Other Popular Runs

• Clone Wars The Mandalore Trilogy S02E12-E14- prequel to The Siege of Mandalore
• Clone Wars The Mortis Trilogy S03E15-E17
• Yoda’s Arc S06E10-E13
• Darth Maul Arcs
• The Nightsisters Trilogy CW S03E12-E14
• The Return of Maul CW S04E19-E22
• Shadow Conspiracy CW S05E01, S05E14-E16
• E16 "Lawless" has an awesome saber battle 
• Final Maul vs Obi-Wan Rebels Rebels S03E20 (3 minute must watch!) 
• "Twilight of the Apprentice" Rebels S02E21-E22