Movies News Talk
Fans of the recently launched Disney+ Star Wars series, The Acolyte, have debated its inclusion of an apparently harmless joke that calls attention to the accepted canon of the Skywalker Saga. The joke in issue centers on the venerable phrase "May the Force be with you" and its apparently contradictory lack in the High Republic Era, set one hundred years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Set in the High Republic Era, The Acolyte offered a singular chance to examine a period of peace and prosperity inside the Star Wars universe. New stories, characters, and planets found rich ground in this golden age of the Jedi and the Republic. Although the show mostly followed accepted canon and deftly added fresh ideas, one episode in the finale begs questions.
In the last scene, Senator Rayencourt—an anti-Jedi senator seeking the Jedi's destruction—converses with Jedi Padawan Vernestra Rwoh. Rayencourt struggles to remember "May The Force Be With You," so mockingly says during their conversation. Although this could be taken as a jab at the Jedi, it suggests that the phrase was not common in this age.
This scene runs counter to the accepted wisdom on the Skywalker Saga. Set decades after the near eradication of the Jedi, the original trilogy has characters—both Jedi and non-Jedi—who naturally use the phrase. This implies that "May the Force be with you" was a common phrase used during the Dark Times, thus its apparent disappearance in the High Republic Era seems odd.
Rayencourt's apparent ignorance of the phrase might have been meant as a character moment, emphasizing his contempt of the Jedi and their methods. It might be a subdued approach to highlight his resistance to the Jedi's impact and their long-held Force belief. On the other hand, if the implication is that "May the Force be with you" was not a well-known phrase during the High Republic Era, it begs important issues regarding how it became such a common and iconic expression inside the galaxy during the first trilogy.
The inclusion of this apparently contradictory detail by The Acolyte begs issues about the harmony between narrative and canon. While consistency with accepted wisdom is important, occasionally artistic license is required to improve narrative impact and characterization.
Though only time will tell how this apparently little incident will be handled in next Star Wars stories, the show's creators most likely considered the possible consequences of this moment. Whether it's a basic check or a conscious attempt to investigate the changing relevance of the phrase "May the Force be with you," remains to be seen.
Examining a hitherto unexplored period, the Acolyte adds much to the Star Wars universe. Its inclusion of this apparently contradictory detail emphasizes the difficulties in expanding on accepted canon and adding fresh components. The writers of the show have an obligation to make sure that fresh stories coexist peacefully with past knowledge, so preventing startling contradictions that throw off the accepted chronology.
Though apparently little, the Acolyte's "May the Force Be With You" joke begs significant issues about the changing Star Wars canon. It reminds us that even apparently little elements can have significant effects on the whole universe and that consistency and resolution of possible contradictions are absolutely vital to guarantee the lifetime and integrity of the cherished franchise.