Well, Jon Bonné gave and you had some answers for him and a few of your own questions. Many of you point to the books, video games and even the cartoon series for more answers on the series. Many of you believe that we've been thinking about this way too much. In any case, here are some of your thoughts.
Those pesky droidsWhy do C-3PO and R2-D2 have no memory whatsoever in Episode IV of their original master - Anakin Skywalker? If they have been around since the beginning, wouldn't they know Darth Vader, wouldn't they know that Luke is his son (or at least recognize the name Skywalker), wouldn't they know who Obi-Wan Kenobi is? Did their memory get erased at some point? By who? Why? — Matt Cornell, Dallas, Texas
The story behind the SithFirst of all the Sith is an ancient offshoot of the Jedi order, which was made of young knights who felt anger, fear and other emotions were only the path to strength and power, while the Jedi council felt inner peace and compassion were the way of the Jedi, not strong emotion. Seeing that these knights and their Padawans could prove to be dangerous, and could not be persuaded from darkness, the Jedi exiled them to unknown space. So the Dark Force users traveled through the galaxy searching for some place to call home. They found a desolate planet which held a dark secret, this planet was called Korriban, whose natives where tall, dark skinned, vamparic, horned beings who were naturally cruel and wicked and they called themselves Sith. Now at this point the dark Jedi show give a vulgar display of power and are accepted by the Sith and over a few thousand years the two cultures became one and the Sith were born, but true Sith (as in the natives of Korriban) are extinct. —Alex
Jedi visionsThe visions of deceased Jedi are just that: visions experience by a Jedi linked to them. Leia and Han (and the Ewoks) didn't see Yoda, Anakin and Obi-Wan at the end of Jedi, Luke did. Luke was trained by Yoda, by Obi-Wan, and linked genetically to Anakin. I would assume a Jedi's powers diminish in death (contrary to Obi-Wan's pre-death warning to Vader — I never got how he became more powerful) and thus can reach only to other's in possession of The Force. —Name withheld
Yoda's hideoutRegarding the reason why Yoda went to Dagobah. In one of the games created by LucasArts, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the reason is given. I don't know if it is the right one, but it is a reason nonetheless. The reason given was that Yoda went to Dagobah because he hoped that the planet's strong dark side aura would be able to hide him. —Lily Lorkowski, El Paso, Texas
The politics of NabooUpon politics: Lots of countries elect/used to elect their monarchs. Not a lot of countries use universal suffrage to do so, but universal suffrage is not the only form of democracy. Actually, the ancient Greeks feared universal suffrage, calling it Mob Rule, but that's a whole nother story. Technically, the Pope is elected, Scandinavian royalty is elected, the Anglo-Saxon kings were elected, the Holy Roman Emperor was elected. For all we know, Naboo is an absolute elected monarchy — we don't know, and we don't really need to. But senators don't directly influence policy on Naboo; they represent Naboo in the Galactic senate. So the monarch may appoint a senator much as a Prime Minister might appoint an ambassador, or a rep to the U.N. The real dichotomy, to me anyhow, lies in the contrasts between institutional and charismatic power Lucas tantalizingly fiddles with, and then drops. —Vian Lawson, Melbourne, Australia
Shmi's unfortunate outcomeNo, the most important question is why neither the Jedi nor Padme ever made arrangements to free Anakin’s mother. Why was she left for 10 years? Why wasn't Anakin allowed to attempt to contact her when his nightmares started. Also, when Qui-Gon was attacked on Tatooine, why wasn't the first Sith sighting in 1000 years and an attempt to run down the chosen one with a speeder seen as something to take note of? —Edward Charboneau, Marquette, Mich.
The mysterious Ben KenobiBen Kenobi states to Luke in Ep IV that his father wanted him to have his lightsaber when he was older. How would Anakin know about Luke being alive? Also Ben's ghost states after Luke leaves Dagobah that " that boy was our last hope" and Yoda says, "No there is another." (Leia) Ben should have known that too. Ben also says to Luke in Empire he should go to Dagobah and seek Yoda the Jedi Master who instructed him. Yoda did not instruct Obi-Wan, Qui Gon was his master. Ben does not even seem recognize R2-D2 and C-3PO. —Michael, Mesa, Ariz.
Luke by any other nameI disagree with your point regarding Jedi training. While ideally one would go through a full training program, it seems fairly obvious that corners are cut out of necessity: 1) Yoda is old, and knows that his time is nearly up, 2) there's a war on, that isn't going well for the rebellion, so getting Luke back into the fray as quickly as possible is warranted. Yoda probably told him that he didn't need any more training as a confidence booster (since he wasn't going to be getting off of his deathbed to continue the training).
I disagree with a certain extent to a number of the points that you hope to see resolved, but primarily because my "knowledge" is augmented through reading much of the original fiction based on the movies. Lucas gave a lot of insight and guidance to these writers, who fleshed out much of the “Star Wars” universe. One thing I'd like to know, but don't expect to be revealed — what was the point of "hiding" Luke under his real last name? —Ed March, Princeton Junction, N.J.
Who dies, who vanishes?As I was reading this I was hoping you'd include the Jedi disappearing when dying. I'm glad you slipped in the end. I didn't notice it in the battle of Geonosis but I did notice that Vader and Qui Gon were burned when they died, however Obi Wan and Yoda disappeared. I 100 percent believe that Qui Gon recruited Anakin for the Sith. Remember in "Attack" when it was known that Qui Gon was Dooku's apprentice? And when Obi-Wan said to Dooku that Qui Gon Jinn would never join him, Dooku replied "Don't be so sure." I would also like some explanation on who has the power to throw lightning from their hand and who doesn't. We never see Vader do it in Episodes VI, V, VI but we see Dooku can do it in Episode II. I wonder if there is a chance we will hear from Emperor Palpatine in "Sith," "Anakin, I am your father". Too much of a stretch you think? —Eric Harris, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Explain yourself, Lord VaderGood article in MSNBC.com regarding the 10 things that need to be resolved from Episode III, but there is one more that has bothered me since 1982. As Vader is dying, he tells Luke "Tell Obi-Wan he was right." Right about what? There is obviously some serious advice that Anakin was given that he ignored or dissed Obi-Wan about, and it has eaten at him for decades. So I really want to know "Right about what?" —Marc Webster, Binghamton, N.Y.
Jedi strengthSeveral of these issues are actually answered in the various published “Star Wars” Books. For instance, Yoda picked Dagobah because at some point a powerful Sith Lord was killed there (in the cave that Luke walks into to confront his Dark Side). The presence of that much Dark Side energy masks his presence so that he remains undetected by the Sith. Also, the ability for a Jedi to stick around in spirit form after death is directly related to their strength in the force. Those that are weak won't stick around for long or at all, but those that are strong, like Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan are capable of sticking around for a while. You actually can't tell is Anakin disappears in the Jedi. In “A New Hope,” Obi-Wan's clothes are left behind, so you would think that since Anakin was mostly machine at that point, the machine would be left behind. You see him unhelmeted at one point, but when Luke is dragging him the helmet is back on. Later you see Luke burning the machine. —Name withheld
When did Palpatine turn?I want to know how Palpatine became a Sith in the first place? Was he a Jedi who left the order for politics and his grand scheme to take over the Galaxy, or did he just happen to have the dark side flowing through him? Big hole in the movies. —Melissa, Olathe, Ka.
Invasion of the Whill
Yoda's Species - Whill and in “A Phantom Menace,” there is another Whill named Yaddle! Yoda has had no experience with the Sith as they all were killed over 1,000 years before the “Phantom Menace.” He learned of them through Jedi Halocrons which are little spheres that hold information about the past, like little hard drives! Yoda at the end of “Revenge of the Sith” becomes an apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn, in his ghost form! The only Sith to survive was Darth Rage who adopted the rule of two and wend into hiding over the years. Back in the early days the Sith grew in numbers comparable to the Jedi, being 10,000 strong. They ultimately destroyed themselves because the Dark Side eventually takes control of you. The Sith desire more power than any one person can handle.
Leia has a force connection with Padme after she is born and that is how she remembers her mother. Anakin has dreams about Padme dying, which the emperor knows of and promises him he can save her from dying. He learned this skill from his Sith Master, Darth Plagious who taught it to him. When Windu confronts the Chancellor and is about to kill him. The love Anakin has for Padme and not wanting her to die is what turns Anakin to the Dark Side. Any other questions you need answered? —Steve Fields, Palm Springs Calif.
A Sith plotJust issues with No. 7 the reason the Jedi council is unaware of Sifo-Dyas commission of the clone army is because he didn't do it. The Kaminoins say he commissioned the army 10 years prior yet when conversing with Mace and Yoda, Obi-wan is told that he was killed 12 years before. Also Jango Fett says he was hired by a man named Tyrannous (as in Darth Tyranous aka Count Dooku) for the job as the clone blueprint. Obviously, the Sith are deceiving a backwater (no pun intended) planet that doesn't freely associate with the Republic so they wouldn't know master Sifo Dyas by sight, so either Dooku procured the job (which would mean he started as Sideous' new apprentice before the two halves of Maul hit the bottom) or (and this is actually explained in Lucasarts “Bounty Hunter”) Darth Sideous (Palpatine) ordered the job posing as a member of the council. I'm willing to bet Kamino doesn't do a reference check if you show up with the credits to raise a clone army. The assault of Naboo in Episode I did exactly what the Sith planned, put him in power, in Episode II he shored up that authority and we see he's been plotting for a loooonnngggg time. —Dan, Cincinnati, Ohio
The trouble with LeiaIn "Empire", Leia is standing right next to Darth as Han is being frozen. You would think if he can sense Luke, he would sense the Force in Leia. But then in "Jedi," before the final battle between Luke and Darth, Darth senses Luke has a sister because he feels what Luke is thinking. So you're saying he can sense there is another Skywalker through Luke's thoughts, but he can't pick up on the feeling himself just by standing next to her in "Empire"? She's offspring of Darth, so why wouldn't he sense her. Who knows? I am hoping "Sith" will explain why she is not portrayed in an equal and powerful role as Luke. Instead she is made out to be less important even though she is supposed to have the same power or potential as Luke does. Confusing. I'm also anxious to learn how Anakin wouldn't have already sensed his son Luke's potential as soon as he was born. Were Anakin's children separated before he could see them? I hope "Sith" will clear this up. —Jo, St. Louis, Mo.