Things are starting to pick up on the Ahsoka series this week.
Expect spoilers for this week’s episode ahead.
One thing that is clear is that this show is much more focused and does away with filler episodes (so far) unlike more recent live-action Star Wars offerings (Book Of Boba Fett, Mandalorian Season 3). We see Hera dealing with New Republic politics and the first few cracks in their armor that will allow The First Order to form later on (Shoutout of course to Genevieve O’Reilly for returning as Mon Mothma hot on the heels of her appearance in last year’s Andor series). We also get a space shootout with Shin Hati and some impressive saber-work from Ahsoka.
It’s always a good time with Chancellor Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) around. Image from Dork Side of the Force.
But more importantly we get a few tender scenes between Ahsoka Tano and her apprentice, Sabine. Ahsoka is dismayed to hear Huyang was brutally honest with Sabine about her Jedi potential, but Ahsoka isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet on her.
Can Anyone Really be A Jedi?
Ahsoka decides to pull the ‘ol “Blast shield helmet” training moment, an obvious pull from A New Hope where Obi-Wan does the same with Luke. Sabine even echoes Luke with her line “I can’t see, how am I supposed to fight”? As the audience we kind of expect this to be a turning moment for Sabine, but it goes extremely unwell for them. Sabine just doesn’t have the aptitude for the Force. Sabine laments: “I can’t use the Force. I don’t feel it. Not like you do.”
Now this would be the point where Ahsoka would mention Midichlorian counts or something to explain Sabine’s difficulties. But she instead replies with “Talent is a factor. But training and focus are what truly define someone’s success.” Ahsoka then uses the force to pull a cup from across the table and follows with “Not everyone can handle the type of discipline it takes to master the ways of the Force. Start small.”
Sabine is going to need more practice with that visor. Image from Laughing Place.
This is interesting because it kind of undoes the rules of how the Force has worked up until now. Starting with The Phantom Menace Star Wars dashed everyone’s hopes when it was decided that someone’s genetics determined if they were Jedi material and that was it. Most recently with The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi it was implied that the Force can be “activated” in a lucky few and they could become Force prodigies very quickly.
Here we have the understanding that because the Force resides in all living things it can therefore be used by all beings provided they have the requisite discipline. Which is a much cooler concept.
Closing Thoughts
Granted, it might be a bit hyperbolic to say that midichlorian counts don’t matter anymore. They give you a massive head start. Even Filoni said back in 2016 that “natural talent, combined with training and discipline, create the best Force users”.
But Ahsoka now states that midichlorians are not the end-all-be-all final say in WHO a Jedi can be. More likely it means that someone like Sabine would have to train four times as hard to move a rock than say Rey would. In a series like Star Wars that appeals to many people around the world it’s cool that they are making the Force less ableist and more inclusive. Over on our fan page, GNN Greats, Sean Fox chimed in with his thoughts about midichlorians: “Convoluted, and demystifies the force. Takes away the ideas of the power of belief and hard work.” I agree with him.
What do you guys think? Sound off in the comments if you agree or disagree. I would love to read your thoughts. Who knows, we may even feature your comments in a future piece we write. Be sure to subscribe to GeekNewsNow for all our Star Wars opinions and hot takes, and follow our Facebook page here. Until next time, stay geeky out there!
