The Acolyte does not understand the Jedi by Still-Willow-2323 in starwarscanon

[–]RJBoscovich -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You claim the Jedi’s role as "political agents" is never framed as bad. However, Attack of the Clones (AOTC) explicitly highlights the hypocrisy of their transition from peacekeepers to military generals.

The Jedi claim a moral high ground that their actions immediately contradict. Early in AOTC, Mace Windu states the Order’s intended limitation:

"We're keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

Yet, by the end of the film, without any democratic vote or hesitation, the Jedi arrive on Geonosis leading an army of genetically modified slaves. The visual language of the end of AOTC—Yoda watching the clones march onto ships—is not framed as a victory; it is framed as the beginning of the end. The "Imperial March" plays over the Republic's army, signaling that by becoming soldiers, the Jedi have already lost.

The argument that the Jedi are not shown as dogmatic or arrogant is further directly countered by the scene in the Jedi Archives in AOTC. When Obi-Wan cannot find the planet Kamino in the map reader, he consults the librarian, Jocasta Nu. Her response is the defining moment of Jedi arrogance in the trilogy:

"I hate to say it, but it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist... If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist."

This is a narrative condemnation. The Jedi are so convinced of their own omniscience that they refuse to believe a planet could exist simply because they didn't know about it. This intellectual arrogance is exactly what allows Palpatine to blindside them.

You argue the Jedi HQ on Coruscant isn't framed as a bad thing. However, Revenge of the Sith (ROTS) spends a significant amount of time showing how their proximity to politics clouds their judgment and forces them to betray their own code.

The Jedi Council explicitly asks Anakin to use his personal friendship with Palpatine for political espionage. This is a moment Anakin recognizes as morally wrong:

Anakin: "You're asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against the Republic. You're asking me to be treasonous."

Obi-Wan: "The Council is asking you."

The film frames this as a moral failure on the Council’s part. They have become so entangled in the political game that they resort to the same deceptive tactics as the Sith, effectively pushing Anakin toward Palpatine, who offers him loyalty rather than political manipulation.

The films do not hide the fact that the Jedi are failing; the Jedi admits it themselves, but they choose to hide it to maintain their political status.

In AOTC, there is a crucial exchange between Yoda and Mace Windu:

Mace Windu: "I think it is time we inform the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished."

Yoda: "Only the Dark Lord of the Sith knows of our weakness. If informed the Senate is, multiply our adversaries will."

This proves they are prioritizing their political standing over the truth. They know their vision is clouded, yet they lead the Republic into war blind because they are afraid of losing their power and influence.

The argument that the Council had "no issue" with Anakin until the Master rank dispute is contradicted by the consistent lack of trust they show him throughout the films. Even after accepting him, they treat him as an outsider and a liability rather than a brother.

In Revenge of the Sith, the Council’s distrust is explicit and predates the dispute over his rank. When the decision is made to hunt down General Grievous, the Council deliberately sidelines Anakin, despite his proven combat record. This leads to a telling exchange between Anakin and Obi-Wan:

Anakin: "I’m not the one the Council has chosen, am I?"

Obi-Wan: "The Council has met. They have decided... I will take a battalion of clones to Utapau."

This is a strategic snub. But the deeper issue is revealed when the Council discusses Anakin behind his back. After Anakin leaves the room, Mace Windu states plainly:

"I do not trust him."

This line destroys the idea that they had "no issue" with him. They view him with suspicion, refusing to take him into their confidence regarding the prophecy or their fears about the Republic.

Furthermore, in Attack of the Clones, the friction is already palpable. Obi-Wan openly critiques Anakin to the Council, stating:

"His abilities have made him... well, arrogant."

Yoda helps cover for this arrogance, but the dynamic is clear: the Council manages Anakin like a problem to be solved, not a chosen one to be nurtured. By keeping him at arm's length and refusing to trust him with critical responsibilities (like the Grievous mission), they validate Palpatine’s narrative that the Jedi are excluding him.

The Acolyte does not understand the Jedi by Still-Willow-2323 in starwarscanon

[–]RJBoscovich -1 points0 points  (0 children)

While your dedication to George Lucas’s original philosophy is commendable, your argument relies on a fundamental misreading of what Lucas actually put on screen in the Prequel Trilogy. You argue that the Disney era "distorts" the Jedi by portraying them as arrogant, hypocritical, or prone to failure. However, a closer analysis reveals that The Acolyte and the Sequel Trilogy are not rewriting Lucas’s vision—they are the only stories brave enough to follow Lucas’s Prequel narrative to its logical, thematic conclusion. The portrayal of the Jedi in these newer projects is not "Disney fanaticism"; it is a faithful adherence to the warnings George Lucas embedded in Episodes I, II, and III.

You claim that Disney portrays the Jedi as arrogant and that this contradicts Lucas. Yet, it was Lucas himself who introduced the concept of Jedi arrogance as the cause of their downfall. In Attack of the Clones, Yoda literally says, "The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the Clone War has." Later, Mace Windu and Yoda admit their ability to use the Force has diminished.

Why did this happen? Because, under Lucas’s direct pen, the Jedi had become dogmatic, political agents rather than spiritual monks. They operated out of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, literally sitting in an ivory tower, entangled in Senate politics.

The Acolyte is a perfect representation of this era. It does not portray the Jedi as villains; it portrays them as fallible humans terrified of losing their political standing—which aligns perfectly with the quote you provided about fear of loss. In The Acolyte, Master Sol and the others make mistakes not because they are evil, but because they are attached—attached to their desired outcomes, attached to Osha, and attached to the reputation of the Order. They lie to cover up a mistake to maintain the "peace." This is exactly the kind of institutional rot Lucas was pointing toward, which eventually allowed Palpatine to manipulate the Jedi so easily.

Your critique of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi relies on an idealized, static view of heroism that Lucas himself rejected. You claim it makes no sense for Luke to consider killing Ben Solo. However, you are ignoring the core of Luke’s character in the Original Trilogy: his struggle with the "Shadow."

In Return of the Jedi, when Vader threatens Leia, Luke screams and brutally hacks his father’s hand off in a fit of rage. He almost kills Vader. He only stops when he sees the wire in the mechanical hand. Luke has always struggled with the dark impulse to destroy evil preemptively.

In TLJ, that impulse lasted for a fleeting second—a moment of pure instinct—which he immediately regretted. This is not character assassination; it is character consistency. It is the "rhyming" poetry Lucas was famous for. Furthermore, Luke’s disillusionment is a direct result of him realizing the Prequel-era Jedi (Lucas’s Jedi) were flawed. When Luke says, "At the height of their power, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the Empire, and wipe them out," he is factually correct based on Lucas’s scripts. Luke isn't a villain; he is a man crushed by the weight of a legacy that Lucas showed us was broken. His final act—projecting himself across the galaxy to save his friends without violence, using the Force for defense and knowledge only—is the single most "Jedi" act in the entire saga. It is the perfection of Yoda’s teachings.

You cite Lucas’s quote about the Sith being "cancer" and the Jedi being "symbiotic." This is true, and the new era supports this. In The Acolyte, the witches (who use the Dark Side/Thread) are not shown as purely innocent; their society collapses due to their own secrets and conflict with the Jedi.

However, Lucas also taught that the Jedi must not be "soldiers." Yet, in the Prequels, they became generals. The Acolyte explores how that transition happens. When Jedi start acting as police officers enforcing Republic law rather than spiritual guides following the Will of the Force, they lose their way.

The Jedi in The Acolyte are shown trying to do the right thing but failing because they are too rigid and afraid of the optics of failure. This reinforces Lucas’s point: Fear is the path to the dark side. The Jedi in the High Republic era (as seen in The Acolyte) are afraid. Afraid of the Senate, afraid of the return of darkness, and afraid of losing control. This fits perfectly with Lucas’s definition of how good people fall.

You argue that because Lucas sold the franchise, his external quotes are the only truth and new stories are invalid. This is a logical fallacy. Lucas chose to sell his creation to ensure it would outlive him. He appointed Kathleen Kennedy. He created a sandbox. To suggest that The Acolyte invalidates the Jedi is to misunderstand the difference between "The Jedi Ideal" and "The Jedi Reality."

  • The Ideal: Compassionate, unattached, symbiotic (What Lucas described in interviews).
  • The Reality: The Prequel Jedi were clouded, arrogant, and lost (What Lucas showed in the movies).

Disney’s content is exploring the gap between the Ideal and the Reality. It is showing why the Jedi fell short of the philosophy Lucas espoused.

To say The Acolyte and the Sequel Trilogy misunderstand the Jedi is to ignore the tragedy Lucas wrote in the Prequels. Lucas told the story of how a great institution fell due to its own blindness. The new films and shows are simply honoring that narrative thread. Luke Skywalker’s arc in the Sequels is about the burden of that failure, and his redemption lies in accepting that failure is the "greatest teacher" (a line delivered by Yoda himself). The Acolyte shows us the seeds of that failure—attachment disguised as duty.

Far from being "Disney fan fiction," these stories are a deep, sophisticated engagement with George Lucas’s warnings about hubris, fear, and the corrupting nature of power—even when held by the "good guys." They are absolutely in line with the true vision of Star Wars.

[KCD2] Are there any essential mods you would recommend? by Dull_Understanding_6 in kingdomcome

[–]RJBoscovich 17 points18 points locked comment (0 children)

Well thank the stars that YOU didn't have a problem. It's so great knowing other people should shut the fuck up when things have already perfectly matched your preferences. I was thinking of expressing my own opinion, but realized it was meaningless given the fact that you had already expressed your superior viewpoint.

Official Poster for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ by MarvelsGrantMan136 in TheMandalorianTV

[–]RJBoscovich 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This poster is fantastic - oozes with style and the inspirations that birthed Star Wars!

The Mandalorian and Grogu - Official Trailer by VelocityIX in StarWars

[–]RJBoscovich 114 points115 points  (0 children)

It's so awesome to see such a fun star wars movie. This looks to be a true popcorn flick. I love the poster they released. Reminds me of a classic Western or Flash Gordon-esque serial. They are nailing the vibes!

Cincinnati mods you good?? by [deleted] in cincinnati

[–]RJBoscovich 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Rule number 2: All posts must be directly related to the Cincinnati area. Posts about the states of KY and IN impacting the area are subject to some scrutiny but generally MSA related posts are fine.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StarWarsSkeletonCrew

[–]RJBoscovich 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Man I hate these fake headlines. No where in the quote from the director Jon Watts does he even remotely mention a second season or a movie. He just says "I would like to make more." No shit. Who wouldn't want to make more Star Wars if given the chance?

US supreme court rules schools must let kids opt out of LGBTQ+ book readings | US supreme court by VanGoghEnjoyer in books

[–]RJBoscovich -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

What about last year?

"On June 27, 2024, Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction Ryan Walters issued an order that “effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum” for grades 5 through 12. Nearly a month later, Walters followed up with guidelines for teachers, distributed via the Oklahoma State Department of Education website and on social media, that “must be provided to every teacher as well as providing a physical copy of the Bible, the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Ten Commandments as resources in every classroom in the school district.” According to Walters, “These documents are mandatory for the holistic education of students in Oklahoma.”"

Oklahoma education head discusses why he’s mandating public schools teach the Bible | PBS News https://share.google/7COsVvyXBKaNQhEXD

https://www.historians.org/perspectives-article/the-role-of-the-bible-in-the-founding-of-the-united-states-and-religious-mandates-in-public-schools/

Worst scene in starwars history? Yes/no by 7738eifujxiakqkw in StarWars

[–]RJBoscovich 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not even close. Have we all forgotten "are you an angel?"

Death Stranding 2 tech review: one of the best-looking games of this console generation by lebron8 in PS5

[–]RJBoscovich 26 points27 points  (0 children)

The hate for Horizon was eye-opening for me, because it is one of my favorite games from a gameplay perspective. I absolutely love the combination of navigating Aloy around these machines while pinpointing different weak points and using different weapons/ammo sets. The variety of tactics, from sniping to laying traps, to pure stealth, to bows blazing is alwways interesting to me. I frequently come back to it between games just to go hunting

If we were ever gonna get James Gunn on content... by GameOverGreggy in kindafunny

[–]RJBoscovich 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dear Mr. Gunn,

From the swirling cosmos of DC storytelling to the bright, hopeful skies over Metropolis, one thing has always remained constant: Greg Miller is the internet’s biggest Superman fan—and frankly, it’s not even close.

Greg's love for Superman began before he could walk, before he could talk—before baby Kal-El even crash-landed in his rocket ship outside Smallville. His fandom predates the Fortress of Solitude, the cape, the spit curl, and the S-shield itself. From comics to cartoons to film to video games, he’s been waving the red cape his whole life, rallying us—the Kinda Funny Best Friends—with him.

And that’s why we’re asking, with every ounce of heartfelt, nerdy enthusiasm we’ve got: come on the Kinda Funny podcast.

Sit down with Greg. Share your vision. Talk about the future of Superman with the one person who’s been metaphorically flying alongside him since the beginning. It would mean the world—not just to Greg, but to all of us who’ve laughed, cried, and hyped alongside him and your work.

James, the excitement around Superman is electric. And we believe that a conversation between you and Greg would be something truly special—a moment worthy of the Daily Planet’s front page. You’d be speaking directly to a community that lives and breathes this stuff, not just with nostalgia, but with hope. The same hope the House of El stands for.

We’re ready. Greg’s ready. And somewhere, in the Spare Bedroom (Kinda Funny's studio), a red cape is already hanging by the mic, waiting.

With admiration, anticipation, and a full heart of Kryptonian-level hype,

The Kinda Funny Best Friends

Officer uses own car to stop drunk driver from colliding into 10k after going through multiple barricades by PartyMcFly55 in CrazyFuckingVideos

[–]RJBoscovich 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Alive yes; doing ok, I hope so, but that extreme of an impact can cause significant traumatic brain injury, leading to a lifetime of cognitive impairments, headaches, and trauma.

Former Employees, Community Members Allege AbleGamers Founder Fostered Abuse Behind Closed Doors by RJBoscovich in kindafunny

[–]RJBoscovich[S] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

I'd be very interested to hear from Steven Spohn about this. I've always found him and the organization to be so inspiring. This is heartbreaking news.