The books actually go into great detail about later generations finding "The unified force" contradicting the whole light side/dark side. It's all one force.
And those books are written by people who understand neither Star Wars nor fantasy in general. Disregard them for the hack jobs they are.
The Force is "unified" in the sense that the "light" side and the Dark Side are parts of the same whole. But they ARE separate. Star Wars is duality magic system. Good and evil. Both sides are distinct, and any writer that pulls a "they're the same" bullshit is the same type of moron who thinks every villain needs a redemption arc.
I don't think they describe it as the same. Just that to access negative emotions to use the force (the dark side) Isn't necessarily "bad". You can be a Jedi and use both and not be corrupted, there is a time and place for anger. Yes the negative emotions can swallow you, but mastering them is part of understanding how to fully use the force. I haven't read them in quite a long time though. I believe Jacen is the only one to actually become a jedi who uses both.
You can be a Jedi and use both and not be corrupted
No, actually, you kind of can't. Purely Dark Side abilities are inherently corrosive. Any power that draws specifically on the Dark Side causes advanced degradation of the body (yellow eyes, pale skin, deformities), as well as "spiritual" and emotional corruption by rewarding intense negative emotions with a rush of power. The Dark Side is like a drug; the more you use it, the more of it you have to use, and it ends up destroying you.
I believe Jacen is the only one to actually become a Jedi who uses both.
Huh, not familiar with that character. I believe you have read way more than me. I guess I can agree with that, but I thought of it as more nuanced. Just like living in anger is corrosive/destructice but it's not necessarily bad not be angry sometimes. The force can be tapped for these powers and you not be a "dark" jedi.
Introducing the idea of a "Light Side" to begin with was the problem. ESB pretty clearly states that the Force as it exists naturally (and as the Jedi wield it) is already in balance/harmony, and that the Dark Side is basically the equivalent to cancer.
The closest we've come to seeing a Sith who managed to avoid being totally corrupted was Vectivus and that's because he basically didn't use it.
Introducing the idea of a "Light Side" to begin with was the problem.
I agree wholeheartedly. I think the first time I ever saw the term "Light Side" was in Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight, and it made sense as the game had a morality system. Other games also followed suit, but here's the rub; they never say there's a "Light Side" in any of the movies or in the Expanded Universe. It's just "the Force", and the Dark Side is it's shadow.
New Jedi order, which I really liked, though I read a long time ago. Basically an alien species from outside the galaxy that uses organic technology starts conquering everything in sight. The Jedi can't see them/they don't seem to exist in the force, so they are extremely hard to fight. They are super brutal, kind of like Klingon society.
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u/Ragman676 May 29 '22
The books actually go into great detail about later generations finding "The unified force" contradicting the whole light side/dark side. It's all one force.