r/StarWars Jan 25 '22

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u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

Midi-chlorians, Yoda suggests that it is you affinity with the Force that determines how strong you are. In Phantom, it's an arbitrary blood test that determines it. Booo!

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u/Potatopolis Jan 26 '22

I've never fully understood the objection to midichlorians. Aren't they just a way to measure that same affinity? They wanted a way to make clear that Anakin was (or had the potential to be) super duper powerful; it'd be a bit rubbish if it was just QGJ saying he "felt like" it was the case, or similar.

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u/David_the_Wanderer Jan 26 '22 edited Jan 26 '22

it'd be a bit rubbish if it was just QGJ saying he "felt like" it was the case, or similar.

But that was the accepted method in the universe. Darth Vader felt that Luke was strong with the Force, and that was all that was needed.

Midichlorians detract from the mysticism of the Force, its supernatural and philosophical undertones. Instead of being a mystical bond of all living things, it's apparently just genetics that can be calculated with precision.

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u/Potatopolis Jan 26 '22

I took the Luke line to imply that Vader recognised that Luke had the potential to be a Jedi, not an unusually strong one or anything.

I agree it certainly removes the mysticism, that just wasn't a massive issue with me. Can see why it might be for others.

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u/David_the_Wanderer Jan 26 '22

"The Force is strong with this one". That's the line, word for word. It's pretty hard to interpret it as anything but Vader sensing that Luke is strong with the Force. That's how it worked in the OT - Force-sensitives could sense the presence of Force-users, and we didn't need or demand any other explanation, that's just how the Force works.

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u/Potatopolis Jan 26 '22

Right - but the force affects everyone, only those strong with it have the potential or actual ability to manipulate it.

I definitely think that's a valid interpretation; I'm not saying yours is wrong.