Fuck, I forgot how sad that movie is.
Tap for spoiler
It’s crazy to think Anakin could have had everything he ever wanted. He would have been granted the rank of master in due time, he could have lived happily ever after with the woman he loved. But instead he was groomed and manipulated by some creepy old fuck. It’s really sad.
Episodes 1, 2, 3 I watched older and kinda had the same realisation.
On one side, you’ve got an Empire that brought peace, thriving economies, and a democratic government where everyone’s heard. But their morals are awful.
On the other side you’ve got people all for freedom, but take children, forbid them of family and sex, make them religious radicals, and support terrorists that have no real plans.
These options are shit and shittier, and people kill over them because they’ve drunk the kool-aid of one of them. It reminds me of current society. I like to think Luke’s inexplicable hermit life was because of that realisation.
Personally, I’d side with the Empire. But it’s not like I’d be happy about it. Just assume over generations it gets better, lest they lose control and that’s all they want.
But take the pros from both and you got Han. What a loveable character. Flaws are natural, not intentional. Vote Han.
Evidence that the empire brought peace? Pretty sure they were fighting the rebels and building a super weapon to blow up planets?
Also the empire brought democratic government where everyone’s heard? Is that in Andor? I’ve only seen a couple episodes of it. Pre empire there was the galactic senate which from my limited understanding was pretty chill. Yeah they might have relied on the problematic Jedi order too much, but the Jedi Order didn’t have absolute influence over the galactic republic.
Let’s check the children’s treatment of Jedi younglings under both systems. Jedi controlled and indoctrinated younglings into their order. The empire, worked to deradicalize the younglings and give them therapy and help them reintegrate into society. Wait… checks notes… sorry my mistake they slaughtered as many as they could, then spent decades hunting the rest…
It’s kindof fascinating finding “the empire was right” people in 2025. Mirrors reality. It’s like poetry, it rhymes.