Star Wars Plot FAQ Version 0.4 November 14, 1996 contents copyright (c) 1996 by Olinga Abbott Star Wars and related items are copyrighted (c) by Lucasfilm, Inc. or Lucasarts, Inc. This document is available in the public domain as long as it is not altered in any way. Changes, corrections, suggestions, etc. may be emailed to oabbott@worldnet.att.net This is a rough draft, the purpose of which is to receive input about format changes, additions, and corrections. Send changes to oabbott@worldnet.att.net. I will be adding introductory paragraphs in the future. NOTE TO PREVIOUS READERS: My email address has changed since my last post of the SW Plot FAQ. The new address is oabbott@worldnet.att.net. NOTE TO PROOFREADERS: In the next version I wish to rank the possible explantions in order of fans' preference. In other words, #1 will be the most preferred, #2 will be the next most preferred, and so on. Since I would like input on this other than my own opinion, please be sure to let me know what you think! On canon: The debate on the issue of what is canon and what is not canon in the Star Wars universe has been raging for years, especially since the release of _Heir to the Empire_ around '91 (correct me). For the purposes of this FAQ, I have taken the most conservative approach: Only the movies are to be considered canon. While this may not be the most appropriate method on the surface, especially since the first novelization was written by GL himself, consider this: 1) The purpose of this FAQ is for people who have had little opportunity to ask questions about the SW universe to find their answers without the need to post questions on RASSM. Such readers may not have read the novels (like myself). 2) This article is being addressed to the lowest common denominator of SW fan, those who have only seen the movies. Therefore, any explanation given in the novels is considered to be on the same level as suggestions submitted by anyone else. On the Force: The force may be used as an explanation for everything at some level, resulting in excessive use of deux ex machina which would ruin the story line because the characters' roles would become unimportant (possible quote from such a storyline-"What saved us? Not our actions, but the Force!" Wow.) Therefore, unless the Force is explicity stated in the movies to be the solution to a possible plot problem mentioned in this article, it will not be considered as a possible explanation. NOTE: I have not read the novels, and so I must rely on others for any information they might contain concerning these items. Part 1: Major Plot Problems The qualification for inclusion for this section is that a potential plot problem must be the cause of a major turn of events in the trilogy. If the correction of a plot problem would result in no major change to the SW storyline it is not included in this section. 1) The Kamikaze A-Wing DESCRIPTION: In ROTJ, a single A-Wing fighter smashes into the bridge of the super star destroyer and disables it, causing it to smash into the Death Star. RELEVANT FACTS: Admiral Ackbar orders the Rebel fleet to "concentrate all fire power on that super star destroyer". POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: 1) The A-Wing was just the final blow to a mortally wounded ship. I have heard that in the novel B-wings destroyed the SSD's nav system prior to the collision with the A-wing; the A-wing was just included for entertainment. 2) The A-wing destoyed the SSD's navigational system, which, because of poor engineering, was located at the outskirts of the SSD instead of its inner core. Remember-The bridge need not contain the nav system itself, just the controls to the nav system. Properly engineered, damage to the bridge would not lead to damage to the nav system. (I believe I heard that this was in the novel) 2) Luke's Training Period DESCRIPTION: In what seemed a matter of days in TESB, Luke goes from a novice to advanced student RELEVANT FACTS: The time frame is not expressly given. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: 1) It was not days, but weeks or months. However, even if Luke's training period may have been months, that still seems too short a time for Luke to acquire the skills he possessed. IMO, years would be a more realistic time frame. 2) Luke is the greatest Jedi trainee who ever lived. 3) Luke was not an advanced student, he just thought he was (But would a novice survive a confrontation with Vader? Or be able to jump from the bottom of the carbonite pit to the ceiling?) 3) From the time the Falcon traveled from the Anoat system to Bespin, the hyperdrive was off-line. The Falcon had to travel using its sub-light engines. However, this would realistically have taken decades considering the great distance between stars. 3) Luke's Nonexistent Training DESCRIPTION: Luke, in ROTJ when he returns to Dagobah, has appeared not to have seen Yoda since he left for Bespin. Yet, he is virtually a Jedi; his only requirement now is to confront Vader. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: 1) Luke was at a stage where he could train independently. 2) Luke did see Yoda in the interim, and we just do not know it. 4) Vader Turning to the Good Side DESCRIPTION: Yoda: (paraphrased) "Once you go down the path (of the dark side), *forever* will it dominate". Then, Vader is turned to the good side, and Luke seemingly ventures down the dark side during his ruthless lightsaber attack on Darth Vader in ROTJ. (I have heard some people say that Luke did indeed turn and that this has been confirmed in an interview with George or something, but I have not seen this myself. I have also heard rumors from these same folks that Luke will be the antagonist in the final trilogy if it is ever made. Anyone know about this?) POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: 1) "Forever will it dominate" did not necessarily mean that the dark side is inescapable, but that it will dominate in some other way, such as one's destiny. 2) While Yoda is an expert in the Force, he may not know everything. Perhaps Yoda was wrong on this one. 3) In an effort to keep Luke from Dark Side experimentation, Yoda lied to Luke. FAVORED EXPLANATION: #1 5) Luke's Lucky Landing on Dagobah DESCRIPTION: In TESB, Luke goes to Dagobah to look for Yoda and, of all the places he could have landed on the entire planet, randomly lands within yards of Yoda's hut. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: 1) Yoda knew Luke was coming, and Yoda used the force to subconsciously guide Luke 2) Yoda knew Luke was coming, and Yoda used the force to directly guide the X-wing to the proper spot (but in a mudhole?) 3) Luke's trip to Dagobah in TESB was not his first, and Luke subconsciously remembered where to land because he says, "still, there is something familiar about this place" (I suspect he is merely sensing the force pervading Dagobah so strongly). A web page whose address I do not remember suggested that before Obi-Wan took Luke to Tatooine as an infant, Ben swung by Dagobah with Luke in tow to bid farewell to Yoda, and that is what Luke remembers. FAVORED EXPLANATION: #2 6) The Death Star Moving Around Yavin DESCRIPTION: In ANH, the Death Star moves around Yavin instead of blowing it up. RELEVANT FACTS: Yavin is a gas supergiant, similar to Jupiter. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: 1) The planet was too large for even the Death Star to destroy 2) The Death Star's main weapon is only effective against solid material, not gas. 3) The first Death Star's main weapon requires an extensive amount of time before refiring. That the second Death Star fired its main weapon multiple times during the Battle of Endor may be explained by a presumed improvement in technology. 4) The Death Star's main weapon requires recharging time in proportion to the energy in the shot in question. In ROTJ, the weapon is only fired against ships, which would require much less power to destroy than a planet. Therefore, it was able to fire multiple times during the Battle of Endor, but could only fire once during the Battle of Yavin. 7) The Death Star's Mobility DESCRIPTION: In ANH, the Death Star, without any obvious engines, is capable of space travel. And, because it traveled from Alderaan to Yavin in what was certainly not years, hyperdrive capability must be assumed, even though there is not the slightest insinuation of the Death Star having lightspeed travel capability. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: 1) The Death Star uses an engine type that does not rely on thrust, which would not require an externally visible propulsion system, and is also capable of hyperspace travel. One reader has suggested a "space folding" type of propulsion. 2) The engines are there, they just do not have exhaust ports like TIE fighters. 3) The engines are hidden in the DS trench. 4) Large engines are on visible on the Death Star, but the audience never sees them because only the side with the main weapon is shown. 8) Non-Jedi Luke Whips Darth Vader, The Dark Lord of the Sith DESCRIPTION: In ROTJ, Luke defeats Vader even though he is not even a Jedi yet. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: 1) A Jedi is awarded the title of Jedi for more than just controlling the force. The ability to not give in to the dark side is just as important as force control. Luke may have had force control and lightsaber skill comparable to Vader, but Yoda withheld Luke's Jedi stature until he was certain that Luke would not succumb to the dark side. Still, one must wonder how someone who has studied the Force for a few years could defeat someone who has decades of practice. And, the biggest plot problem of all... 9) The Tatooine sequence of ANH DESCRIPTION: In ANH, the droids crash land on Tatooine, and R2D2 and C3PO JUST SO HAPPEN to be found, after traveling in opposite directions, by the same sandcrawler. Then they BOTH (not just one) JUST SO HAPPEN to be sold to the uncle of the great hope of the galaxy, Luke Skywalker. Then, because of R2D2's miscieviousness, Luke and co. JUST SO HAPPEN to be in the spot where Obi-Wan will find them. Then, it turns out that Luke JUST SO HAPPENED to be away from the farm when stormtroopers massacred the Lars. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: (I need extensive input before attempting to write this section.) Part 2: Minor Plot Problems See "The Bad Guide to Star Wars" at http://www.cold.org/~brandon/StarWars/BadGuide.html for the nitpicky things, such as inconsistent costuming, bad filmwork, SPFX mistakes, etc. 10) Zev, the Snowspeeder Pilot DESCRIPTION: In TESB, Zev, aka Rogue Two, the snowspeeder pilot who finds Han, rightly assumes Luke is with Han. Han has not notified the pilot of Luke's presence. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: 1) Zev assumed Han found Luke because Han sounds so chipper 2) Snowspeeders (or the snowspeeders sent out to find Han and Luke) carry scanners which are capable of detecting life signs. However, Zev does not indicate he has found anything until Han responds. 11) C3PO Lies DESCRIPTION: In ANH, Luke asks C3PO who the woman is in R2's hologram. C3PO responds that he does not know. However, on the blockade runner C3PO does indeed know who Leia is POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: I have heard that GL himself has stated that C3PO was under orders not to reveal the Princess's identity. However, until I can substantiate this it must be regarded as hearsay. Olinga K. Abbott oabbott@worldnet.att.net