Random Thoughts #2, and a Quick Update

So, Star Wars has been a topic of some contention in recent years, and for obvious reasons. The Last Jedi being what it was, polarization in the fandom has reached all time highs, and it's hard for a Legends junky like myself to really be optimistic about the future of the canon EU. There's a couple reasons for that, but I'll come back to them in another blog.

This entire post is really spurred by my reading of the Double Agent Vader series, and Heretic Pride, two works made by Fialleril that can be found on Ao3 and Fanfiction. Both share a mythology focused on the Tatooine slave culture and redeeming Anakin, and both are really, really good. The worldbuilding is amazing and seamlessly woven into the narrative, without ever sounding dull or feeling like mindless exposition. It gives a very solid grounding to the Alternate Anakins decisions, and you can see exactly where he is drawing his conclusions from.

One of the points pushed in the stories, although far more prominently in Heretic, is the flaws of the Jedi Order and the Sith. Now, may have tread the path of "Let's shit on the Jedi!" before me, but I feel like I should clarify my stance on both organizations.

First, the Jedi: the problems with the Jedi Order can be drawn to its ancient history, and its rigid adherence to tradition and dogma. The Jedi have been trying for eons to be an force for good in the galaxy, and I think that has kind of built up and clogged the pipes as it were. In their quest to do good, they have slowly cut away teachings of more and more of the Force. First they removed the Dark Side from their teachings, forever splitting the whole of the Force, much like the principles of Yin and Yang. Then, once they encountered the first true Sith, as opposed to the opponents of the new order they first fought, they slowly removed all of the traditions and techniques that seemed to close to Sith teachings.

By the time we reach the Clone Wars, we have the Jedi Order as it is remembered. Obsessed with the denial and defeat of the Dark Side, ignorant of all but the most basic of knowledge of their enemy, and thanks to some ancient well-meaning decision, hopelessly bound to the politics of the Republic. The practice of combat has become one of, if not the, central tenant of the Order, and they so fear the Dark side that they will take two-year old children from their parents, or else make them swear to never learn to use the Force, on the pain of DEATH. Far from their original purpose as a monastic order dedicated to the study and understanding of the Force, and the betterment of the self through it's teachings.

Now, the Sith are far from good guys either. They are just as obsessed as the Jedi, and their teachings have been completely corrupted, even before the dominance of Baneite philosophy. The Sith at their best are a force for freedom and change. At their worst, they are megalomaniac beasts driven by hate and hedonistic pleasures. The Sith Code tells them to seek power to give them freedom, but they often fail to see that in their hunt for power and pleasure they chain themselves to their own desires and surely as if they were Hutt slaves.

The Sith Empire, on the other hand, is something that interest me to no end. I play exclusively as a Sith in Swotor for that reason, but I think that comes more from my interest in the lore and my own taste in aesthetics. Plus, Mandolorians. Enough said. But one of the greatest things from that game comes from the cinematic trailer covering the storming of the Jedi Temple. Not only was the entire thing badass, but we see one of the prime examples of asshole Sith in the franchise work alongside non-Force sensitives and even trust them to cover his back while he focuses on the Jedi. Something that is rather unusual in a society that is obsessed with strength in the Force.

Altogether, both the Sith and Jedi are deeply, near irrevocably flawed in their current forms. What really needs to happen is a synthesis of the two philosophies, although I refuse to acknowledge the Grey Jedi code. That pot has become spoiled by the prominent fics that use the label of "Grey Jedi" as an excuse to give the OC or other character of their choice the ability to claim the moral high ground and shamelessly shag any hot female that the franchise has shown. Not that those fics have no place, but the opportunity to explore a new culture or philosophy is largely lost.

This brings me back to Heretic. Here, we see a new culture emerging, one unafraid to seek attachment or take strength from their emotions. An they aren't even using the Sith philosophy to do it; instead, they draw wisdom from the aforementioned Slave Tradition, which I adore. A similar technique is used in the "From Grace, I Fall" series, which uses Mandolorian culture. This I think is the way to introduce moderation to the two extremist traditions, rather than forcing your characters to create their philosophy from whole cloth.

Finally an update. I am happy to say I am now in a for more stable situation than I was six months ago, thank god. I have a steady, well paying job, friends, food, and a place to stay. Can't really ask for more right now. And now that I'm in a better headspace, I think I'll start looking into writing here on Fim again. I won't make any promises, but I'm cautiously optimistic about it, so there's that.