10 ‘Star Wars’ Force Abilities That Make No Sense

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I must say that the recent additions to the Force abilities in the Disney era have left me feeling a bit bewildered and slightly disillusioned, much like Obi-Wan might’ve felt when he realized that Anakin had fallen to the Dark Side.

George Lucas’ masterpiece, Star Wars, has been leaving audiences spellbound since 1977. It has built legions of fans through its unforgettable characters and grand narratives. Some classic aspects that likely pop into your mind when considering Star Wars are Jedi Knights, lightsaber duels, interstellar battles, not to mention the enigmatic power known as the Force.

The Force, a fundamental element of the Star Wars storyline, is often considered its most iconic aspect. As Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) describes in the initial movie, “The Force is the source of a Jedi’s power.” It’s an energy field generated by all living beings, enveloping and permeating us, and holding the galaxy together. In simpler terms, characters sensitive to the Force can harness it to amplify their strength and execute extraordinary abilities such as mind control, telekinesis, and precognition. However, some of these talents raise questions that even devoted Star Wars fans find puzzling, leaving behind only confusion and dissatisfaction. The following ten powers are particularly perplexing in this regard.

10 Mind Trick

Among the widely recognized Force skills, the mind trick stands out, as first demonstrated by Obi-Wan in “A New Hope.” This skill enables Force users to subtly control the thoughts and actions of individuals with feeble minds. It’s a talent that is showcased in nearly every “Star Wars” film. However, it often proves unsuccessful when used on strong-willed characters such as Jabba the Hutt and Watto.

What Does It Even Mean to Be “Strong-Minded”?

What does it mean for someone to be strong-willed, and what specific qualities define this trait? Watto seems to possess this quality as he resists the mind trick, yet his intelligence is questionable. On the other hand, Boss Nass, despite being vulnerable to the mind trick, demonstrates strength, pride, and competence as the Gungans’ leader. The mind trick is an intriguing ability we admire, but there are certain aspects of it that become puzzling when we ponder upon them more deeply.

9 Transitioning into Force Ghosts

In the Star Wars universe, some Jedi are able to transform into Force spirits after death, which symbolizes their soul, awareness, or spirit. For instance, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness) vanishes upon being killed by Darth Vader, merging with the Force. Similarly, we witness this occurrence when Yoda dies in “Return of the Jedi” and when Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) meets his end in “The Last Jedi.

Why Do Only Some Jedi Vanish? And Do They Get to Pick What They Look Like as Ghosts?

However, when Anakin meets his end in Return of the Jedi, his physical form doesn’t disintegrate. Instead, it seems that Luke returns his father’s lifeless body to Endor and incinerates Anakin within the Darth Vader suit. Yet, mere minutes later, Anakin appears as a Force spirit alongside the spirits of Yoda and Obi-Wan. Given that Anakin, like Yoda and Obi-Wan, possesses this Jedi ability to become a Force ghost, one might wonder why his body didn’t vanish upon death, just as theirs did?

8 Force Ghosts Wielding Power in the Physical World

The mystery surrounding Force ghosts doesn’t end with their transition from life to death. For example, in “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi,” we unexpectedly see everyone’s beloved green Jedi, Yoda, as a Force ghost. He communicates not only through words but also demonstrates his point by summoning a bolt of lightning and destroying the ancient Jedi temple with a blast of fire.

What Does Dying Even Mean Anymore?

Throughout the Star Wars saga, we’ve encountered numerous Force spirits. However, it’s unprecedented that one could influence the physical realm as seen here. One might wonder, if this ability exists, why aren’t there legions of Force ghosts safeguarding the galaxy instead of living Jedi Knights?

7 Force Speed

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I can’t help but notice the intriguing power of Force Speed that’s been subtly hinted at in the saga. Just as the name suggests, it enables Force-wielders to move at breathtaking speeds. Remarkably, this skill was never showcased in the original trilogy. It made its debut in Episode I – The Phantom Menace, but since then, it’s been a rare sight. This might be because it seems like an impractical power that only introduces plot inconsistencies. For example, if Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) demonstrated Force Speed in The Phantom Menace, why didn’t he utilize this ability during Master Qui-Gon Jinn’s (Liam Neeson) fateful duel with Darth Maul (Ray Park)? Or, for that matter, why hasn’t he used it again in any other live-action movies? It leaves me wondering if there are limitations to the power we haven’t yet discovered.

And It Was Never Seen or Spoken of Again

In the following installment, “Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” Obi-Wan Kenobi had an opportunity to employ the Force’s Speed aspect to apprehend Jango Fett (played by Temuera Morrison) on Kamino, or alternatively, to hastily flee his own sentencing on Geonosis. Regarding Geonosis, one might wonder why the Jedi didn’t jointly utilize their Force Speed to counter the droid army.

For the sake of discussion, let’s assume that Obi-Wan was the only Jedi in possession of the Force Speed skill (although it’s worth noting that characters like Mace Windu have demonstrated this ability in the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”). In such a scenario, Obi-Wan would have moved swiftly around the arena, effortlessly taking out droids. It seems plausible that Jedi could dominate entire battlefields with their Force Speed, which might be one of the reasons we haven’t witnessed this ability much since “The Phantom Menace.

6 Force Dyad

Disney’s sequel trilogy unveiled some new Force powers, and these have sparked debates just like the films themselves. The Force dyad is one such novelty. It builds on the Force link, a strong bond that connects two individuals who are sensitive to the Force.

Luke seems to share this connection with Leia at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, when he communicates his position in Cloud City to her from afar. A few minutes later, we see a similar interaction between Luke and Darth Vader. The Force dyad is an enhanced version, a phenomenon that allows two bonded Force users to become attuned to each other’s senses, including what they see, hear, and feel. They can even interact physically across great distances, transcending time and space.

Why Were Rey and Kylo Ren Chosen by the Force?

In the Star Wars saga, it appears that the Force determines who can form a bond known as a dyad, with no means for two Force-sensitive individuals to create one themselves. Characters such as Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) develop this connection in the sequel trilogy, but it remains unclear why these specific characters were chosen by the Force.

5 Object Teleportation

In the following instance, their connection deepens beyond the Force dyad, a talent nestled within a talent. Upon realizing they are linked within this dyad, Rey and Kylo Ren uncover an extraordinary power: instantaneously transferring objects across vast distances of space and time.

This Raises a Lot of Questions

In “The Rise of Skywalker,” Kylo Ren swiftly takes Rey’s pendant from around her neck, transporting it immediately to his position, which is quite a distance away in light-years. Later on, when they eventually join forces, Rey suddenly transmits a lightsaber into Kylo’s possession without any apparent delay. This mysterious power to transmit objects seems inconsistent with our understanding of the Force.

4 Flying Through Space

In The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, we witnessed something extraordinary – Jedi not just racing at incredible speeds, but actually flying! This was something we had never seen or even imagined before. Leia (played by Carrie Fisher) seems to be in dire straits when she’s propelled into space during an attack. But then, astonishingly, she utilizes the Force to traverse through space and make a safe return to her ship. Unbelievable!

Mace Windu Had No Business Falling Out That Window

Why didn’t Emperor Palpatine or Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), who are known to be more skilled in the Force than Leia, employ their Force abilities to escape when they were falling to their deaths? On the other hand, Leia, who isn’t a Jedi, manages to use the Force to fly through space, which seems unusual and inconsistent with what we have witnessed in previous films.

3 Essence Transfer

As a dedicated movie fan, I can’t help but reflect on the whirlwind that followed the global divide sparked by “The Last Jedi.” In an attempt to quell the storm, Disney called upon J.J. Abrams, the mastermind behind “The Force Awakens,” to steer the ship once more. It seems Abrams decided to rewrite some of the storylines from “The Last Jedi.” The most conspicuous change was undeniably the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine, a character portrayed by Ian McDiarmid. This enigmatic figure apparently defied death as seen in “Return of the Jedi” and emerged as the main antagonist for Disney’s sequel trilogy all along. The question on everyone’s mind: How did Palpatine manage this miraculous resurrection? This leads us to the fascinating concept of essence transfer.

Somehow Palpatine Will Probably Return…Again

One way to rephrase the given text could be: “Essence Transfer is a highly debated Force power, enabling a person with Force sensitivity, often one on the dark side, to move their consciousness, spirit, or identity into another living being or inanimate object, rendering them virtually indestructible and immortal. In essence, Essence Transfer resembles creating a Horcrux, and in this context, Emperor Palpatine can be likened to Lord Voldemort.

The movie “The Rise of Skywalker” suggests a method called ‘essence transfer’ as a means for Emperor Palpatine to come back from the dead. This idea, now part of the Star Wars universe, implies that any Force-wielding villain could potentially reappear in the series at any given moment. Some might find this repetitive and unoriginal. Nevertheless, since only Palpatine’s physical body was annihilated in “The Rise of Skywalker,” his essence or spiritual self could return once more.

2 Force Healing

In the Disney era, a new ability called force healing was introduced and met with both praise and controversy. This skill allows force users to mend injuries by sacrificing their own vital energy. Rey demonstrates this power in The Rise of Skywalker, as she heals Kylo Ren from his critical wounds. The Mandalorian character takes this ability a step further when Grogu, or Baby Yoda, uses the Force to heal a wound on an arm.

So Many Deaths Could Have Been Avoided

If the capacity for healing with the Force is indeed exceptional, why didn’t Master Obi-Wan Kenobi use it to mend Qui-Gon Jinn’s wounds? Similarly, if Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, was supposed to possess this power, why didn’t he employ it to save his ailing mother? And lastly, if Luke Skywalker, who was known for his strong connection with the Force, couldn’t utilize it to heal his reclaimed father, then why is it that newcomers like Rey and Grogu seem to master this skill so effortlessly after relatively little instruction, compared to more experienced Jedi? It seems contradictory that such a potent ability would be demonstrated by novices yet remain unutilized by seasoned practitioners.

1 Reviving the Dead

Force healing is pretty terrible, but reviving the dead has to be the most nonsensical, and also the lamest, ability in Star Wars. Similar to Force healing, Force revival allows a Force-sensitive individual to use their own life energy to resurrect the dead. Kylo Ren, now a reformed Ben Solo, uses this power to revive a deceased Rey. So many people could’ve been spared from death if someone had just used this ability on them, from Qui-Gon, to Shmi Skywalker, to Padmé (Natalie Portman).

No Other Jedi Could Figure This Out?

It’s surprising that both Rey and Kylo Ren seem to master abilities like Force healing and revival spontaneously, when more established Jedi, such as Anakin or Obi-Wan, couldn’t do the same. This newfound ability calls into question the significance of death in the Star Wars universe, potentially lessening the tension for future films. With Rey now aware of this power, it seems no one is truly safe from it in her presence.

2024-11-30 20:02