Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was launched 26 years in the past, however I’ve solely simply realized how weird one pivotal scene within the film is. Though the prequel trilogy confronted harsh criticism when it debuted, audiences have largely grown to like these films. Even in gentle of that change of coronary heart, although, myriad complaints about the prequel trilogy stay.
Among the many largest grievances Star Wars audiences proceed to have with the prequels, The Phantom Menace specifically, is the idea of midi-chlorians, that are microscopic life types discovered inside the blood that mirror somebody’s potential within the Drive. For some, that felt too scientific for Star Wars, which brought on controversy as a result of it appeared to deviate from the unique trilogy.
Whereas that is still a sizzling matter inside the Star Wars fanbase greater than 20 years later, there’s one thing that makes the introduction of midi-chlorians a lot stranger. Specifically, as highlighted by Dan Star Wars Centralized on X, the Naboo ship that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Padmé Amidala take to Tatooine inexplicably has the know-how to learn midi-chlorian counts.
Why Does A Naboo Ship Have This Expertise?
The Naboo weren’t precisely a primitive individuals. Quite the opposite, they have been recognized for his or her unbelievable artwork, stunning structure, and political involvement within the Republic Senate. Given the occasions of The Phantom Menace, it is also clear that the planet of Naboo shared a pleasant relationship with the Jedi.
These facets of the planet make it conceivable that Naboo would have some degree of understanding in regards to the existence of midi-chlorians, if not in identify, then no less than within the idea that there was one thing inside the blood linked to Drive-sensitivity. But, it stays stunning to suppose that this know-how can be so available on simply any Naboo ship.
What’s extra, there does not appear to be a query or concern about whether or not it could be out there. Maybe it occurs off-screen (though that is by no means indicated), however Qui-Gon does not hassle with asking Obi-Wan if the know-how is on the ship. As a substitute, he merely asks Obi-Wan to check the blood pattern. This has fascinating implications for Star Wars extra broadly.
What This Phantom Menace Scene Actually Means
Though delicate, the truth that the know-how to check a blood pattern for midi-chlorians was already out there on the Naboo ship means that midi-chlorians should have been so well-known that it wasn’t uncommon for any blood evaluation tools to have the ability to take a look at for midi-chlorian rely.
If that is the case, not solely does it make midi-chlorians a extra mainstream idea, however it additionally reveals one thing essential in regards to the Empire. That’s, with the accessibility of this know-how, the Empire undoubtedly had a better time figuring out Drive-sensitives. That is notably attention-grabbing in gentle of the Imperial Inquisitors and their efforts to establish and remove any Drive-sensitive beings.
It is true that this stays an odd second in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, particularly as a result of it is by no means touched upon in-universe, but the existence of this blood evaluation know-how on the Naboo ship has revealed some fascinating new insights in Star Wars.
