Is it Skywalker Or "sky walker" (or) Crazy Fan Theories And Other Goofiness

Hey, y'all!

Been a long time since anything's happened on this blog.  Mostly because I've been too busy doing more immediately necessary things.  And doing enough writing that I haven't wanted to do much recreational wordsmithing.

But then the teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode IX dropped.

(Don't mind me.  I'm okay.)

If you haven't watched it yet, what is wrong with you?!?!

I mean... if you haven't watched it yet, you can watch it here.

Or here:

Hoo, boy!  There's almost nothing in this video.  Seriously.  Other than seeing a new iteration of the TIE Interceptor, and a fun little pip-squeak droid, nothing overly fascinating.

Except for Rey wandering in some desert (Jakku?  Tatooine's Jutland Wastes?).

And the Skywalker lightsaber has been repaired.

And an A-Wing (?) approaching a city/starport/base on a somewhat snowy and mountainous looking world.

Lando piloting the Falcon, again.

A Star Destroyer of some class in a battle.  Not sure if it is an Imperial-class or the newer Resurgence-class.

Remnants of a Death Star.

And good old Palpatine himself cackling in the background.

Yeah, forget all that for a moment.  Because I think I might have figured it out.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I know exactly what the tagline and the title mean.

"The saga comes to an end."

Well, everyone in an official position has been stating that this is the end of the "Skywalker arc."  And that kind of makes sense, overall.  The Legends universe was able to open up the galaxy with many, many, new characters to follow.  With the old EU being closed, Disney and Lucasfilm started back at square one.  So, no major grievances here from me.  (Other than those grievances I've already aired; see previous posts.)

But couple the tagline with the title.

Now, in my opinion, there are a few options that sort of overlap.  Let me explain.

1) Rey is a Skywalker.
2) Ben gets redeemed.
3) "Left field."

And following the lead of my idol, Eric Idle, I'll start with the second one.

Will Ben Solo be redeemed?  To be honest, I think it may be irrelevant.  I know everyone likes a classic "good guys win" story, especially when it includes getting family to stop being jerks.  But I don't think it is needed.

Why do I think that?  Balance.  One "Light Side," one "Dark Side."  Or, jumping on the older theory bandwagon: Ben was a double agent the whole time.

Think about it.  Has he been good at being a bad guy?  Not really.  He's been flighty, impulsive, reckless, and at times even stupid.  Maybe he turned to the dark side out of fear of Luke, but then realized he was in over his head and started trying to sabotage it all, except it is getting difficult to figure out there one lie beings and the other ends.

As for Rey being a Skywalker, I stand by there being only one way for that to work: Mara.  Don't get me wrong, I think she is (likely) deceased as of TFA.  I'll even go so far as to say she died before Ben and Luke had their "falling out."  However, the origin of Mara would be in play.  And then some.  Buckle up for this one, we're going to brush left field.

(the following is the theory, ignore similarities)

Mara Jade was not only one of the Emperor's favorite assassins, but she was his illegitimate granddaughter.  At the Emperor's death, she was assigned to kill Skywalker.  Instead, though, she was redeemed, going on to aid the New Republic both in the reestablishing of the Jedi and in the intelligence departments efforts to weed out Imperials.  Around the time Luke's nephew began attending the Academy, Mara disappeared.  She had been assisting Sen. Organa-Solo's efforts to combat the rising First Order.  Luke never found out what happened to her, and the agitation he felt from her disappearance contributed to his actions toward Ben.  What happened to Mara was she went into hiding briefly when her daughter was born.  To protect her Mara took her to Jakku, hiding her with an associate, who would end up falling on hard times and "sell" her to Unkar Plutt.  Mara would go back into the field, disappearing for the final time in the first attempt to located Luke.  No one knows what happened to her.  However, there was a ship spotted that appears to be the same type as the one in Rey's memory.

Okay, tin foil hats off now.  Outlandish and unlikely?  Yep.  Buckle up, though, because you ain't seen nothing yet.

What is outlandish is the title: "The Rise Of Skywalker."  How so?

Skywalker is not a name, but a title.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I please direct your attention to a document known as "Alien Exodus," the outline of which is here and the first two chapters are here.  I'll wait while you read it.

Oh, yeah.  You sort of see where I'm going with this now, huh?  Well, hold on to your hat.  Because here's the theory.

The title of "the Sky Walker" is much like that of "the Chosen One."  And Palpatine knew this.  He also knew that he hadn't, actually, killed his master, who was playing with trying to create life.  So Palpatine did what had to be done to keep the galaxy, as well as the universe and the Force, from being destroyed by his master: fulfill the prophecy of the Chosen One.

That meant finding the right candidate.  The difficulty with that was in the wording of the prophecy, wording that the Jedi did not know.  But he did.  The Chosen One was to be a Sky Walker.  The title became a renown Jedi family name long before Ruusan, but they nearly died out in the battle.  But Palpatine found one: Shmi.  The son would have fulfilled the prophecy, if not for Snoke appearing in the Unknown Regions after the rise of the Empire.  How did the Emperor learn of this?  A young Chiss commander, who had information regarding Snoke's activities.

You see, Palpatine had been working on essence transfer as his master perfected parthenogenesis.  But his master had stolen his work just as Palpatine stole his.  That threatened Palpatine's plans enough to make it worth while to abandon or postpone his efforts.  Or at the very least make a contingency plan.  As Vader did what had to be done, namely, kill his master, the Emperor ordered his granddaughter to kill Skywalker, knowing that he would partner with her to provide the means to defeat Snoke.  But, thank the Force, Anakin had not one but two children, and Leia's son was equally powerful in the Force.

An so, from beyond the grave, Palpatine, through the memory and myth of his former servant Vader, influenced Ben Solo to be not only the intended Dark Side user, but the perfect inside man within Snoke's efforts.  And with the death of Snoke, it seemed things were set right.

Only now there are only two Force users, and there is no balance, so perhaps Palpatine's plan can work out.  If not for those who believe in the Legend of Skywalker, striving against the Dark Side.

Bazinga, nerf herders!  How's that for "left field?"

Yeah, that's okay.

At this point I'm just playing around with whatever scraps I'm finding, hoping to pick up grenades along the way.  Nothing here is a serious "I'm pretty sure I've got it all figured out."  Especially since Ian McDiarmid said he's not in the movie.  Oh, well.  Being wrong won't bother me.  It hasn't yet regarding any predictions I attempted.  But it would be hilarious if any of this is right.  If I'd bank on any of it, it's my prediction regarding the title.

But, until December, or the full length trailer drops more land mines on everyone's head canon, all we've got is spitballs and hypotheticals.

The Old Girl's Still Got It (or) How To Destroy A Star Destroyer Without Any Jedi, Proton Torpedoes, Or Ewoks

So, if the real USS Enterprise can (hypothetically) curb stomp the ships of Star Trek, how about the ones from the galaxy far, far away?

Oh, yeah, FN 2187, we're doing this!

Buckle up, nerds.

Now, this will be more fun, and more complicated, than the Star Trek one.  Why?  Because Star Wars has equivalent vehicles for things like fighters, carriers, and such.  Finding the right parallel, or building the right one, will take more time.

So, first, hop on over to the previous post and see my primer on the carrier phenomena.  Paper Plates and Gray Ghosts.  But, here's the gist:

The aircraft carrier started as an experiment that some interwar military leaders used as a loophole to get around a treaty.  The battles of Taranto, Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, and Midway proved the concept to be not only sound, but potentially war winning in a way the battleship could only dream of. Sadly, most sci fi writers and fans do not understand why this is the case.  They at best see the carrier as a "cool" excuse for starfighters, and at worst a relic that won't keep up with technology.  The stand-off capability and growth potential makes carriers extremely valuable.

Now, a caveat that I ignored last time: missiles.

The hwach! - for when you really don't want that guy over there to "have a nice day."

Yes it is true modern warship can carry hundreds of advanced missiles of multiple type to zerg rush a battlespace.  And, yes, a missile is faster, more agile, and cheaper than a piloted craft.  And, yes, it would be entirely possible to have these missiles actually be drones, remotely controlled from a safe distance.  Missiles have all the advantages over fighters with none of the drawbacks.

Except for some of the same limitations "big guns' have during upgrades.  Not as bad, though, since merely upgrading missiles is easier, but adding more, or updating hardware is equally or more costly than new planes.  Especially when one of the missions might need eyes on target, not at a computer screen miles away.

(No, I'm not getting into an anti-drone rant.  I think drones have their place.  But I don't think that place is wholesale replacement.)

So, the first issue is finding a ship in Star Wars that can be considered comparable to the carrier, circa 1940.  Both directions.  Because in the galaxy far, far away, there are starfighters, so devising a hypothetical space USS Enterprise is easier.

There aren't too many dedicated carriers in Star Wars, build from the keel up for that purpose.  The most notable is the Endurance-class fleet carrier for the New Republic.  The size of a star destroyer, these ships carried at least four wings, though Wookieepedia also shows 60+ carried.

May look like a star destroyer, but isn't.  I think.

Another common carrier seen are converted Quasar Fire-class bulk cruisers.  Conceptually similar to escort carriers on Earth, these converted cargo ships carry 48 craft.

Kinda looks like a chip.  And now I'm thinking about Doritos.

Most full-scale warships have minor carrier abilities, such as the Imperial-class star destroyer, which carries 72 ships, plus support craft.  Most evident in this style of "dual-role" craft are the Venator-class star destroyers.  In some ways the logical conclusion of attempts like the Japanese Fuso; a strange hybrid of cruiser and carrier with guns in front and flight deck on back.  Kinda like a ship version of a mullet.  The Venators can accommodate up to 420 fighters, not counting 40 landing craft.

Now, that's a lot of stuff to throw at our old girl here, but if you check her record, she'd been on the receiving end of those odds before.  But I don't think the Venator-class is a good example, because it is a dual-role.  Since they exist in the universe, I'm going to use a dedicated carrier.

Let's start with transferring the Star Wars ship back to 1940.  And I'll do two.

First is the Imperials had the Ton-Falk-class "escort carrier," a 500 meter long ship with a full wing of 72 TIE fighters in her hanger.  Not very heavily armed, this ship has one mission: deliver fighters.

Pudgy looking thing.

The New Republic had the Endurance-class.  At 1,040 meters and decently armed, this ship had 48-60 ships onboard.  I could have picked the Quasar Fire-class, but I wanted dedicated ships.

The USS Enterprise was 770 ft (234 meters) long, with up to 90 aircraft carried.  Well armed, according to theory and naval doctrine, but not intended to wade into the battle, the "Big E" was an innovator, being the first US carrier fitted with radar for night operations.

So, what would the opposition be equivalent to in the '40s?

The Ton-Falk would be a Saipan-class light carrier.  While I think the Imperial ship is more like an escort carrier, such as the Casablanca-class, in function and mission, the larger air-group and keel-up build makes the Saipan more comparable.  The Saipan-class was 684 ft (208 meters) long, with 42 aircraft.

The Endurance-class would have to be an Implacable-class.  At 766 ft (233 meters) and carrying 81 aircraft, you're probably wondering why I didn't pick this one for the Empire, since, ya know, the British and all.  Or why I didn't pick the Essex-class.  First the second point, I didn't want to pit two US fleet carriers against each other.  (And, yes, I'm using a US light carrier, but it fits the style.)  And secondly I picked the Brit because of the armor.

British carriers had better armor on the flight deck that US ships.  When kamikazes attacks were over, the order was "sweepers, man your brooms," and they'd simply push the debris off the deck, keeping calm and carrying on.  New Republic ships tend to be better shielded than their opposites in the Empire, so it seemed fair.

As for the air wing, things are interesting.  The Imperial stuff kinda has to be Japanese, while Rebel ships are Brit or American.  Its mostly a design concept similarity.  (And, for the record, I'm intentionally ignoring "bombers" and other multi-engine land based craft for simplicity sake.)

Sometimes its just easier to push the broken ones off the deck.

The standard TIE is the A5M "Claude," while the TIE-IN is the A6M Zero.  TIE bombers would be B5N "Kates."  The J2M "Jack" would be the TIE Advanced, while the J7W Shindin would be the TIE-Defender.  The D4Y "Judy" would have to be the Scimitar bomber.

Having run out of navy birds, I'll switch to IJAAF craft.  Yes, I know, they don't have fly from carriers.  Roll with it.  There aren't many left worth noting.  (And, yes, I also know that the J2M and J7W aren't carrier birds.  Its okay.)  Anyway, the A-9 Vigilance would be the Ki-43 "Oscar," while the I-7 Howlrunner would be the Ki-44 "Tojo."

A Y-Wing would be an SBD Dauntless, while the B-Wing would be a TBM Avenger.  The X-Wing would be the F6F Hellcat.  And yes, the F4U, P-38, P-40, and P-51 all would make perfect stand-ins.  But three of those don't operate from the deck and one is too temperamental to be the T-65.  That one, the Corsair, would make a great E-Wing.  The F8F Bearcat would have to be the A-Wing, even through the Grumman bird was late for the show.  Another bird that missed the fight, the AD-1 (later A-1) Skyraider, would be the K-Wing.  The Seafire would have to be the Naboo starfighter.

So, USS Enterprise going toe-to-toe against an Implacable-class and a Saipan-class crewed by the best from the Galaxy far, far away.  One-on-one.

What's the battle look like, and who wins?

CV-6.  In all her glory.

Now, since there are actual fighters and such in Star Wars, and tactics to go with them, the fight gets more challenging than the previous one with that silly flying saucer.

Against the Imperials on the Saipan-class carrier with Japanese fighters, the score is victory for the Big E 9 times out of 10.

Against the Rebels on the Implacable-class with American fighters (and a Brit), the score is victory for the Big E 8.5 times out of 10.

Now, why?  Especially when neither ship is known as a gunship, like the cruiser stand-in for Starship Enterprise was.  And that is exactly why.  Without onboard offensive weapons, the fight boils down to the air wing and tactics.  There, its a case of just looking at history for how well the various aircraft performed in their missions.  Where it all comes down to is tactics.

Let's start with the Imperials.  The idea of "throw away ships" is fitting with Japanese doctrine, though the Japanese held their pilots in greater value.  They just didn't rotate them enough, or at all.  However, since the Imperials preferred using big-gun ships, their fighter support doctrine was even more lacking.  Expect Kates, flying in Vee formation, escorted by Claudes while a few Zeroes fly top-cover to be the best efforts the Imps can muster for attack.  Most of the Zeros, as well as the Oscars, Tojos, and Jacks, will be attempting to either find the American aircraft or defending their ship.

If this is 1942, chances are 50/50 that the Imperials will get to the Enterprise.  However, with only Kates, they won't have enough firepower.  They'll hit with torpedoes, which the Big E was able to dodge plenty of times.  Assuming they even make it past the combat air patrol, which will decimate the formation.

If this is 1944, forget it.  With F6F Hellcats and F4U Corsairs flying defense few attackers will get through, and even fewer will be able to fend off the Big E's dive and torpedo bombers when they attack the Imp carrier.

"Scratch one flattop!"

Now it gets interesting.  The crown jewel of the US Navy fleet in World War 2 against a US Navy equipped Rebel Alliance/New Republic.  Everyone's flying the same stuff, so who is really "#1?"

First thing's first, who to include in the Rebel air wing?  Do I allow Rogue and Wraith Squadrons to take part?  Because that does effect the outcome quite a bit.  They are both force multipliers.  Wraith would be the equivalent of having the OSS own fighters.  Rogue Squadron is the whole TOPGUN program as a unit.

For kicks and giggles, I'll include both renown squadrons.  Likewise, I'll allow Defender wing on board.  However, that pretty much fills out the wing, with just enough space for some of Pash Cracken's A-Wings or Knave Squadron's E-Wings.  Since the F8F (ersatz A-Wing) didn't reach the fleet in time, we'll use the F4U (representing the E-Wing).  We'll let Defender wing have two squadrons of SBDs and a squadron of TBMs.

So, the Rebels have almost a full squadron more on their ship, plus a squadron of OSS agents in Hellcats.  Not that it'll do too much good, since forced boarding of a ship via aircraft, other than helicopters, really doesn't work well.  But I'd argue Wraith is the "ace up their sleeve."  Even being able to land two operatives on the Big E would allow for a severe disruption on tactics, forcing more fighters be dedicated for CAP.

With so much of the Rebel fighters' success in the GFFA being contingent on shields and droids, being placed in "humble" piston fighters is quite the downgrade in operations, from a certain point of view.  More damaging is the lack of guided missile to represent proton torpedoes.  But there are rockets.

"Holy Moses!"

So how come the Rebels don't do better than eight and a half out of ten?  Unity.  While the Imperials don't try to have any inter-service cooperation, the New Reps do, to a degree.  But not enough.  By 1943 the idea of "combined arms" with airstrikes became a thing.  Later called "alpha strike," the Navy would throw their whole air group at a target, with all squadrons working together, unlike what happened at Midway.

No, not that midway...

At the Battle of Midway, the US Navy got lucky, in a way.  Their strikes were not coordinated properly, but they worked out, since it drew the attention toward the torpedo bombers and away from the dive bombers.  The way they flew and fought at that battle is how the New Reps fight.  It relies too much on luck and random chance (and the Force), and not enough on talent, training, and discipline.

The question is which air group finds the opposing carrier first.  Due to how the US Navy performed searches, and how frequently they broke enemy codes, this allowed them to lead their opponents by the nose.

The US bombers will do better than the Rebel birds.  The fighters, though, will have their work cut out for them, depending on who has the altitude.  Both sides have the attitude.

But, since the US Navy had better teamwork than the Rebel Alliance/New Republic frequently displayed, getting the first look is key.  Granted, in reality, between submarines, spotter scout planes, and roving gunships like cruisers, the US Navy will win most frequently.  Then its down to skill and teamwork.

And this is why the F6F Hellcat was one of the top fighters of the War.  Even better than the Mustang.

End result, though, is probably 50% losses for the Big E, and near total for the Rebels.  That's regardless of who wins.  Remember, "winning" is determined by sinking the flattop.  And most of the time, the Big E wins.

Which she did.  A lot.  And would do against both major factions of the "classic" Star Wars universe.

Because the series is worth watching again.

May the Force be with you, Rebel scum.

(or Imperial buckethead, if you prefer)

Some Ghosts Never Die (or) It Went Exactly As I Thought It Would

Finally, on the last day of 2017 I saw "The Last Jedi."

And I liked it.

Sure, there's stuff I didn't like about it, but, as "Part 2" of the Sequel Trilogy, and as part of Star Wars overall, I very much enjoyed it and thought it was quite good.

Why?

Because I remember.

• I remember when the newly victorious Rebel Alliance fought side-by-side with Imperial forces against an invading race of aliens from a star cluster just outside the galactic edge.

• I remember when Wedge Antilles reformed Rogue Squadron with the mission of, not only becoming the best fighter squadron in the galaxy, but retaking Coruscant.

• I remember when Han Solo kidnapped Princess Leia to convince her to marry him.

• I remember when Grand Admiral Thrawn nearly tore the New Republic apart with his most artistic campaign.

• I remember when Luke Skywalker founded the New Jedi Order on Yavin IV with a class of twelve students.

• I remember when Kyp Durron stole the Sun Crusher and destroyed an entire star system.

• I remember when a race of genocidal and racist aliens attacked the New Republic with a fleet led by a Super Star Destroyer.

• I remember when the Galactic Civil War ended with the surrender of the Imperial Remnant.

• I remember when the Yuuzhan Vong race invaded the galaxy, killing Chewbacca, destroying thousands of worlds, and terraforming Coruscant before being defeated.

I remember.

And that is why I liked "The Last Jedi."

I'll admit, I don't like DJ.  Not because he was a bad character, but because I don't think he was necessary.  There is a long history of smugglers, slicers, thieves, and other "scoundrels" in Star Wars, but the ones DJ is most like are not "good guys."

I don't like Holdo.  I don't like commanders who are too cheerful in the face of long odds, and who don't tell people the plan or part of the plan.  She's too much like a Bothan in that regard.  (Those of you familiar with the Thrawn Trilogy or Rogue Squadron know exactly what I mean.  And I'll leave it at that.)

And its true that there were visuals and film style choices that I disagree with.  They're not what I would have used if it was me.  A few didn't feel "Star Wars," in my opinion.  The scene where Holdo rams the Raddus into Snoke's ship is one of them.  Epic to watch, and kuddos, but it looked more like something out of a live-action "Big Hero 6."  Not bad, just not what I'd expected.

So, enough of why I didn't like it.  How about I explain why I liked it, since I doubt my list makes it clear, and there is apparently a lot of polarized viewpoints on this episode.

I'm going to start with a theory.  My theory, with my terms.

There are only three kinds of Star Wars fans:

• Those who are "minimalist" and only familiar with the movies and perhaps aware of the Expanded Universe;
• Those who are "Post-Prequel fans" that grew up with the Prequels as the most recent additions, are familiar with materials that cover events before Episode IV, and are sympathetic to the clones and the "old" Jedi Order;
• Those who are "Rebellion-Era fans" that grew up with the Original Trilogy and the Expanded Universe that only described events post-Endor, with the exception of a few bits of Old Republic history.

"Minimalists" are not going to care either way with this movie.  All they will think is "yay, more Star Wars."

"Post-Prequel fans," though, are going to be less than pleased with it.  The "old" Jedi Order is called out as all but a failure in this, and the First Order is just the Grand Army of the Republic and the Empire taken to logical conclusion, but unashamedly villains.  Its really hard to be sympathetic to the designated bad guys.  None of the "fan theories" (or, if you prefer "fan fiction") survived, and the fan fiction phenomenon is primarily a Post-Prequel thing (though there is some old EU stuff, all of which is superior.)  None of the "approved" Mary Sue style characters are there: such as expies of Anakin.  Most of all, "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi" are too much like the Original Trilogy and the old Rebellion era "Expanded Universe" for their comfort.  Its just not what they are used to.

"Rebellion-Era fans" should be happy with this film.  Why?  Consider:

We get to see an expy of Wedge get into the type of trouble expected of an ace snubfighter pilot, only he has to suffer the consequences that Wedge always seemed to avoid.

(Then again, we all knew he was the new Wedge when he had this bit of snark.)

We see an expy of Borsk Fey'lya in the guise of Vice Admiral Holdo.  Yes, I'll be so bold to say it.  Mostly because I didn't see her act as a military leader so much as a politician.  And its not because she was wrong.  Quite the opposite.  Her plan was the right one.  But she should have told her people what the plan was instead of a pretty "cheerleader" speech.  Maybe the comparison with Fey'lya isn't fair then, though she does go out in very similar fashion.  And I can respect that.  If only she'd been a leader, not a cheerleader.

(Arrogance, thy name is Borsk.)

We almost see Talon Karrde or Booster Terrik show up in the form of DJ, except he isn't as honest or skilled as either, and neither of them are slicers.  Niles Ferrier or Huff Darklighter would be the potential inspiration more than either of the former, but the former is incompetent, and the latter apathetic.  Even Dengar or Boba Fett would have been more upstanding that that.  And the best slicer in the galaxy, one Zakarisz Ghent, would never be so backstabbing (mostly 'cause he's naive).  Maybe DJ's actually Fey'lya's expy...

(For the record, our slicer Ghent is on the far right.  If you can't identify the rest, then go re-read the Thrawn Trilogy.)

(From left to right: Tycho Celchu, Winter, C-3PO, R2-D2, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, Talon Karrde, Shada D'ukal, Mara Jade, Zakarisz Ghent)

Original here.

We get to see more types of starfighters instead of just the "same old stuff."  Now, before all you "Post-Prequel fans" get upset with me, I do recall and appreciate the grand variety of ships from Episodes 1-3.  And many of them were good.  But we've never had a "heavy" onscreen.  Sure, the Y-Wing was officially a bomber, but it was a very light one.  The bomber from "The Last Jedi" reminded me of the K-Wing.  The Star Wars universe has always had a bit of a gap when it comes to its light craft.  Having a bomber is a good thing.  (And, yes, for the record, I know the B-Wing should count, but we don't see them onscreen enough.)

(The BTL-S8 K-Wing - for when you really want that Star Destroyer to go away.)

But I can hear someone complaining already: "How'd the First Order build all those big ships?  Aren't they suppose to be a secret group out in the Unknown Regions?  Where'd they get the stuff to build that ludicrously large ship, let alone Starkiller Base?"  All good questions.

Who cares?

No, but seriously, we're talking about the remnants of the Empire, with a large portion of the old resources, running unchecked in a third of the galaxy likely filled with all sorts of resources, running arms deals and such.  Gaining capital and equipment to fund such projects isn't all that far fetched.  And besides, the Empire expended much more on much less.  (Torpedo spheres, anyone?)

Go ahead an check out the old Expanded Universe.  Back in the day portions of it were known as "The Super-weapon Of The Month Club" for good reason.  Sun Crusher, World Devastators, the Eye of Palpatine, the Darksaber, Eclipse-class dreadnoughts, and a few others.  All built by the Empire (except Darksaber, which was by the Hutts).  Building weapons is extremely lucrative business.

Remember, we're talking about a government in a universe known for building space stations the size of moons all for moving black holes from half-way across the galaxy.  (Seriously, that's what Centerpoint Station was built for.  Check it out sometime.)  Construction of this scale isn't that insane.  Wasteful and stupid, perhaps, but not insane.  Consider the planet-sprawling city of Coruscant.  Each of those buildings has to take a lot of time, effort, planing, money, and material to assemble.  And each one could have been used to build a ship the size of a Star Destroyer.  Remember, Coruscant has 5,000 levels.  That's a lot of metals and other material.

The only thing I'm left with that I don't get is "who's the villain now?"  The only reason I ask is the ending feels like a set-up for more than just a single movie.  The Resistance has to rebuild from the ground up.  Luke is dead, and Rey is minimally trained (though the latter may be a good thing).  Snoke is dead, though that doesn't mean he's gone (Force ghost?).  The First Order lost a lot of material, and Kylo Ren is in charge.  The war will continue, but its clear that Kylo isn't stable as a villain yet.  There's got to be more of a threat remaining to drive things.

Maybe Snoke's still influencing Kylo, or worse, ghosts from history (Palpatine?).

And what about Rey?  Luke said the Jedi would continue.  I'm glad to be right in my theory that we're resetting to a more Taoist than Buddhist style of Jedi.  Clearly the writers are familiar with the Unifying Force theory, the Living Force theory, and Luke's New Jedi Order.  And for all you "Post-Prequel fans" out there, no matter what you may think, Luke's Jedi are leaps and bounds better than the old Order.  Why?

Balance.

That was the goal.  And that's what Luke's Jedi were better at reaching.  But the EU writers gave Luke some really good students, and some good materials to work from, including artifacts from before the Ruusan reformation, which is what led to the "classic" Jedi Order of the Prequels.

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.  The trailer featured the voice of Bendu, a creature that existed "in the middle."  Listen carefully, right around the minute mark.

The original Jedi were supposed to balance the Force.  Its not good, or evil.  Just power, and choices have consequences either good or evil.  Its a philosophy that on one hand is right at home in today's society, while being completely foreign.

But I'm not here to discuss the nuances of a sci-fi series based worldview.  Maybe some other day.  No, I'm just giving everyone my reasons for why I liked Star Wars Episode VIII "The Last Jedi."

Can't wait for the next one.  But, until then, I'll reacquaint myself with the legendary Expanded Universe, filled with greats like Thrawn, Karrde, Horn, Kre'fey, Durron, Pellaeon, and so many others.  And perhaps, that's the most interesting thing I'm taking from this installment.

With "The Force Awakens" I felt a bit of loss as the old Expanded Universe was swept away.  That's where I grew up as a fan of Star Wars.  To have it be, essentially, erased was disappointing.  But its still there, much like how the old Greek myths are still there.  I can still read them even if they are relegated to dusty bookshelves.  This new Trilogy ushers in a new style, inspired by the old but uniquely its own.  I can have both and be happy with them for what they are.

So if you liked the movie, that's great.  And if you didn't, that's okay too.  But as for me, there was no doubt that it was the "right" movie, a Star Wars movie, when the opening crawl faded and the camera panned down to show the Resistance ships evacuating, just before the First Order arrived.

Now I've just got to wait and see if the Han Solo stand-alone is any good.

Would He Walk 500 Miles, Then 500 More, Just To Be A Hero? (or) This Feels Like Deja Vu, Or Deja Vu Of Deja Vu

So, everyone is still talking about how "The Force Awakens" was just a remake/reboot of "A New Hope," and how it looks like the sequel will be a carbon-copy of the original sequel.

But is it?

And if it is, is that bad?

And if it isn't, is that good?

No, no/kinda, maybe.

I will start with the second question.  "Is that bad (that TLJ is a remake/reboot of ESB)?"  No.  Or kinda.  Or both.  How can it be both?  Mythology.

If you look about at the classic myths (Greece, Rome, Norse, etc) you will see similar stories, heroic types, monsters, and themes.  Joseph Campbell, who studied mythologies, noticed these common items and wrote a book about it: The Hero With A Thousand Faces.  In it he describes the "monomyth" (sometimes also called "the hero's journey").  Not all "saga-type" stories adhere to all the parts, and not all follow in the prescribed order, but stories that feature these archetypes tend to feel big and epic.  Campell's work influenced a number of storytellers.

Including an innovative film maker in the 1970s with a story he called "Star Wars."

While wiki may be be a "better" way to learn about this, the TV Tropes site has a good article too.  (Right here -> The Hero's Journey)  There are seventeen steps.

The gist is this:

• Act 1 - Departure - the hero leaves the familiar world behind
• Act 2 - Initiation - the hero learns to navigate the unfamiliar world of adventure
• Act 3 - Return - the hero returns to the familiar world

I could sum these three up with quotes from the original Star Wars trilogy.

"You must learn about the Force, if you are to come with me to Alderaan."
"There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me."
"No more training, do you require. Already know you that which you need."

The original trilogy follows Luke, and his plot adheres to the Monomyth cycle quite nicely.  You want examples?  Very well.

Miraculous or circumstances surrounding hero's conception/birth:  He's a twin.  (Granted, we don't know this initially, but his being an orphan counts sort of as half point here.)

A herald brings The Call to adventure: R2 and the message from the princess.  This leads directly to...

Refusing The Call: its not that he likes the Empire, but there's nothing he can do about it.

Crossing the first threshold: Could be the destruction of the homestead, or the flight from Tatooine.  Either way, its a rapid and violent break from the "safe" place he was in.

There are many more categories, and even subcategories.  They aren't needed for a good story, but many good stories do have some aspects of the cycle.

Now I fully believe that the guys and gals at Lucasfilm are on the right track emulating the original trilogy.  Why?  'Cause it works.  And since they are operating out of the monomyth cycle playbook, and in the Star Wars universe to boot, things will look very similar.  Hence the answer to my third question, "is that good," because it might be.

Now, I think it is, and am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (for now).  But, let's see if they really are adhering to the cycle.  Let's examine if the main character is on the Hero's Journey, based only on TFA.

• The Call to Adventure - BB-8 shows up on Jakku and needs help from Rey.  At Niima Outpost they run into Finn.
• Refusal of the Call - Rey is hesitant to assist BB-8, and especially unhappy to work with Finn (initially).  After hijacking the Falcon she wants to go back to Jakku.
• Supernatural Aid - BB-8, Finn, Han Solo, Maz Kanata all could count.  The Force, most obviously.
• Crossing the First Threshold - Hijacking the Falcon during the attack.
• Belly of the Whale - The vision with the Skywalker Lightsaber.  The torture Rey endured from Kylo Ren, including her ability to turn it around.  Somewhat literally would be the Falcon being taken aboard Han and Chewie's new ship, and the subsequent "adventure" with rathtars.
• The Road of Trials - Rey first "tapping" into her powers, but reverse-interrogating Kylo Ren.
• Meeting with the Goddess/Love - Both Finn and Han showing her that they care.  In the former regarding her safety.  With the latter regarding offering her a job.  Both willingly go to save her.
• Temptation - The desire to return to Jakku is one, but so is Kylo Ren's offer to train Rey.
• Atonement with the Hero’s Father - Rey hasn't experienced this yet, I think.
• Peace and Fulfillment Before the Hero’s Return - Rey coming to accept that whoever she's been waiting for on Jakku won't be back.
• The Ultimate Boon - If the lightsaber fight didn't prove she's gonna be a Jedi...
• Refusal of the Return - She doesn't go back to Jakku, but travels to Ahch-To to train with Luke.
• Magic Flight - Escaping from the cell using a Jedi mind trick.
• Rescue from Without - The Falcon showing up to rescue Rey and Finn after the lightsaber fight.
• Return - Viewing the map at the Resistance base.
• Master of Two Worlds - Not yet.
• Freedom to Live - Moving forward after losing her home, her father figure, and almost losing her best friend.

Now, this is just me, being a nerd.  It isn't official, and I may be wrong, but since I see the similarities, especially in the storytelling methods, as strengths, it makes the story more enjoyable.  That's one advantage of writing fiction.  I have grown a greater appreciation for the craft, the art, the science of storytelling.

So, no, The Last Jedi isn't a "remake/reboot" of The Empire Strikes Back.  There will be many similarities, in part because it has been a considerable time since the originals came out.  And since the First Order is the heir of the Empire, it makes sense they'd use similar but improved methods and weapons.  To complain about the "Death Star 3" and such would be like complaining that a movie on tanks in Desert Storm was just a ripoff of a movie on the Battle of the Bulge because the tanks are obviously just "bigger" versions of the old ones, used in basically the same way.

Sounds silly because it is.

Besides, at the end of the day, if you're still feeling salty about it, just repeat the Mystery Science Theater 3000 mantra:

Until Dec. 15, remember to keep calm and carry on, and enjoy an ice cold Fanta... on me, of course.

Not A Fan Of Bait-And-Switch (or) I Have A Bad Feeling About This

So, the trailer for The Last Jedi (a.k.a.: Episode VII) dropped last night.  If you have been living off the grid and/or protest the NFL so hard you didn't dare watch it during "haph-thyme" here it be.

(Caution: Proper safety measures should be employed before watching.  Failure to take appropriate precautions could result injuries including, but not limited to: bruising on chin from jaw drop, electrical shock from short circuiting computer during spit-take, and concussion from rapid and repeated application of face palm maneuver.  The faculty and staff of "In The Loop" blog is not responsible for any and all injuries sustained during consumption of postings.)

Before I do anything else, two points must be made.

1) For the record, I don't like having a sports entity using the popularity of Star War to attempt to gain viewership.  I know, I know, this was planned before the most recent downturn in professional handegg viewership, but the point still stands.

2) There will be many theories, regarding all scenarios and characters, but I must make a clear statement before I dive head first into the rabbit hole:

That's not to say I don't have a Snoke theory (or theories), or have read a few I think are pretty good.  But I'll stand by the "official" statement.

First, what we can be sure (or at least decently sure) of.  Luke is hesitant to train Rey, who is seriously talented.  Snoke saw something more than just power in Kylo/Ben.  The Resistance and the First Order have more equipment that before.  For the former that might include the remains of the Republic fleet.

Now, allow me to put on my tin-foil hat.

All of Luke's lines in the trailer are directed at Rey.  All of Rey's lines are directed at Luke.

So far, fan theory seems to point to Rey asking Kylo Ren at the end to train her.  I don't believe so.  Why?  Her clothes don't appear to be the gray colored ones, but the lighter ones she's seen training in on Ahch-To.  My theory: Rey asks for him to show her where she belongs.  Luke has a vision of the destruction of the academy (the fire with him next to R2, him crawling out of rubble).  He agrees to train her, only to find how much potential she has.  She presses, which leads to a more "intense" training, akin to Dagobah.  This is supported by her in the pool and Luke on shore, soaked, saying it "this is not going to go the way you think."  My guess is she lashed out at his methods.

I think that, despite having reached whatever "dark" goal he had previously, Kylo/Ben will be closer to rejecting the Dark Side than last time.  Notice, he smashes his helmet.  Not in a "tantrum" way, like when he redecorated the interrogation room.  It seems more in a "I hate this" way.  His apparent hesitation to fire on the bridge of the Resistance ship supports this, as well as talking about being rid of the past.  If Leia dies here, I'm guessing it isn't Kylo/Ben who pulls the trigger.

At some point Team Good Guys will be on a planet with crystals (note the Falcon flying through what looks like a geode tunnel full of red, kybur?, crystals).  Material for new big guns?

Star War's fan wiki claims that the Resistance evacuates their base from the first film.  Similar to Ep. V, but how similar remains to be seen.  But they're also on some sort of desert-like planet, which according to the wiki is home to the Resistance base.  So, two attacks on Resistance bases in one movie.  And unless Leia escapes the space battle (which I'm assuming is concurrent with the evac) there's little chance he fired on the bridge of that ship, since Leia is standing on that arid planet with the weird red dust.

It also claims Finn is part of an operation that infiltrates the First Order.  Why?  I bet in part to rescue Rey.  That's what leads to him fighting with Phasma.  And why we see Kylo/Ben standing with something burning behind him.  He's there during the major fight at the end.

Lastly, somewhere along the line Rey gets captured again by the First Order or is part of infiltration mission.  She ends up squaring off with Snoke, who taunts, torments, and tortures her.

Things unanswered: Who is Snoke?  Who is Rey?  Who is Finn?  What are those books?  What is a porg?  Will DAR ever get his Fanta?

(Am I the only one who wants to see Luke purposelessly punt a precocious pseudo-penguin?)

We won't know any of these things (including how off base I likely am) until December 15th.  Until then, may the Force be with you.

And also with you.

Lies, Darned Lies, and Statistics (or) I Think I Over Thought This One, But I'm Too Far To Stop Now

Yeah, this one's kinda long.  Sometimes having access to a blog is a dangerous thing.  So, if you like tangental discussions of aircraft, military history, and Star Wars, stick around.  Otherwise, maybe I'll be back tomorrow with something "normal."

Well, normal for me, at least.

There are a few things that I like that have no real usage in the profession I seek.  I am a fan of Star Wars. ("oh really?" you snark say)  I like World War 2 aircraft (well, actually, any aircraft, but 1939-45 had a lot of great planes).

What?  You're surprised I'm a nerd?  Clearly you've not been paying attention if this comes as a shock.

Anyway, being a nerd, I enjoy kibitzing the discussion regarding the ships of SW, and the aircraft from whenever.  So I was happy to have found a number of people on the interwebs who make videos about such things.  One is EckhartsLadder, who compares sci fi ships, most notably Star Wars.

What EL does is a "who would win" scenario, comparing two craft in "firepower," "defenses," and "intangibles" in a 1v1 with equal skilled pilots without mods or backup.  Best out of 10 wins.

The one that caught my attention was the Incom T-65 X-Wing vs. Incom/Subpro ARC-170. (here if you are interested)

Before I say anything else, I think if fair to say his method is flawed and shortsighted, but not a bad start.  Why?  Eric "Winkle" Brown and the Wildcat.

(insert Tim "the Toolman" Taylor questioning grunt here)

Captain Eric Brown, Fleet Air Arm, served during WW2 as a pilot.  Most notably he served with N. 1426 Flight: the RAF enemy aircraft testing squadron.  This mean that Brown got the opportunity to fly a lot of types of aircraft.  487 types.

Let that sink in a moment.  487 types.  Not 487 aircraft, but aircraft types.  This is a record that will never be broken.  Especially if you count the individual marks, not just types.  For example: Brown flew 14 versions of the Spitfire during his career, yet the record only lists Spitfire once.

Brown also has the most carrier landings ever: 2,407, in 20 different types.  Including the first tricycle undercarriage and first jet.

And he was the only Allied pilot to ever fly the Me 163 Komet rocket interceptor.  You know, the one with the corrosive fuel that would melt pilots, and if the plane hit a bump during takeoff it might explode.

He was a fan of the de Havilland Hornet and the F-86E Sabre, thinking both to be exceptional aircraft and his favorite regarding their engines.

Because of this vast experience, Brown was able to quantify what made for a good fighter plane.  He came up with six characteristics that an effective fighter should have.  They were:

1. Speed
2. Rate of climb
3. Firepower
4. Armor protection
5. Pilot visibility
6. Maneuverability (though he would stress "don't dogfight")

Corky Meyer, test pilot for Grumman during WW2 and beyond, listed four missions any "best" fighter should be able to perform.  These were:

1. Fighter vs. fighter
2. Bomber escort
3. Ground attack
4. Photoreconnaissance

Add on "easy to fly" (200-flight hour pilots can handle it) and built in numbers above 10,000 for a long duration.  Now, Corky claimed the P-47 Thunderbolt was best in Europe, and the F6F Hellcat was tops in Pacific.

What does any of this have to do with Star Wars?  Well, unless you were asleep in history class, or are not a nerd (even a little), it will come as no surprise that Mr. Lucas used a lot of inspiration from WW2.  Hey, if you've got good material, use it.

So, the Incom T-65B X-Wing vs. the Incom/Subpro ARC-170... who would win?  The X-Wing.

How frequently?  About 90+%, assuming we have a trained pilot in the seat.

So, to break it down, the X-Wing meets Brown's criteria better than the ARC.  It has the speed, and climb, sufficient firepower and armor/shields, and maneuverability.  All it lacks is an advantage in visibility.  Based on Corky's mission lineup, the X-Win does it all.  Perhaps not as well as a dedicated craft, but it is a "swing role" fighter.

Usually "jack of all trades" don't come out on top frequently.  But, bear with me a second while I take and replace the Star Wars craft with their 1940s doppelgängers.  (This is where EL missed some important items in his 1v1.)

The X-Wing is comparable to the P-38 Lightning, while the ARC-170 is the P-61 Black Widow.

If you're still wondering who wins, just look at the to planes for a second.

the Lockheed P-38G Lightning

the Northrop P-61 Black Widow

Any questions?

Oh, still aren't sure.  Well, consider, one is a twin engine single seat interceptor, the other is a twin engine three place night fighter... that is the size of a medium bomber.

Now, I ain't knocking the P-61.  She was designed as a purpose build radar equipped night fighter.  Heavily armed with 4x 20 mm cannon and 4x .50 cal machine guns in a turret.  Powered by two R-2800s, and able to tote around 3 tons of bombs, she was a powerful plane.  Very agile for how big she was, too, thanks to Northrop's clever spoilers.  A little late to prove itself, but, that's not the point.

The Lightning's a bit of an oddball.  Designed as a heavily armed interceptor, found to have great range, respectable agility, decent armor, and ridiculer versatility.  Four .50 cal machine guns and a 20 mm cannon, backed by up to a ton of bombs.  And her twin V-1710s made her one of the fastest planes of the early portion of the war.

So, who wins in a dogfight?  Well, first is the need to acknowledge the caveat to Brown's 6th characteristic: don't dogfight.  Why are speed and climb first?  Because the pilot who has the altitude and speed picks when the fight starts, and when it ends.  Diving attacks trump spinning and loops.  See the work of the Flying Tigers, or Red 2's interception over Yavin.

We have this notion that fighters are all about dogfighting and that goes back to the "romantic" depictions of the Great War.  Watching men like Ball, Bishop, Barker, Guynemer, Voss, and Richthofen dueling in chivalric arial joust makes for great stories.  Its not the truth.  Check out Oswald Boelcke's dicta:

1. Try to secure advantages before attacking. If possible keep the sun behind you.
2. Always carry through an attack when you started it.
3. Fire only at close range and only when your opponent is properly in your sights.
4. Always keep your eye on your opponent and never let yourself be deceived by ruses.
5. In any form of attack it is essential to assail your opponent from behind.
6. If your opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught but fly to meet him.
7. When over the enemy's line never forget your own line of retreat.
8. (For the Squadron) Attack on principle in groups of four or six. When the fight breaks up into a series of single combats take care that several do not go for one opponent.

Reading through the dicta it is clear that altitude and speed, employed in a slashing attack, are better than trying to "mix it up" with classic dogfights.

Okay, so performance is kinda the keystone factor.  If the fighter doesn't have enough get-up-and-go winning won't be likely.  But what about the other factors?

Firepower is self-evident.  You can have all the speed in the world, but without enough punch, it doesn't matter.  The MiG-3 found that out the hard way.

Armor protection should be obvious as well.  You need a strong, rugged craft to ride into battle.  There are plenty of stories of American planes shrugging off lots of hits.  Robert S. Johnson's P-47 taking all the ammo from an FW 190 is a paramount example.  But if your ship has the heft to shrug it off, it had better have the power to move.  Hence the order.  The A-4 Skyhawk is a great case study in how to correctly build a fighter.  First, find the limits of your size and weight, then pick a powerful engine, finally don't exceed the limits.

Pilot visibility is one that is easily forgotten and taken for granted.  The Bf 109 had a narrow canopy that made turning your head difficult.  The F-4 Phantom had heavy frames that limited view, especially for the rear canopy.  The F-8 Crusader had a lot of stuff in the windscreen, which made landings especially "fun."  Having visibility is majorly important for pilots, especially combat pilots.  The one who sees the target first wins.  Modern technologies, like radar, IR, long-range cameras, all improve situational awareness.

Lastly, again, is maneuverability.  If having the ability to "zoom-boom" is top, then agility isn't important, right?  Not at all.

The agility then is for defense, avoiding an attack, as seen in #6 of Dicta Boelcke.

So then, back to the P-38/P-61 debate.  In a straight up 1v1, who wins?

Answer: the pilot who sees his opponent first and has the altitude to start a diving attack, most likely.  But lets be "fair" for the argument.  In an equal level fight, where they meet at the merge, who wins . The P-38.  All the time.

Why?  Size is not the P-61's friend, and all that firepower is useless if you can't get it pointed at the target.  At this point some table-top gamer will be like "aha, what about the turret?"

You mean the turret that didn't work in the initial marks?  The turret that was there primarily for bomber interception?  The turret that added weight and complexity which degraded performance?  The turret that was a throwback to the turret fighters of the early 40s (the Defiant, Roc) and the two seat fighters of WW1?

Yes, in WW1 many of the early attempts at building a working fighter resulted in a pilot flying the plane, and the main armaments being manned by a gunner.  Care to guess how well it worked?  Well enough that one of the best fighters of the war, the Bristol F2A, was shot down a lot when flown like a two seater.

You see, the idea of the turret guns was a symptom of not paying attention to reality.  This exemplified itself in the phrase "the bombers will always get through."  Who needs escorts when the bombers are literal flying fortresses, bristling with guns?  The 8th Air Force, that's who.

What does any of this have to do with the X-Wing/ARC-170?  A lot.  EL assumed, like many do, that the numbers can lead to the answer.  This is what has lead to the X-Wing table top game.  People think that if you have a quantifiable amount more of speed, or agility, or aggression, you can win.  Which is where EL's idea of "intangibles" makes sense.

So, who wins, the X-Wing or the ARC-170?  With exceptional pilots in both, the X-Wing.  With average pilots in both, the X-Wing.

Why?  Well, four cannon is more weight-of-fire than two, meaning greater chance of hitting the target.  While the ARC does have more torpedoes, not enough to make a difference in a dogfight.  In an attack mission, different story.  The ARC is the better attack bomber.  (And, by the way, torpedoes are guided in the SW universe.)  Better acceleration, and the ability to keep that speed means the X-Wing determines when, and where, the fight starts and ends.  The X-Wing's smaller size means its harder to see, therefore harder to evade.

Of course the swing-role fighter beats the high-performance attacker in a dogfight.

Yeah, this one kinda got away from me.

Reactions this soon can be dangerous.

To misquote a little green guy: "If once you start down the spoiler path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."  Consider yourselves warned that spoilers (and speculations) do exist here.  Read with caution.

Okay, I know I probably shouldn't be doing this, but I've got to tell someone.

A couple days ago I saw The Force Awakens.  I stayed quite calm up until the lights dimmed, then the rush hit.  The music and opening that we've come to expect passed, and there was a planet being eclipsed by a dagger-like shadow.  I knew at that point that all the naysayers were wrong.

In all of Zahn's "Rebellion Era" novels, the opening pages take place on a Star Destroyer, just like all three of the Original Trilogy films.  To start with one of those giant war machines was for me the final piece of the "we're back" puzzle.  This wasn't a remake of Star Wars, it is Star Wars.

Now I've heard a lot of gripes about many things, some big and some trivial.  I've only got two, and I'm chalking them up to "not what I expected."

The music didn't immediately harken back to the Originals, or even the Prequels, but I'll admit I was so busy watching the plot that I wasn't paying attention to the score.  I did catch the "Force Theme" being used at significant events, which makes sense.  Also, since the old music was so little used (from what I recall), it kinda blows my theory that Rey is a member of the family.  It could still happen, but as of now all I can do is shrug and wait for Episode VIII.

The second thing was a few of the camera moves.  Now, in their context, they make perfect sense.  They just didn't feel like "Star Wars."  One was more "fantasy epic," a'la Lord of the Rings, while the other was more thriller, like Hitchcock.  I'm going to have to watch a few more times to get my mind wrapped around them and why they were used.  And I do intend on giving Abrams every opportunity to convince me his choices were right (they probably were).

So, besides a few almost slips in my willing suspension of disbelief, I have nothing bad to say about the film.  But I would like to discuss one occurrence that some are upset about.  However, I don't want to spoil it for anyone.  If you want to read what I think about it, you'll need to highlight the following section.  Warning: here be spoilers.

Han Solo dies at the hands of his son, Ben, who now goes by the name Kylo Ren.  Anyone familiar with the Legends (the old Expanded Universe) knows that Han and Leia's eldest son, Jacen, turns to the dark side.

In the movie, Ben had been trained as a Jedi by his uncle, but was corrupted by Snoke and kills all the Jedi but Luke.  This is why Luke is in hiding.  This also led to Han and Leia breaking up, and probably why Han lost the Falcon.

At the end of the movie, while Han and Chewie are setting up explosives to take out a critical portion of the enemy base, Han confronts his son.  Ben says he doesn't think he's strong enough to do what he has to do.  He makes a showing of handing his lightsaber to Han, but then stabs him and pitches him into a nigh bottomless chasm.  Ben had been told that to completely overcome the light side he had to kill his father.  (Now, I'm betting that isn't the last we hear of Ben's wavering loyalties.)

I wasn't surprised it happened.  The moment Han yell out his son's name I knew that there would be a confrontation, and only one would leave alive.  And since we know Han likes to shoot first, and we need a bad guy for two more movies, it was obvious who would die.  I was surprised that there were no reactions, no gasps, no cries, no screaming or throwing popcorn.  Maybe everyone else saw it coming too.

Some have said that it wasn't a "fitting" death for Han.  I disagree.  In "Vector Prime," Chewie dies.  The death, however, is quite spectacular, but that's not important.  The why is.  This was the first book in a new series, following the official end of the Galactic Civil War.  There were no more new bad guys or superweapons.  Then along comes an alien race from another galaxy who grow their technology and who cannot be felt in the Force.  At all.  And they destroy a planet by forcing its moon to crash into it.  To show that these guys mean business, it was only fitting that one of the most unstoppable characters be killed off.  If Chewie can die at their hands, is anyone safe?  Anyway, the New Jedi Order is a good read, so if you get a chance, pick them up (even if they are unofficial now).

Regarding Han's death, its the same idea.  When we first met Kylo, he stops a blaster bolt.  Not like Vader did, but actually freezes it in midair.  For a full minute.  While having a conversation.  And doesn't release it until after leaving the area.  The bad guy's powers have been ramped up since the last movie.  So here comes Han, hoping to use the love of a parent to save his son.  It worked for Vader, so it should work on Ben.  And it almost did.

I think Han knew it would happen, but he had to see it through to the end.  Ben was obviously scared of his father, since he was hesitant to speak of him with Snoke.  And by scared I mean afraid he had disappointed someone he used to look up to.  Han knew that he had one last chance to influence Ben, regardless of whether he lived or died.  He even seemed more surprised than angry that Ben killed him.  Chewie on the other hand....

I've heard that Ford is slated to be in Ep. VIII, but I don't see how, except in flashbacks or dreams perhaps.  We'll see.

Okay, spoiler and "crazy fan theory" over.  I'll probably switch that to "readable" sometime after February.  Actually the speculation is not entirely over.  The movie left with more of a cliff-hanger than any other, I think.  We still don't know who Rey's parents are.  I'm positive its not Han and Leia, since neither spoke to her in such a way.  But since they didn't speak to her as family at all, she may not be a Skywalker.  Though perhaps they didn't know.  The only things supporting her being a Skywalker, now, is the immense untrained Force power, the lightsaber "calling" to her, and the use of the "Force Theme" at key elements in her story.  Even the ending and her vision left it ambiguous. 

I'm willing to bet, though, that, based on her age, her father was training/training with the Jedi, and her mother went off on a mission, leaving her him an ally's care.  Things happened, and her parent/parents were casualties of the Jedi massacre.  So now its just a question of whether Luke is her father, or her parents' teacher.  And if he tells her the truth, or goes at it "from a certain point of view."  That's enough plot speculation for now.

The countdown to Episode VIII (coming May 26, 2017) begins.

Red 5, standing by...

As of now, there is just over a month between this post and the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

I'll start this post off with the obvious: I was wrong.  See my post A Long Time Ago... for what was said, and compare that to what we know now.  The EU is now "legends" and basically nonexistent.  (bummer)

But, in admitting I was wrong, I've come to discover that these changes are good.  Now, instead of having to worry about the continuity of hundreds of thousands of storylines, a fresh take on Star Wars will be presented.  The spirit of the universe is the same, we've just traded up from a very well loved (if abused) sedan to a simpler (and cleaner) convertible.

I'll admit that I was ecstatic when the teasers came out.  And nearly hyperventilated after seeing the trailer.  In fact, I heard about the trailer being released, but since I had to work, my excitement was curtailed until the following day.

And it was worth it.  Everything, from the music, to the effects, to what little of the story was revealed, all of it was a massive nostalgia trip.  It isn't an homage or even an attempt at a sequel.  This is Star Wars.  The shot of the Falcon jumping into hyperspace was incredible.

Then the trailer for Japan shows up online.

Now, I've heard my share of theories, and even come up with a few myself.  For a while, I, like many, have been leaning toward Rey being the daughter of one of the main characters from the OT.  And the Japanese trailer seems to confirm that.  One of my wife's favorite movies is "Field of Dreams."  When it was released in Japan, the posters revealed the ending (spoiler): Costner's character reconciles with his deceased father.  This makes sense since Japanese culture considers family very important.  So, no surprise that the trailer/teaser for them includes a potential spoiler.

It also doesn't negate my personal theory that she and Kylo are siblings.  Notice her location and reaction at the end of the trailer.  She's looks distraught, like seeing two people close to her fighting.  And it looks like she's at the same location we see Kylo stalking around in, before Finn pulls out the Skywalker Lightsaber.  So, here's my guess: Rey and Kylo are brother and sister, and Kylo's real name might be Ben, if Abrams keeps that part of the old EU.

There, I said it.  I think Kylo is Luke's son.  ("The circle is now complete," perhaps.)

I also noticed that Kylo's saber sounds (and ignites) differently than every other saber.  Mostly I found it interesting.  But we now see him nearly behead Rey on a wooded world.  Same one where Han and Co. get captured?  Same one the stormtroopers are on when X-Wings show up?  Same one where Luke and R2 are camping out?  I don't know yet.

And what is the Falcon doing on Jakku?  Why isn't it with Han from the get-go?  Waiting patiently for that answer.

I am also assuming that Poe gets captured near the beginning, since BB-8 is supposed to be his droid. We have a scene of Poe being lead down what is likely to be a Star Destroyer, and a (likely) follow-up where Kylo is torturing him.  We see an SD orbiting a desert world (Jakku, probably), with a damaged TIE tumbling.  Maybe Poe got in a fight and had to eject, but BB-8 stuck with the ship and rode it down, only to be scavenged by Rey.  Wouldn't be the first time a desert dweller was called to adventure by a droid.

Which potentially means that The Force Awakens will follow the basic pattern of A New Hope.

Consider:
ANH opens with fight between blockade runner and star destroyer.
Assumption: TFA might open with fight between Resistance forces and star destroyer.
ANH has droids crash land on Tatooine.
Assumption: TFA has droid crash land on Jakku.
ANH has Lars homestead destroyed by Empire.
Assumption: TFA has Rey's camp site destroyed by First Order.
ANH has Luke, Kenobi, and droids meet Han and Chewie.
Assumption: TFA has Rey, Finn, and BB-8 meet Han and Chewie.
ANH has the Falcon fly to meet with Organa, then land on the Death Star.
Assumption: TFA has the Falcon fly to meet with Luke, then be captured by First Order.
ANH has Luke, Han, and Chewie rescue Leia.
Assumption: TFA has Rey and Co. rescue Poe.
ANH has fight between Kenobi and Vader.
Assumption: TFA has fight between Kylo and Finn.
ANH has the "trench run."
Assumption: TFA has a trench on the First Order's base world (Starkiller Base?)

Ridiculous?  Sure could be.  But, this is Star Wars.  There are thousands of possibilities.  That's what made the EU so great.  Around every corner was a new tale, waiting to be told.

A Long Time Ago...

I am a major Star Wars fan.  I've seen the original trilogy enough times that I can recite every line, from that first shootout on the blockade runner to the victory celebration on Endor.  I've read many of the Rebellion era books.  In fact, Star Wars is what got me interested in recreational reading and in novel writing.  I was in fifth grade when I started reading Star Wars.  The stories are not only exciting and engaging, but also nostalgic.

So it should be no doubt that I am excited for the upcoming Episode VII.  Or should it?

I have a feeling that unlike some hardcore fans, I am optimistic about this trilogy.  I've read rumors about who will and won't be cast, and what plot elements won't be included.  Wisely, Lucasfilm and everyone involved is being extremely tight lipped.  And because of this, fans have their theories.  Even me.

While I would love to see Thrawn's campaign or the invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong brought to life, I am pretty sure that the Sequel Trilogy will take place after the latest published books.  Why?  Simple.

First, we have to assume one of two things regarding these movies:
1) Lucasfilm is willing to negate almost thirty years of marketing and storytelling to make these films.  They are willing to "kill off" thousands of characters that we have come to know and care about.  They are willing to ignore hundreds of battles, including the end of the war, and the invasion of a new race.  They are willing to deny the development of the major characters from the original Trilogy.
Or…
2) Lucasfilm will be setting this story after the Fate of the Jedi series and will incorporate some of the things from the Expanded Universe novels, but will not make too much mention of them unless absolutely needed.

I believe the second option is the correct one, and for one very undeniable reason.

Coruscant.

In the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire, it was established that the capital planet of the Empire, the New Republic, and the old Republic, was called Coruscant.  This name was allowed, then later elevated to canon status in Episode I.  To completely deny the Expanded Universe will result in the denial of the Prequel Trilogy.

And that's not going to happen.

So, what's going to take place in the "galaxy far, far away?"  Who knows.  The only rumor that seems solid enough to believe is that R2-D2 and C-3PO are to be in all three movies.  This may not mean much at first until you consider the comic series Legacy.  It takes place 130 years after the Death Star was destroyed over Yavin.  R2 is, as usual, working with the Skywalker family.  3PO is nowhere to be seen.  What does this mean?  Maybe that the story's timeline is set between 45-120 years after the events of the first movie.  And that opens up a huge amount of possibilities.

Regardless of what the movies will be about, I am confident that it will be well written, and have great music.

There are rumors that Luke, Han, and Leia will be back, and perhaps for the first movie they will be.  I'm guessing we'll get to see the reestablishment of the Empire, under the leadership of a former hotshot starfighter pilot named Fel.  And with it the founding of the Imperial Knights.  Perhaps under the command of the oldest Solo child.

Anyway, this is all personal speculation.  Except the theory on Coruscant being proof the EU is not being discarded.  Logically, that's more than just plausible.

Though it is fun to theorize who will play which character.  I saw today that Dwayne Johnson want's to be in the movies.  My first thought was "I could see him being Talon Karrde, if he had more hair."  Then I thought, "Maybe some of the Wraith alumni, like Face or Piggy."  Picture the Rock with a scar and goatee, then compare that to the cover of Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand.

Okay.  I've gotten that out of my system now.  Its a nice day here, so I think the kiddos should go and run around outside.

May the Force be with you.