The Lasting Power of Darth Bane

Throughout the Sith lineage the Galaxy has seen some tremendous eras.

From Andeddu, to Revan and Malak, to Malgus and Ruin, all the way to Darth Bane. The true Sith legends are few and far between, yet they helped shape the Force as we know it.

The Galaxy is forever tainted and permeated with the Dark Side thanks to these individuals.

Yet it’s Darth Bane who is the most significant.

The true beauty of Bane’s achievements and thought process is his innate ability to put his Order first.

I feel confident in saying Darth Bane had a direct effect on the Sith more than anybody.

To think that the Rule of Two was completely thought of, implemented and remained thanks to Bane is an achievement like none other.

Bane was a self serving, egomaniac yet still put the future of the Sith before himself even if it meant his own demise.

That type of behavior is completely unheard of from a Sith.

In a way, Bane had that aspect of his character in line with the Jedi and their own thought process.

In their selflessness and generosity, the Jedi and Bane had more in common than they would ever know.

Not only was Darth Bane a revolutionary but he was also a dominantly imposing bringer of death on the battlefield.

Standing at 2 meters tall Bane was a mountain of a man. His sheer brute strength was legendary and his ferocity unmatched.

Yet in addition to his massive size, he also boasted an agile and deceivingly quick repertoire.

Bane’s lightsaber mastery was one of the best. It was his swordsmanship that sets him apart from other Sith legends.

As he learned from one of the true elite lightsaber masters on Korriban, Darth Bane truly became an expert with his blade.

His tenacity, mindset and muscular frame made him an unstoppable force that wreaked havoc like a runaway storm.

My favorite aspect of Darth Bane’s arsenal of fearsome firepower was his Force lightning.

Described as crackling violet bolts of pure Dark Side singeing energy arcing through the air in a practically instantaneous manner, Bane’s devastation was relentless.

His diversity in his use of the Force lightning was fascinating as well.

In some instances he used it in short quick bursts to continuously barrage his adversaries and other times he gathered up his strength and power only to release a charge of thicker and even more vibrant strikes that would melt flesh and rip through solid rock.

Bane’s willpower was a powerful part of his being.

His devotion towards his master plans required concentration levels beyond comprehension. Bane was not one to receive many visions of the future yet he was still able to piece together the groundwork that would eventually see the Sith rule the Galaxy.

I think it’s important to give Darth Bane the credit that he deserves.

To be an unparalleled fear-inspiring force on the battlefield is one thing but the fact that he was also extremely intelligent is something completely else.

Bane was a hunter of Sith artifacts in his pursuit of knowledge. He knew that the texts and scriptures of those gifted in the Dark Side that came before him would allow him to further the Sith and fortify himself.

It was none other than Darth Bane who was able to effectively use the ancient Sith technique of Darth Andeddu’s, the Essence of Transfer.

Revealed in Andeddu’s Sith holocron, Bane took advantage of its teachings and carried out its powers.

Unfortunately, at the end of the final trilogy of the Bane series we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger…

As Bane and Zannah, his apprentice, go at it to see who will be the future of the Sith, Bane attempts to take over her body.

In what almost seems inconceivable Bane completes the transformation and casts out his apprentice’s soul to the void.

Yet this is where it ends. From what I have seen, there is no more information on if this really is the case or if Bane ever dies..

All  I know is Darth Bane is a total bad ass and is one of the true legends of all time within the Sith.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings: #13

The 13th character for the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings is…Satele Shan!

Shatele Shan Overall = 92

Holding the rank of Grand Master of the Jedi Order and a direct descendant of Revan and Bastila Shan, Satele Shan was a powerful force that represented justice for the Galaxy during troubled times.

During her Jedi career, Satele Shan traveled from Korriban to Dromund Kaas, Alderaan to Tython all the while being a staple of good will on Coruscant.

As a key contributor in defeating the Empire on Alderaan during what would soon become known as the Cold War, Shan faced off against the villain who could be considered her nemesis, Darth Malgus.

Although she defeats Malgus on Alderaan, Malgus and the Empire would have the next victory as the capital world of Coruscant fell to a relentless barrage led by the Dark Lord.

Although Satele Shan had fantastic achievements throughout her life, she was not without controversy as she had a forbidden affair with a Republic trooper.

As a result, she would go on to give birth to their son Theron who would go on to be an important figure in the Jedi Order as well.

Shan would go on to fight and defeat the resurfaced and evil Revan as well as his Order of Revan alongside the Empire’s Darth Marr with their respected forces.

The Republic would eventually fall to the Eternal Empire which scattered the Jedi Order and therefore sent Satele Shan into a meditative exile.

Characteristics

• Dedication to the Light (Strength, 92/100)- Satele Shan was a shining light at at time when the Galaxy was repeatedly on edge. It was through her great devotion to the Force and the Jedi Order that many around the Galaxy were able to draw hope. Her level of perseverance and love was a driving force for the Order to keep the flames of faith always burning.
• Combat Readiness (Strength, 94/100)- She wasn’t the strongest Force-user and she wasn’t the best with a lightsaber. However, when you combine confidence, belief and desire with a very strong level of aptitude in all other skills, you’re left with a formidable concoction. Shan was always ready to engage her enemies and was never ambushed. A true testament to her always vigilant self, she almost always knew what was coming and how to combat it.
• Ways of the Force (Strength, 96/100)- Her most notable abilities was her propensity within the Force. Like I said, she wasn’t the strongest, but she’s right up there for sure! Whether it was blocking a sheer lightsaber strike with her Force-infused hands or firing a tunneling blast of pure Force energy, Satele Shan’s understanding and skills of the Force were absolutely elite.
• Attachments (Weakness, 61/100)- You know, Shan was lucky. She went against the Jedi code for attachments, had a son and was still able to achieve the highest level of respect within the Order as Grand Master! That’s enough to make Anakin Skywalker go mad! Nonetheless, her peers definitely perceived her presence within the Force as special which gave her the OK to move on. Still, you have to wonder. She was never really faced with an ultimatum of us or them but if her family and her duty came against one another, it has to make you wonder…It would most certainly complicate things.

Intangibles

• DNA of a True Leader (Strength, 95/100)- When you’re related to a legend like Revan, you know you’re something special. Satele Shan had the uncanny ability of leading by example and being a true rallying point when everyone needed it the most. Her abilities to unite were exemplary and the Galaxy would have most likely fallen apart into chaos and hell without the likes of Shan.

Final Word

To be honest, there’s not a whole lot of information on Satele Shan. There’s a couple books that I’ve read that give phenomenal insight into her character and there’s extensive material on her throughout video games. What we do know however is she was the youngest Grand Master within the Jedi Order and the brilliance of herself afforded the Republic to see many more years than without. It is definitely a bit unfortunate because the level of greatness that she commands is worthy of being within the top five of all Force-users. But still, she’s listed in a respectful position. I hope we get to see more of Satele Shan through Disney’s expansion of Star Wars in the coming years!

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings: 16

The 16th character for the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings is…Darth Malak!

Darth Malak Overall = 91

As a member of the Jedi Order and then a creature of the Dark Side, Malak had a complicated life.

As he rose through the Jedi ranks he would inevitably have his mind become contaminated by the Sith Emperor who would turn Malak to the Sith.

Unlike his good friend and longtime ally Darth Revan, who also had a similar path, Malak would never return from the Dark Side and eventually perish at the hands of Revan.

Throughout his life Malak demonstrated his power to eviscerate his foes and dominate those who opposed him at will.

Of course the classic flaws of a Sith Lord in underestimation and arrogance would greatly contribute to his fall from grace and his death.

Characteristics

• Force Abilities (Strength, 96/100)- It was well documented that Malak was extremely deadly and dynamic in his utilization of the Force. His vast powers ranged from allowing his concentration to splinter out and Force choke multiple victims at once while still engaging in lightsaber battles, to allowing the Force to absorb his pain and injuries in order to keep him majorly unscathed. But his abilities don’t end there. Malak’s talent to allow himself to be consumed by the Dark Side granted him powers like creating whirlwinds of Force energy to encircle his victims as well as create stasis fields within the Force to freeze his enemies in place. Possibly his most underrated capabilities were his prowess in limiting the effectiveness and potency of adversaries in battle. You think that’s impressive? Well we’re just getting started.
• Force Augmentation (Strength, 95/100)-What Force-users get out of the Force is a testament to how deep their abilities are. With Malak, he can do absolutely remarkable things. His use of augmenting his already incredibly strong power was legendary. His proficiency in increasing his speed made him close to invincible. In terms of augmentation, Malak didn’t stop there. He was also known to amplify his screams which created intense shock waves that rippled through the Force causing fear and confusion. Another useful tool on the battlefield.
• Physicality (Strength, 94/100)- Malak was an imposing figure standing at two meters in height. His muscular frame allowed him to unleash hell on anyone standing in the Sith Lord’s way. From violent and vicious lightsaber slashes to his ability to jump at extreme distances, Malak was an absolute bone-crushing force.
• Visionary (Strength, 86/100)- As Malak saw himself falling to the Dark Side during the Mandalorian Wars, instead of trying to escape its dark clutches he saw no other way to avoid it and thus embraced it. His way of thinking was revolutionary as he lived through a time in the Galaxy where many beings including the Jedi were very stubborn and set in their ways.
• Stubborn (Weakness, 79/100)- Malak was spewing with confidence and believed in himself to a fault. As he fell to the Dark Side, he was unable to see past his shortsightedness and thus paid the ultimate price at the hands of Revan. Unlike Revan, who did snap out of the Dark Side trance, Malak remained in the shadows until the very end when he lay dying from wounds inflicted by a redeemed Revan. Malak took this time to let go of his hate and anger and thought of what life would have been like had he not turned to the Dark Side or if he even had the ability to leave the Dark and re-enter the light, as Revan did. Malak died with regret over his actions but without any ill will towards his former friend. Unfortunately for Malak his revelation had a costly price, his life.
• Genocidal Maniac (Weakness, 48/100)- As Malak grew stronger within the Dark Side of the Force, he continued to decimate the Galaxy. As he plunged the universe into a deeper slide of tumultuous turmoil, Malak performed atrocities that rival any Force-user to date. From annihilating entire planets to mutilating those whom he chose, Malak continued to build up a rather lengthy list of enemies which had his former friend who he presumed was dead at the top of the list, Revan.

Intangibles

• Dark Rage (Strength, 98/100)- When it came to Sith sorcery, Darth Malak was a natural.  In addition to his already augmented abilities, Malak just pushed the bar even further and continued to wreak havoc. He was able to manipulate the Force to tap into his innermost fears, pain, and hate and convert them into intense anger, which could be channeled to increase his speed, strength, and ferocity. Another known power of his was the strength to feel out the life force of another being and drain it to fuel his own flame. Malak also was proficient in Force lightning.
• Ideals (Strength/Weakness, *)-After ending the conflict with the Mandalorians, Malak knew his trust to keep the Galaxy at peace was only in capable hands with those he fought side by side with. At this moment, Malak believed that he finally understood the Dark Side as he thought it was named from the ignorance of never having killed and of never having to order friends to their deaths. Malak also believed the dark side was named from the ignorance of not experiencing the perpetual belief that every day would be one’s last day—all for cowards unwilling to fight for their own survival. I think this thought process opened him up to arrogance as he seemed to suppress any qualities of his that even slightly resembled these remarks.

Final Word

When studying a being like Darth Malak, there’s so much to look at that you’re afraid you’re going to overlook something. From a fighting standpoint, the guy has an absolute arsenal of Force powers to deal with. I don’t know if there’s anyone at all who has a more impressive amount of tools to work with when entering a conflict. Malak is so unorthodox and that’s what makes him so infamous. There’s no denying that Malak’s life started very promising as he began a life of servitude as a member of the Jedi Order. As a Jedi, many of his fellow compatriots identified Malak as a distinguished leader who displayed  fierce courage and relentless fury at the forefront of every battle as the key to the victory.But things began to go South for him. I think Malak was very impressionable and that was where he first went wrong. I believe because of the brutal reasons why he came to Coruscant (persecution and death), he always had a chip on his shoulder and secretly wanted revenge. As I said earlier, the most fascinating aspect of Darth Malak is he confessed his regret just moments before he died and stated that he made the wrong choice in turning to the Dark Side. It’s about as rare of a statement you can find in Star Wars as the Dark Side fully consumes your entire being, including your soul. In the end, Malak was a raging bull that was unleashed onto the Galaxy that could only be tamed by Revan. A powerful foe only to be brutally bested by another combatant, justice was served.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings: #25

The 25th character for the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings is….Qui-Gon Jinn!

Qui-Gon Jinn Overall = 79

QGJ was one of the most beloved of all the Jedi Masters.

As much as he was liked he was controversial. QGJ was notorious for his legendary stubbornness which of course he proved in the end…he was right.

QGJ’s legacy will always be his belief in the “living Force”.

A mystical thought that almost went against Jedi principal. It was Qui-Gon’s idea that the “living Force” grew and fed from the energy of living things.

This of course gave the Galaxy Force spirits which would prove so vital that its importance can never be quantified in any amount of words.

Characteristics

• Swordsmanship (Strength, 85/100)– Known for his talented skill with a lightsaber, QGJ was more than able to hold his own against any opponent, even a Sith. He was very evenly balanced, could incorporate power when he desired to and was especially skilled at diagnosing his opponent’s weaknesses.
• Vision (Strength, 97/100) – QGJ was the founder and first to stress the importance of the “living Force”. Plus when Master Yoda is listening to you like a Padawan would listen to his Master, well you’ve struck gold! It is quite possible that this ability is the most significant out of any characteristic within the entire Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings. The sheer magnitude of this discovery is almost directly responsible for Luke’s eventual victory against the Emperor and Vader. Without QGJ’s padawan Ben Kenobi directing and counseling Luke, the Empire would be categorically triumphant for the rest of time.
• Calming Presence (Strength, 86/100)- QGJ is a pillar of peaceful tranquility. His ability to stay calm, cool and collected and deliver under pressure was instrumental in the Battle of Naboo. Without this mindset influencing them, the Naboo would never have been able to retake the Palace, Obi-Wan Kenobi would not have been able to defeat Darth Maul and most importantly Anakin Skywalker would not have the confidence to take on the Galaxy and fulfill his destiny…
• Beliefs ( Strength, 84/100)- Without his rock solid conviction and belief in what he was doing, the nature of the Force would have suffered. QGJ did not succumb to peer pressure even in the face of his closest allies (who were also his harshest critics) did he yield. He was deadset on his way of doing things and boy was he right.
• Arrogance ( Weakness, 70/100)- Where there is a tenacious-opinionated individual there is arrogance. QGJ was guilty of taking his beliefs too far and even allowing them to get in the way of his progression within the Jedi Order where he could have influenced many of his beliefs if he only obliged to criticism on the occasion.
• Age (Weakness, 72/100)- At the time of his death, QGJ was approximately 60 years old. Although that might seem like an incredible age to still engage an adversary, other human Force-users were much more capable than Jinn even into their 80’s! Age affects us all in different ways and unfortunately for QGJ, it handicapped him, almost severely.
• Sith Ambush (Weakness, 68/100)- When QGJ encountered the Sith Lord on Tatooine, he was the first Jedi to engage the Dark Side in a thousand years. As a Jedi, Dooku trained QGJ well but nothing’s like facing a live opponent. It is unfortunate that his one and only Sith foe was able to best him. Of course this is not his fault but it still has to be held against him. Perhaps with more experience QGJ would have emerged victorious.

Intangibles 

• Farsight (Strength, 88/100)- Unique to his last breath, QGJ was always able to see ahead of what was in front of him. His impressive ability to do so gave the Galaxy perhaps the best Jedi anyone has ever seen in Anakin. Not to mention QGJ prophesied the balancing of the Force through the young Skywalker who was just a mere boy at the time. That takes serious talent.
• Set in his ways (Weakness, 75/100)- Obi-Wan would be proud of this intangible representation of his Master as he knew him better than anyone on how steadfast in his own beliefs Qui-Gon was. Besides his following and preaching of the “living Force”, his ultimate persistence and tenacity in what he believed in would inevitably consume him. I believe it played a small part in QGJ’s demise.

Final Word

Qui-Gon Jinn’s devotion to the Jedi Order is unmatched. Even in death was the Jedi Master still counseling the Jedi. That is so powerful and important that it must not be understated. As for the man’s legacy, I think QGJ’s age played a big factor near the end of his life. It is my opinion that if he were maybe 20 years younger, he could have defeated Darth Maul and gone on to be a legend for all time within the prestigious Jedi Order.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings: #26

Coming in last place for the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings is….Kit Fisto!

Kit Fisto Overall = 76

As a Jedi Master with a seat on the Council, Kit Fisto is an important figure to the Order during a time that suffocated in turbulence.

Fisto brings to the table a very intelligent, surprisingly capable swordsmen and one who is more submersed in the living force than others.

Characteristics 

•  Calm Mind (Strength, 84/100)- Kit Fisto was almost always under control in any situation thrown his way. His gift of never letting any pressure overcome the Jedi Master is what allowed him to survive the Battle of Geonosis as well as almost besting General Grievous.
• Military Tactician (Strength, 87/100)- Someone like Fisto has the power to take over a battle and manage his way to victory. Throughout the Clone Wars KF was routinely able to maneuver his way through bloody bouts with the Separatists as he saved lives and came out victorious. Plus his troopers, the clones, trusted him and highly respected the Jedi. It’s also worth mentioning that Kit Fisto was of course a General in the Clone Wars.
• Respect (Strength, *)- KF was extraordinarily regarded as a bright mind, a trustworthy Jedi and one who could hold his own. But like most Jedi, he’s no different in his level of respect. Honestly, this strength of KF’s gives him loyalty and trust but it does little to help him in a fight.

• Awareness (Weakness,64/100) – Kit Fisto was killed by Darth Sidious in a very strange way. He very easily was defeated and practically looked surprised and not ready to engage his enemy. There are other examples too where KF is unaware of his surroundings whether it be in books or movies. The point being, Fisto can be bated into a trap which of course would result in failure.
• Overall Talent (Weakness, 71/100)- Kit Fisto sat on the Council and was a distinguished member of the Jedi. But when it came to his abilities as a Jedi Knight, let’s face it, the man was quite simply just average. He had no superior talents, he wasn’t supremely gifted in any way and his downfall displayed just that.
• Lightsaber Skill (Weakness, 73/100)- KF was not known to be an overly potent swordsmen. I would go so far as to say he was even a bit below average when it comes to his skills with a lightsaber.

Intangibles

• Fighting Ability (Strength, 78/100)– Kit Fisto can dominate droids with distinct ease. His Form I style allows him to tap into the Force and control the battle from start to finish when it comes to mechanical adversaries. The same can be said with those who are not considered elite. Another way of saying this is, opponents who do not have the abilities with the Force are almost always defeated by KF (General Grievous). However he starts to be at a disadvantage when he’s up against a strong competitor who has the abilities of the Force (Asajj Ventress, Darth Sidious).

Final Word

Kit Fisto is a very solid Jedi. One who was not given the rank of Master but earned it. I have been very tough on KF but fair. I believe that he is a below average fighter who is well respected within and outside the friendly confines of the Jedi Temple. Someone who is a very wise and proficient military tactician but unfortunately is not solely a General. In being a Jedi, Fisto’s responsibilities are to engage the Republic’s enemies and foes. While he can hold his own against even the most powerful of droids and low to mid level opponents, he has a bit of a weak spot when it comes to battling top notch Force-users thus making him 26th and last in the rankings.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Star Wars Character Power Rankings

For a long time now I’ve wanted to do something like this.

I’ve always been one who deals in absolutes and in doing so, I always liked to stack up the competition against each other and see where everyone stands.

In other words, Star Wars is a vast collection of many diverse characters whom are all extremely powerful.

But who is the strongest? Who is the toughest?

When it came to Star Wars, I always thought about contests like this.

Well, the Sith Pacify Blog has been fairly inactive in the past couple weeks as only a couple posts over that time have been published.

The reason for this being I have been thinking of a way to quantify a power index on who the greatest mainstream characters within the franchise are.

Here’s what I’ve got.

Only Main Characters

As I recently stated, for this list I will only be discussing main characters.

Now, there is a bit of a caveat here.

There is going to be a number of characters within the rankings who can be looked at as “not the most important”.

The reason that some of these characters are to be included is because their style offers a breath of fresh air with their uniqueness and their adversity in respect to the others.

 

Statistics 

I have identified a number of statistics in which I will be classifying each character under.

For each category, there will be a number from 1-100 in which the skills and abilities will be placed under.

For example, someone like Yoda who is clearly one of if not the most powerful of Force-users would have a rating for the category of “Force Abilities” around 95.

For those of you who have ever played sports video games such as Fifa, Madden or 2k, the characters will be ranked in a similar way as the players in the previously stated sporting games.

Intangibles and Abilities 

In order to insure individuality, each character will have a couple categories that will be specifically catered to their abilities. 

For example, I’ll tell you right now that a character like Kylo Ren will have the category “emotion” listed.

For each category that a character receives, it will be stated whether they help the character or hurt them.

I also want to be clear that the intangibles are not just positive aspects of these characters’ prowess.

They can be a detriment to the individual or a powerful tool used in battle.

Descriptive Style

When I am classifying the powers of the characters, I will not be writing down the backstories for each hero or villain. 

Now I might list specific examples but I will not be doing this for every single category.

Simply put, each character will have their abilities described in great detail and will be given a rating depending on their strengths and weaknesses.

The Characters

As I said earlier in this post, I will only be looking at Force-users for this list.

In the future I will most likely add on those who do not have the abilities of the Force to this list but for now, characters like General Grievous and Boba Fett will not be included.

Without further ado, the following list of characters will be those listed within the rankings.

It’s important to note that this list is not in any particular order whatsoever.

1. Anakin Skywalker
2. Obi-Wan Kenobi
3. Yoda
4. Mace Windu
5. Darth Vader
6. Darth Sidious
7. Count Dooku
8. Kit Fisto
9. Darth Maul
10. Revan
11. Darth Malgus
12. Kylo Ren
13. Rey
14. Ki-Adi Mundi
15. Plo Koon
16. Kanan Jarrus
17. Ezra Bridger
18. Ahsoka Tano
19. Asajj Ventress
20. Darth Plagueis
21. Qui-Gon Jinn
22. Darth Malak
23. Darth Bane

Well there you have it, my next many many posts will be the Official Sith Pacify Power Rankings.

Hope you all enjoy it.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Disney Got Wrong

When Disney took control of Star Wars, many fans were reasonably troubled.

Some who didn’t like the Prequels and many of George Lucas’ ideas (these people annoy me) welcomed this new change of direction.

But for the most part, people were a bit wary.

For me, it was a frightening concept to relinquish the mindset of George Lucas no longer being in control.

What calmed this transition for many of us was the announcement of Episodes VII, VIII and IX.

Since before Disney, we weren’t sure if there would EVER be another Star Wars movie!

However, with this announcement many fans, myself included, were worried on how the movies would come out.

But as time went on and some concepts and ideas were leaked, which were extremely few, we all exhaled and were able to relax.

As of now, about a month and two weeks after the release of The Force Awakens, life with Disney at the helm of Star Wars seems pretty darn good.

No complaints right?

Well, I have one…

At some point last year the following statement from Disney was released.

It was announced relatively recent that as of As of April 25th, 2014, the only previously published materials that are considered canon  are the six Star Wars films and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and film, while the Expanded Universe is no longer considered canon^[1] and was re-termed as the “Legends” brand. Most Star Wars material released after April 25, 2014—with some exceptions—is composed in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, making it part of the “new canon.”

The good people of Wookiepedia documented that quote which allows us to discuss it.

Before I continue, I have to say this.

First off, I love what Disney has done to Star Wars.

The years leading up to George Lucas selling Star Wars to Disney were cold, lonely times for new material in many different facets of entertainment.

Since Disney took over, they have fully exploited many different revenue streams which in turn has provided maximum enjoyment for the fans.

Now back to this Canon stuff.

The fact that everything before April 2014 is no longer Canon is deeply troubling.

There are so many powerful novels that have been absolutely astounding and now that they’re basically gone is agitating to say the least.

One of the greatest books I have ever read, Star Wars or not was Jame Luceno’s “Darth Plagueis”.

Through his words we learn Palpatine’s rise to power, we discover who this shadowy figure in Darth Plagueis is and we see how their relationship ends.

So now that this is no longer Canon, where do we go from here?

Are we supposed to pretend that Plagueis and Palpatines’ idea of ruling the Galaxy together with Palpatine being the face and Plagueis being in the shadows never existed?

Are we supposed to ignore the fact that Palpatine gruesomely murdered his mother, father and siblings just because they didn’t get along?

How does that work Disney!?

What about all the fantastic tales told during Matthew Stover’s novelization of “Shatterpoint”.

Is all the emotional journeys experienced in that story no more?

If so, and it sure seems that way, what do we really know about Mace Windu?

What about Drew Karpyshyn’s “Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan”?

Is Revan just Star Wars mythology now!?

What about Malak and Malgus, Bane and the Sith Emperor Lord Vitiate?

Are they all no more??

It can’t be!

This is so uncharacteristic of Disney.

Well, maybe not.

I believe the thinking behind this essential wiping out of everything before Episode I is to be able to remake and thus profit from the “new” material.

And I get it.

That’s all fine and dandy except for one small detail…

The most dedicated and educated Star Wars fans have no clarity on what is what now.

You see, clarity is the key word there.

Why is that you might ask?

Only recently did we discover this…and this is important so pay attention.

Some of the material before April 2014 is real and thus considered Canon.

But what!?

How are we supposed to differentiate between Canon and Non-Canon?

I can understand the reasoning behind this as they must be trying to add to some parts that have been previously concluded.

For instance, Supreme Leader Snoke.

Many say that he could be Darth Plagueis.

Well if you’ve read the novel you know that that’s impossible since Plagueis died!

But since it’s no longer Canon, it now is possible.

Regardless of Snoke, in my opinion it is just a giant, sorrowful mistake to say all of this isn’t Canon.

THAT is what Disney got wrong.

Now it’s very immoral to basically tell all the wonderful writers that created such masterful work in Star Wars novelizations that their work is no longer real…

BUT, this is a business after all.

Still, one would think that these writers must feel spurned right?

I know I wouldn’t like to be told that my work is now being disregarded in the grand scheme of things.

You see this could hurt Star Wars in the long run.

Maybe some of these writers feel some type of way towards Disney and decide they no longer want to write about Star Wars.

In the end the fans would suffer.

Now I’m sure if Disney dangled a giant wad of cash to these artists they would reconsider.

But even so, how strong would the material be if their creator’s heart isn’t in it?

That’s what I would think at least.

Well in the end, Disney will do what it wants and that’s fine.

But I would just like some clarity and a defined list on the novels that determines what exactly is still Canon if any of it is.

That’s all.

I’m a huge fan of all the Star Wars novels. I read them every single day.

I would just like Disney to be a bit more responsible and consider the many artists and their work that they just uprooted and hung out to dry.

In my opinion, the fans suffer the most.

And that’s just a shame.

Apparently Leia agrees.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

Star Wars Rebels Season Two Midseason Trailer…WOW!

Earlier today Star Wars fans were blindsided with the surprising release of something so substantial, it has come close to the hype that surrounded The Force Awakens.

That’s right, today we got to see the future of the animated series, Star Wars Rebels.

And let’s just say, it didn’t disappoint…

From scenes that were just plain awesome to scenes of cataclysmic proportions, the midseason trailer was beyond telling.

To give you guys the rundown, I’ve written down nine main points of interest within the trailer.

The following are all of these points…except two.

Those two…will come at the end.

1. At the beginning of the trailer, Kanan speaks as the various scenes and images flash of the seventh sister and the fifth brother engaging Kanan and Ezra in repeated battles. It also seems that another Inquisitor has joined the ranks of the Jedi hunters. The thought-provoking clips tell us one thing…Kanan and Ezra have the full attention of the section of the Empire that deals with Jedi, which inevitably means Vader..
2. If you’ve read Paul S. Kemp’s book “Sith Lords”, you’ll remember the inspiring and fearless leader of the resistance on Ryloth, Cham Syndulla, Cham of course being Hera’s father. Well it appears Cham is on a collision course with Rebels as he announces himself in the trailer.
3. We knew this before but hey, it doesn’t hurt to see it again! Princess Leia will be joining the gang in next week’s episode as we get a glimpse of her before A New Hope. What I found even more interesting than Leia simply being part of the show is Hera can be heard saying “he’s sending us reinforcements” regarding Leia’s adopted father, Senator Organa. What’s compelling about this is we are truly seeing the birth of the Alliance.
4. Since the destruction of the Jedi as we knew them occurred a decade and a half ago, the remnants of the Temple were all but wiped out…or so we thought. The unimaginable was witnessed within the trailer as many Jedi Temple Guards were throughout the various scenes. What this exactly means is still up in the air. Could it be another Jedi Temple was still populated at the time of Order 66? Possibly…the destination we see Luke in during The Force Awakens!? Hmmmm 
5. Quite possibly the coolest sight within the trailer was the return of our “little green friend” Yoda! The Grand Master of the Jedi was seen talking to Ezra in a very ominous and cautious matter. Much like the Jedi Master once did with another Jedi, Anakin Skywalker…
6. Now I don’t know for sure but something looked oddly familiar within the trailer. Almost like a lost planet, one that we saw in Star Wars The Clone Wars. Well I’ll just spit it out, we may have  caught a glimpse of the sinister world of Korriban. The significance of this would be extreme. Could we possibly find out more of how Supreme Leader Snoke came to power in TFA maybe? With Sith holocrons and Sith artifacts you never know.  
7. This might be one of my favorite scenes in the trailer. When Ahsoka is sitting with Ezra and in between them is holovids of her former Master training. But the fascination continues to grow between Anakin and Ahsoka…You’ll find out more soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I’ve shown you the very interesting points of what was in the trailer, it’s time we delve deeper, much deeper.

The following will blow you away.

Unless you’ve already heard what else was in the trailer, get ready…

1. As we progress with Rebels, it’s inevitable that Ahsoka will cross paths with Darth Vader. I’ve said it in past posts. To see that episode will be a dream come true. But until then, we are left with curiosity and nothing more. Until now. The trailer touches on Ahsoka and Anakin’s close friendship. If you remember from The Clone Wars show, Ahsoka walks out on the Jedi Order. This might very well be how she survived the destruction of almost all of the Jedi, most at the hands of her fallen Master. A point of chilling fascination occurs between these two as Ahsoka appears to be in meditation, she hears Anakin’s voice saying, “Ahsoka? Why did you leave? Do you know what I’ve become?” It is at this moment where Ahsoka loses it and quickly pivots and turns around and engages her lightsaber as she slashes at the empty air. The whole time with tears streaming down her face…but it is at the end of the trailer when Ahsoka leaps at the man in black: Darth Vader.
2. This is my favorite part of this entire post. I had to save the best for last because it is so shockingly amazing. At some point in the middle of the trailer, a familiar voice can be heard. The voice says “The Darkside…it pulls at him. It calls to him. You seek knowledge! Call me, Old Master…” It is at this point that a hooded figure starts to turn around. You can see just enough within the hood to make out who this is…you ready? DARTH MAUL!!! One of the most unique, fearsome and intimidating characters is back! THIS is what makes this so credible. How shocking!!

Well, there you have it!

Now there’s no need to watch the trailer if you haven’t all ready since I have you covered but you know what?

Forget that.

You MUST watch this trailer…

I just want to say well done to everyone involved in Star Wars Rebels.

You have all done an unimaginably perfect job and I commend you on your excellence.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mystifying Secrecy Behind Supreme Leader Snoke

As the weeks pass by and The Force Awakens slowly drifts into the rear view mirror, it’s time to look into the many mysteries surrounding the film.

This post will investigate the unexplained and unknown circumstances regarding the leader of The First Order, Supreme Leader Snoke.

For starters, there’s not much on him.

He is a powerful leader who is the Master of Kylo Ren, formally known as Ben Solo.

The little more I can tell you about this figure is strictly taken from the movie and the novel.

Besides those depictions of this figure, he virtually does not exist.

We know he observed the rise and fall of The Galactic Empire.

We also know that Snoke had several apprentices before he zoned in on the Skywalker family.

As for his species or his origins, they are unknown.

Now for my opinion.

The character of Supreme Leader Snoke is unequivocally brilliant.

But with the tinge of unknown that he represents, this creature brings a whole new element of fascination and intrigue.

It’s time for me to address what many many people have been wondering…

Is Supreme Leader Snoke the former Master and thought dead Darth Plagueis?

Well, I don’t know.

But I will consider the facts.

There is very little to base anything off of.

All theories regarding Plaugeis is a shot in the dark.

In April 2014, Disney announced that all material besides the movies and The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels television series is no longer canon…

Future novels after that date will also be considered canon.

Now I just want to say I am highly disappointed with this move by Disney and I’m still very unhappy with it to this day…

But that’s another story for another time.

What this does however is it makes it impossible to understand if Snoke is Plagueis or not.

Now I should clarify something.

Disney reserved the right to pick and choose certain pieces from material before April 2014 to be canon.

It’s just the general idea that unless told otherwise, it is not canon.

Understand this, we have a bit of a loophole around this however.

Since all the movies are canon then we are certain that Darth Plagueis was indeed killed by Sidious….

Or so we think.

Within James Luceno’s novelization of Darth Plagueis, he goes about telling the life story of the master of Darth Sidious.

Now at the time of this novel’s completion (2012) it was consistent with Episode III.

What that means is this book, the ONLY book describing the mysterious Darth Plagueis could in fact be true and thus canon.

I believe this for two reasons.

1. There is so little information on Plagueis that it doesn’t make sense for them to just completely scrap the only written material about him.
2. Since the Episode III is along the same lines as the Plagueis’ novel, his details should remain the same. At least the important ones such as his death, his abilities, his characteristics etc.

For this post, I’m going to act as if the novel “Darth Plagueis” IS complete canon.

Because I think it is and should be.

So I’ll ask this again.

Is Supreme Leader Snoke Darth Plagueis?

Why Snoke is and isn’t Plagueis

Darth Plagueis was one of the most powerful wielders of the Dark Side the Galaxy has ever seen.

His talents and focus were surrounding his never ending pursuit of eternal life.

Within the novel of “Darth Plagueis”, he is shown to have an ability to influence the midi-chlorians to preserve life.

What if Sidious did kill Plagueis…or so he thought.

Wouldn’t it be plausible for Plagueis to somehow be able to save himself due to his incredible and unique force powers?

Absolutely.

Here’s the problem.

Someone as powerful as Darth Sidious would have definitely discovered this.

There’s no way he would not have known, felt, seen or whatever you want to say regarding his Master.

But here’s another idea.

What if somehow someway, Plagueis was awoken when Sidious was killed?

Now don’t ask me how but I think there is some truth to this.

If you look at Snoke, he looks as if he is an animated corpse.

Well what if he is?

It would fit the storyline.

Something else that is fairly significant to Snoke being Plagueis is the massive facial scarring on the right side of his face.

Within the Darth Plagueis novel, he survives an assassination attempt.

He however does sustain severe injuries, one of these injuries being a slit throat.

Supreme Leader Snoke’s facial structure is absolutely consistent with this depiction…

What’s more, Darth Plagueis was widely known to be seen only through holovids as opposed to being present in person near the end of his life.

Notice how in The Force Awakens Snoke is strictly a hologram…another similarity.

Finally, the last similarity between these two iconic figures is Star Wars history.

It is two likely and similar between Snoke and Plagueis that they are somehow not the same person.

Also, where did this sudden leader of the Dark Side, the remnants of the Empire and controller of the Skywalker line come from?

Way too alike for it not to be him…

So why is Snoke not Plagueis?

One of the main reasons is the picture below.

The figure on the right was the InterGalactic Banking Clan’s Chairman, San Hill.

He was in charge of the IGBC’s finances throughout The Clone Wars.

The significance of this picture being that San Hill is of the Muun species, the same as Darth Plagueis.

If Snoke was indeed Plagueis, he would look more consistent to Hill.

Now there could be a bit of deception here however.

For starters, this picture of Snoke is a bit lifelike.

It might be too hard to compare this particular picture with another Muun but for argument purposes it is clear that these two are not of the same species.

Now the picture taken directly from TFA earlier in the post of Snoke looks a lot more similar to San Hill but it is still far from certain.

Nonetheless, unless JJ Abrams decided to reinvent the Muun race’s appearance, Snoke is not Plagueis.

Conclusion

To be honest, I really don’t know what I think.

But I will say this.

I think Snoke will end up being Darth Plagueis just for the fact that he’s far too alike with Plagueis for him not to be.

Other than that, I really can’t say if he is him or not.

I guess this will be determined later, much later.

-Sith Pacify out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why The Massive Amount Of Star Wars Trailers Was The Right Strategy

As we approach the final stretch until the much anticipated release of The Force Awakens, something comes to mind.

I find it incredibly impressive that the sheer volume of various trailers have not impeded on the plot.

I mean, think about it…there are literally dozens of individual trailers.

Yet we know so very little of what is going to happen on the big screen.

That’s impressive right?

I’ve always noted in past blockbuster releases that two trailers and sometimes three are too much, and here we are STILL receiving new footage on TFA.

So how is that possible?

It’s quite simple actually.

Disney has designed their marketing and advertising campaign on the exploitation of the fan’s imagination.

In other words, because The Force Awakens is so highly anticipated, instead of revealing what is to happen they simply need to show meaningless footage of characters.

And that’s absolutely fine with us!

What I mean by this is simple.

We don’t want to know what’s going to happen beforehand and although there might be rumors swirling around out there, nothing is set in stone.

Because Star Wars is so deeply predicated on the honorable heroes and the infamous villains, Disney is allowing the appearances of new and old characters lead the wave of excitement.

Think about this.

What was the major takeaway in the first trailer released?

Two things…the return of the Millennium Falcon and the enticing aesthetics of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber.

That’s all!

Now think about movies like Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla for example.

Leading up to film’s premiere, there were three trailers.

Not a dozen or so like Star Wars yet just from those three little trailers, we learned so much on what the plot was.

Stuff like that ruins enthusiasm for major movies.

Make that ANY movie.

That is exactly why Disney and Star Wars is a match made in heaven.

Disney is arguably the greatest marketing conglomerate that we have ever seen.

Say what you want about their insatiable desire of releasing animated movies based around singing animals or princesses, they rake in the dough.

Star Wars is one of the most popular franchises not only in the United States but the world.

Now when you combine the two, you have a perfect recipe of intrigue and commotion.

Just the sound of Kylo Ren’s voice heck just footage of Ren himself is enough to get fans excited!

That right there is what is so darn impressive.

It’s one thing to release a bunch of trailers that don’t reveal a lot yet give fans exactly what they’re looking for but when you realize this and push the envelope to the point of instituting this strategy in mass quantity, you hit a new level of greatness.

Quite frankly, this is exactly why I believe the campaign Disney has put together to market and advertise The Force Awakens is the clear-cut best performance of recent memory.

In a time where demand is so great and selfishness is often present, it’s nothing short of a miracle that nothing has been leaked regarding the film as well!

That JJ Abrams runs a tight ship!

We’re so close now that I have dreams of Star Wars-laden adventures every night…

CAN’T.WAIT.

-Sith Pacify out