A New Sith is an amusing analysis of the original three Star Wars films in light of the information and connections given to us by the prequel trilogy. Viewed carefully, the new films support some surprising conclusions; one of the author’s main conclusions:
If we accept all the Star Wars films as the same canon, then a lot that happens in the original films has to be reinterpreted in the light of the prequels. As we now know, the rebel Alliance was founded by Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa. What can readily be deduced is that their first recruit, who soon became their top field agent, was R2-D2.
Consider: at the end of RotS, Bail Organan orders 3PO’s memory wiped but not R2’s. He wouldn’t make the distinction casually. Both droids know that Yoda and Obi-Wan are alive and are plotting sedition with the Senator from Alderaan. They know that Amidala survived long enough to have twins and could easily deduce where they went. However, R2 must make an impassioned speech to the effect that he is far more use to them with his mind intact: he has observed Palpatine and Anakin at close quarters for many years, knows much that is useful and is one of the galaxy’s top experts at hacking into other people’s systems. Also he can lie through his teeth with a straight face. Organa, in immediate need of espionage resources, agrees.
(It’s possible I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m too lazy to check. Nearly nine years of bloggy goodness will do that to you.)
I don’t know if you were the one who showed me this or not, but I’ve been a big fan of this story for a while now. I think I like it even more than the Cult of Gonk (though it is worth noting that Gonk does indeed show up in Ep.1-3. I’m just sayin’…).
I can’t find reference to it at the moment, but there is an amusing article “out there” that deals with the Star Wars saga as an allegory for the way the Civil War should have turned out as written by a clear Southern sympahizer/apologist. Things such as Lincoln’s efforts to raise at all costs a “Grand Army of the Republic”–the actual name of the Federal forces in the east–and the mystic Knights of the Jedi Order/Ku Klux Klan were just a couple of the nuggets therein contained. I think I have a print-out somewhere. Perhaps I’ll blog it later if time permits and I can find it.