Force Ghosts in Star Wars

Via Screenrant.com:

If anything has confounded fans of the galaxy far, far away, it’s Force ghosts, something J.J. Abrams should address in Star Wars Episode IX. Ever since Obi-Wan Kenobi first instructed his young ward, Luke Skywalker, from beyond the grave in the original Star Wars, the narrative took on a surreal layer. Obi-Wan, Yoda, and later Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker, became one with the Force in the original trilogy, but the concept of a Force ghost wouldn’t gain any proper explanation until the prequels and later in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The sequel trilogy, in particular, The Last Jedi, added further layers to these spectral beings, most notably with Yoda’s dramatic interaction with the physical world and Luke’s ghost-like Force projection. Still, the expanded mythology of the Jedi and their afterlife capabilities probably escaped – or, worse, confused – most casual audiences, something Abrams ought to explore in the final chapter – especially if he uses these Force spirits more extensively.

In the feature films, Force ghosts are one of Star Wars’ least-explored mystical elements. They just exist, for the most part, expanding the lore beyond nifty mind tricks and cool laser swords. Old Ben’s echoey advice for Luke, telling to “trust his feelings,” constructed a cryptic framework around the basic story, turning the adventures of a pie-eyed farm boy into a cultural phenomenon. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi also added substance to Force shades, with Luke seeing his old teacher on Hoth, and it became clear they could still have a big impact on the living – at least through advice.

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