Readers talk ‘Star Wars’ plot holes

Who dies, who vanishes?
As I was reading this I was hoping you'd include the Jedi disappearing when dying. I'm glad you slipped in the end. I didn't notice it in the battle of Geonosis but I did notice that Vader and Qui Gon were burned when they died, however Obi Wan and Yoda disappeared. I 100 percent believe that Qui Gon recruited Anakin for the Sith. Remember in "Attack" when it was known that Qui Gon was Dooku's apprentice? And when Obi-Wan said to Dooku that Qui Gon Jinn would never join him, Dooku replied "Don't be so sure." I would also like some explanation on who has the power to throw lightning from their hand and who doesn't. We never see Vader do it in Episodes VI, V, VI but we see Dooku can do it in Episode II. I wonder if there is a chance we will hear from Emperor Palpatine in "Sith," "Anakin, I am your father". Too much of a stretch you think? —Eric Harris, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Explain yourself, Lord Vader
Good article in MSNBC.com regarding the 10 things that need to be resolved from Episode III, but there is one more that has bothered me since 1982. As Vader is dying, he tells Luke "Tell Obi-Wan he was right." Right about what? There is obviously some serious advice that Anakin was given that he ignored or dissed Obi-Wan about, and it has eaten at him for decades. So I really want to know "Right about what?" —Marc Webster, Binghamton, N.Y.

Jedi strength
Several of these issues are actually answered in the various published “Star Wars” Books. For instance, Yoda picked Dagobah because at some point a powerful Sith Lord was killed there (in the cave that Luke walks into to confront his Dark Side). The presence of that much Dark Side energy masks his presence so that he remains undetected by the Sith. Also, the ability for a Jedi to stick around in spirit form after death is directly related to their strength in the force. Those that are weak won't stick around for long or at all, but those that are strong, like Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan are capable of sticking around for a while. You actually can't tell is Anakin disappears in the Jedi. In “A New Hope,” Obi-Wan's clothes are left behind, so you would think that since Anakin was mostly machine at that point, the machine would be left behind. You see him unhelmeted at one point, but when Luke is dragging him the helmet is back on. Later you see Luke burning the machine. —Name withheld

When did Palpatine turn?
I want to know how Palpatine became a Sith in the first place? Was he a Jedi who left the order for politics and his grand scheme to take over the Galaxy, or did he just happen to have the dark side flowing through him? Big hole in the movies. —Melissa, Olathe, Ka.

Invasion of the Whill
Yoda's Species - Whill and in “A Phantom Menace,” there is another Whill named Yaddle! Yoda has had no experience with the Sith as they all were killed over 1,000 years before the “Phantom Menace.” He learned of them through Jedi Halocrons which are little spheres that hold information about the past, like little hard drives! Yoda at the end of “Revenge of the Sith” becomes an apprentice to Qui-Gon Jinn, in his ghost form! The only Sith to survive was Darth Rage who adopted the rule of two and wend into hiding over the years. Back in the early days the Sith grew in numbers comparable to the Jedi, being 10,000 strong. They ultimately destroyed themselves because the Dark Side eventually takes control of you. The Sith desire more power than any one person can handle.

Leia has a force connection with Padme after she is born and that is how she remembers her mother. Anakin has dreams about Padme dying, which the emperor knows of and promises him he can save her from dying. He learned this skill from his Sith Master, Darth Plagious who taught it to him. When Windu confronts the Chancellor and is about to kill him. The love Anakin has for Padme and not wanting her to die is what turns Anakin to the Dark Side. Any other questions you need answered? —Steve Fields, Palm Springs Calif.

A Sith plot
Just issues with No. 7 the reason the Jedi council is unaware of Sifo-Dyas commission of the clone army is because he didn't do it. The Kaminoins say he commissioned the army 10 years prior yet when conversing with Mace and Yoda, Obi-wan is told that he was killed 12 years before. Also Jango Fett says he was hired by a man named Tyrannous (as in Darth Tyranous aka Count Dooku) for the job as the clone blueprint. Obviously, the Sith are deceiving a backwater (no pun intended) planet that doesn't freely associate with the Republic so they wouldn't know master Sifo Dyas by sight, so either Dooku procured the job (which would mean he started as Sideous' new apprentice before the two halves of Maul hit the bottom) or (and this is actually explained in Lucasarts “Bounty Hunter”) Darth Sideous (Palpatine) ordered the job posing as a member of the council. I'm willing to bet Kamino doesn't do a reference check if you show up with the credits to raise a clone army. The assault of Naboo in Episode I did exactly what the Sith planned, put him in power, in Episode II he shored up that authority and we see he's been plotting for a loooonnngggg time. —Dan, Cincinnati, Ohio

The trouble with Leia
In "Empire", Leia is standing right next to Darth as Han is being frozen. You would think if he can sense Luke, he would sense the Force in Leia. But then in "Jedi," before the final battle between Luke and Darth, Darth senses Luke has a sister because he feels what Luke is thinking. So you're saying he can sense there is another Skywalker through Luke's thoughts, but he can't pick up on the feeling himself just by standing next to her in "Empire"? She's offspring of Darth, so why wouldn't he sense her. Who knows? I am hoping "Sith" will explain why she is not portrayed in an equal and powerful role as Luke. Instead she is made out to be less important even though she is supposed to have the same power or potential as Luke does. Confusing. I'm also anxious to learn how Anakin wouldn't have already sensed his son Luke's potential as soon as he was born. Were Anakin's children separated before he could see them? I hope "Sith" will clear this up.  —Jo, St. Louis, Mo.

MORE FROM STAR WARS

Star Wars Section Front

Seen ‘Revenge of the Sith’? Now see these Lucas delivers an uneven finale with ‘Sith’ 10 things ‘Star Wars’ should explain Use the force to solve our ‘Star Wars’ quiz Obi-Wan Kenobi: Jedi sex symbol Memorable ‘Star Wars’ moments The shaggy saga of a ‘Star Wars’ fan Darth Vader lives! Star Wars Section Front   Add Star Wars headlines to your news reader: