Star Wars: 10 most disliked storylines, ranked
1. The midichlorians explanation (The Phantom Menace):
When you think of yourself living in the Star Wars universe and learning about the many tales of these incredible and ancient wizards and their mystical powers, feeling the magic in the air, only for someone to pop up and say, "Actually, it's all because of these tiny organisms in their blood." Kind of anti-climatic, ain't it?
That's kind of what happened with the Star Wars saga when The Phantom Menace introduced the concept of midichlorians. For decades, fans had been enchanted by the Force, a mysterious and mystical energy that connected all living things, allowing Jedi and Sith to perform their incredible feats. It was like a cosmic magic that anyone could dream of tapping into, but they had to be truly one with it to be able to do so. Then, along came the midichlorians, turning the sublime into a science lesson.
Suddenly, the Force wasn't about spirituality or the balance between light and dark - it was about who had more microscopic life forms in their bloodstream. It was as if the magic of the Force was reduced to a high score on a medical test, leaving some fans feeling like the mystery and wonder had been sucked out of the galaxy.
This midichlorian maneuver didn't just throw a wrench in the works; it sparked a galaxy-wide debate among fans. On one side, there were those who appreciated the attempt to ground the Force in the Star Wars universe's biology, giving a tangible explanation for why some characters could wield it and others couldn't. On the flip side, many fans felt this scientific explanation demystified the Force's spiritual aspect, stripping away the layers of mystique and the universal appeal that suggested anyone could be special, not just those with the right genetic lottery. The introduction of midichlorians shifted the narrative from an inclusive, mystical force to an exclusive club, determined by microscopic inhabitants in one's blood. It wasn't just about belief, training, or character anymore; it was about biology.
This pivot from the unexplained to the scientific left fans nostalgic for the days when the Force was a more ambiguous, awe-inspiring power that didn't need a blood test for validation.