Copyright Screen Rant
George Lucas had many rules for Star Wars, some of which he broke, and some of which have been broken since Disney bought Star Wars, but there's one key rule about the Force that hasn't changed—and, now more than ever, it needs to. Star Wars movies and TV shows are certainly no strangers to change. In fact, one of the biggest complaints about new additions to the franchise is consistently the accusation that they've altered Star Wars too radically (or, more often than not, that a project has 'ruined' Star Wars). It's perhaps for that reason that even Disney has steered clear of making one crucial change to the Force, but it's no longer avoidable. Star Wars: Visions Provided The Perfect Definition Of Balance The original trilogy introduced Star Wars audiences to many of the most fundamental characters and concepts in the franchise as a whole, ranging from the Jedi to the Force itself. However, it wasn't until the prequel trilogy that the idea of balance in the Force was mentioned. Specifically, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace introduced the Chosen One prophecy, which stated that the prophesied being would "bring balance to the Force." In the prequels, the Jedi make it clear that they believe this means destroying the Sith, although that's not something the prophecy said. Rather, the true definition of balance is never explicitly given. Star Wars canon has continued to skirt this issue, with new installments, such as the sequel trilogy, exploring the ways that the darkness will grow to meet the light and vice versa, such as on Ahch-To, the planet on which Luke Skywalker goes into exile. Yet, in canon, the Jedi's notion that balance means the destruction of the Sith—and, by extension, the dark side—hasn't been explicitly challenged. It's only in a recent non-canon show, Star Wars: Visions season 3, that this idea has been overtly challenged in a valid way. Specifically, in the first episode of Visions season 3, titled "The Duel: Payback," a terrifying new Jedi, named the Grand Master, is on a path of revenge. The target on which he has his sights set is Ronin, a reformed Sith who had an appearance in Visions season 1, in the similarly titled episode "The Duel." When the Grand Master does track Ronin down, he makes the bold declaration: "Balance only comes with true peace. Thus, the Sith and dark side must be eliminated. Or they must fully be brought to justice." This view is certainly in keeping with the opinion the prequel trilogy Jedi held, in that balance, in this case, is defined as the elimination of the dark side and the Sith. Ironically, it is Ronin who says the Jedi has lost his way, given his desire for revenge and his perception of balance. He further tells the Grand Master: "There is no balance without the light and the dark." This is a massive upset to the way balance in the Force has long been described in Star Wars, yet it makes sense that this would be the true definition. It's Time For Star Wars To Embrace What Balance Really Means It's somewhat frustrating that this brilliant line came in a non-canonical Star Wars show, not because Visions is any less legitimate than any other Star Wars project, but because it means this idea of balance has not made its way onto the canon Star Wars screen, and it may never. As mentioned, there seems to be some hesitancy on Disney Star Wars' part when it comes to truly overhauling George Lucas' rules—despite what the outcry may say—and changing something as fundamental as the true definition of balance in the Force would undoubtedly cause a stir. Yet, this understanding of balance, spoken by Ronin in Visions season 3, is the only definition that has made sense thus far. The very idea of balance suggests different elements coming together in harmony. In this case, that would mean the light side of the Force and the dark. If 'balance' meant the dark side being obliterated and only the light prevailing, then the term wouldn't actually make any sense at all. It is therefore this idea, that balance can only be achieved through the light and the dark coming together, that should be the canon definition, and it's more than time for Star Wars to confirm it. If 'balance' meant the dark side being obliterated and only the light prevailing, then the term wouldn't actually make any sense at all. The Prequel Trilogy Jedi Were Wrong, And That's Okay If Ronin's perception of balance was to become the definition in Star Wars overall, it would mean one difficult truth: the Jedi of the prequel trilogy were wrong. Sure, some viewers would be enraged if Disney Star Wars made that assertion, inadvertently or otherwise. However, we already know that the prequel trilogy Jedi Order was wrong in many ways. After all, these are the Jedi who became more and more engaged in politics and war, to the extent that, eventually, they lost sight of who and what they were meant to be, and it spelled their downfall. It's conceivable, in light of that history, that they also would have had a skewed and misguided understanding of balance in the Force. This only makes it all the easier for Star Wars to revisit the concept of balance and confirm that, yes, the light and the dark are both required.
