Star Wars: Blogs | Smugglers Rants

Smugglers Rants

by: janlomona

date posted: Oct 28, 2005 9:31 AM

Million Dollar Bail

What if R2-D2 and C-3PO had fallen directly into Ben Kenobi's hands.
No splitting up and being picked up by the Jawa's, no being sold to Uncle Owen, no coming into Luke's possesion and no playing him Leia's message, intended for Kenobi.
What if R2 and Threepio had found Ben without the involvement of Luke Skywalker?
Think about it. Bail Organa gave Leia the task of contacting the elderly Jedi Knight with the intention of bringing Ben out of retirement to fight alongside Bail, his old friend from the Clone Wars. Bail wanted Kenobi to help him with the cause of the Rebellion.
Nowhere in that mission statement did it mention the son of Anakin Skywalker (which, don't forget, Bail knew full well was his adopted daughters twin brother).
So, let's say R2 had found Kenobi straight away. Would Ben have had any need to involve Luke?
As things occured, you could say that Kenobi allowed certain events to play themselves out, namely the deaths of Owen and Beru (Luke's last ties to Tatooine). Ben knew Owens feeings on Luke's heritage and knew that Luke, being a loyal boy as he was, wouldn't have left Tatooine without their blessing (don't forget, all his friends had gone and yet he still remained. Obligation to his family was what kept him on the Moisture Farm, and both Ben and Owen knew that).
So, what if Luke hadn't been brought into the equation? Would Ben have gone on his mission to Alderaan alone?
We are told by Ben himself that he was "Getting too old for this sort of thing," but then, he would say that wouldn't he. He was trying to persuade Luke to leave everything behind and join him on a crusade to Alderaan.
So perhaps R2 split up from Threepio for a reason.
From what George Lucas himself has said, Artoo knew everything that had transpired. He never had his memory wiped like Threepio (on the order of Bail Organa) and so Artoo knew that Luke was under Kenobi's care on Tatooine.
And Bail knew that too.
So why send those two particular droids, with his daughter (Luke's sister) to Tatooine? Did Bail want Ben to come alone, or was he hoping for more than just that?
Bail called for Kenobi, but he knew Ben was watching over Luke.
In an indirect way, was it Bail Organa who made the call to bring Luke to the forefront of galactic affairs? Not the last two Jedi, Yoda or Kenobi, but Bail.
If so, you could say that it was the masterstroke manoeuvre of the original trilogy.

http://blogs.starwars.com/galantesdiary/35

Click here to hide comments for this entry

	mrYoda84 Little Green One's Swamp
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 9:45 AM very interesting way to look at it.i like this blog because there is no right or wrong answer. hopefully just tons of good opinions.

	Elflord_99
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 9:52 AM The original story based on the novel of ROTJ, Bail tells Leia if she ever gets into trouble, to seek out Obi-Wan on Tatooine. It's the same when Qui-Gon found Anakin. The will of the force.

Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:06 AM

Great blog! I would love to see this story behind Bail's instructions to Leia. Having said that, I think Obi-wan would have sought Luke out even if he hadn't been found with the droids. Because it was Leia in the hologram, it might have been a sign that things in the galaxy were about to change and that the Force was finally swinging back to the center. Where as Anakin was to be the 'chosen one' of prophecy, Luke was now the 'chosen one' to revive the Jedi and finally reignite the fight against the Sith.

	noforcepushinlav noforcepushinlav
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:12 AM Great blog! I just wanted to add that I think it's clear that Luke was always protected by obi-wan b/c both him and Yoda had always intended him to face vader when they felt he was ready. (Conversation with yoda and ben in ESB). But you are right Bail had a major role in setting those events into motion.

Darth Rex0
So be it....

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:32 AM

Hark! A fresh new topic! I haven't really thought hard about this before. I think Obi-Wan would have found Luke out regardless. Bail already had Leia involved and I'm sure Bail would have just assumed that Luke had been doing "something" with Kenobi. It seems clear that Bail did not have direct contact with Ben since they sent Leia's ship all the way out there to Tat. on such a risky mission. I would like to know more about the story of this really came about. Good stuff and good blog.

Elflord_99

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:52 AM

Leia was on her way to a rebel base, but was intercepted by an Imperial ship. She happened to be near Tatooine when she remembered Bail's advice that if she ever got into trouble, to seek out Obi-wan on Tatooine. She was not on a direct mission to seek out Obi-wan. I'm reciting the OT version, before the PT was created. It was the will of the force - that's why if you compare TPM and ANH, they match almost scene for scene through both movies.

	Elflord_99
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:57 AM Besides, ever think about the fact that the Death Star took 20+ years to complete. All that time and the Rebellion finally got their hands on the construction plans.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 11:10 AM

She was not on a direct mission to seek out Obi-wan
Thanks for the kind posts everyone. I've checked back to the script and I believe she was on a mission specifically to find Ben.
"I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed."
Leia was seeking Ben out, but things went awry when the Devastator found them.
Elford, great point about how TPM and ANH parallel each other, I've had that thought before.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 11:12 AM

Also, would Bail have wanted Leia to even know about Kenobi (before he asked her to find him that is?) Why would he tell her to seek Ben out if she was in trouble - that could have brought attention to Luke (which Bail knew about) and also to Ben, who is basically in hiding on Tatooine. Only Yoda, Ben, Artoo and Bail knew the details of the twins whereabouts - that would have put it at risk (as proved by Vaders ISD capturing the Tantive IV over Tatooine)

Elflord_99

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 12:06 PM

janlomona - I'll concede to the line by Leia in ANH, but in ROTJ, Obi-wan explains to Luke how Leia found him. From ROTJ,"...(Leia) became the leader of her cell in the Alliance against the corrupt Empire. And because she had diplomatic immunity, she was a vital link for getting information to the Rebel cause. That's what she was doing when her path crossed yours... for her foster parents had always told her to contact me on Tatooine, if her troubles became desperate."

	jedipilot99
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 12:57 PM All of the focus here seems to be on the son of Skywalker. I like the idea that Bail was trying to ressurect the Jedi, but why would Leia not be in his plot as well? Who would be better to lead the rebellion and overthrow the emporor than General Kenobi flanked by the Jedi twins luke and Leia?

Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 1:09 PM

I'm not sure Bail would USE his daughter in this manner without her expressed consent and knowledge of such a plan. Bail appeared quite principled and I find it against his character to manipulate his daughter in a plan to resurrect an outlawed Order. Seeing as how she did not know she had a brother or anything about the Jedi per se, it seems unlikely that Bail's plans were so grand. With the DS plans in hand, he and the rebellion had a shot at destroying it and that was enough to risk finding Kenobi.

Graffiti
Somewhere on the Other Side of Mos Eisley

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 1:47 PM

Actually, I think his involvement was very direct. One of my blogs from a while back surmised the plan Bail, Obi-Wan, and Yoda formed on when to reunite when they split up. If you listen to the Radio Drama, Bail (called "Prestor" for some reason) sends Leia to find General Kenobi. Personally, I think contacting Obi-Wan and reuniting the twins was part of the plan all along.

Frostor

date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 4:16 PM

I love that Bail Organa is the secret savior of the Jedi. He saves Yoda/Obi-Wan from Order 66 by intercepting them, and allows them to get to the temple and find the truth (which results in Anakin's crippling in the end). He goes to Polis Massa, thus providing the facilities for Padme to give birth to Luke and Leia in time. He takes Leia as his daughter, thus securing her important role in the Rebellion, and keeps the secret of the Jedi and twins. He makes the decision not to wipe R2's memory (thus making R2 more insistent on his mission), and sends Leia and the droids for Obi-Wan. And because he does all these things, it results ultimately in the restoration of the Jedi Order with Luke. He's the example of what a politician *should* be.

jedipilot99

date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 11:02 AM

After commenting on this blog the other day, I was intrigued by the notion and was forced to watch ANH. I made it a point to pay special attention to the points that could support or condemn the argument. It didn't take long to find it. In the scrolling text in the opening, it clearly states that Leia is on her way home while being pusued by the sinister agents of the Empire. So, as far as this being Bail Organa's plot all along I feel I must concede that this was not a result of his will but the will of the force that the droids found Luke and eventually Obi-Wan.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 3:30 AM

That's a good point jedipilot, but Leia's hologram speech also makes it clear that her mission was to bring Kenobi to Alderaan. "General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed."
So Leia was trying to find Kenobi. Or at the very least, thats what she was told to do, but Vader intercepted her just before she could do it in person.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 3:31 AM

Of course Leia only knows what she has been told. Bail could have said anything he liked about Ben. And Bail knew Luke was there on Tatooine too. What better time to bring Luke into the equation than at their "most desparate hour."
Also, why would the Tantive IV be right over Tatooine if not to find Ben? Surely the ship would have been in deep space, not within the gravity well of Tatooine. It was obviously preparing to land, Luke could see it from Toschi Station with his macrobinoculars, and it was flying over the precise location of Kenobi, and therefore Skywalker.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 3:35 AM

My primary point is "What if the droids had never fallen into Luke's hands - would Kenobi have gone alone to Alderaan?" But we can guess that there had been some kind of contact between Bail, Yoda and Ben over the 19 years. Perhaps (and this is pure conjecture, like the rest of the blog) Organa could see the political sea-change with the Senate about to be dissolved for the final time and knew bringing Luke into the equation would help the cause.
Of course, his own adopted daughter Leia may well have turned out to be a powerful Jedi herself. That's why I think there may have been contact between the three of them. Luke showed promise with his piloting, but Leia was a diplomat and politician, taking after her mother.

	DarthCannabis0
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 12:39 AM I think that Obi-Wan would have taken Luke with him. Wasnt that why he was there in the first place? To watch over Luke? So in my opinion Luke would've joined Obi-Wan wether the droids made to Obi-Wan first or not.

	SenatorBull
date Posted: Nov 10, 2005 7:31 PM Bail Organa didn't send the droids. They were owned by Captain Antilles, of the Tantive IV. Thus it was only luck, of the Will of the Force, that Leia used R2-D2 and not some other astromech, as surely there would be more than one on such a large ship.

Sunnyskywalker
Sunnyskywalker's Star Wars Stuff

date Posted: Jan 04, 2006 12:45 PM

It would be nice to have a story about what really happened behind the scenes there. Right now I'm imagining Bail telling Leia, "Now be careful, don't take any unnecessary risks, just swipe those plans and get out as quick as you can... and oh yeah, there's this guy who served under me in the Clone Wars who could really help our cause. Could you pick him up on the way home?"

Please log in to post comments