If you have been keeping up with my blog, then you probably think I have Yoda on the brain at this point. Perhaps I do. For some reason I've just been paying a lot of attention to the Master while watching the movies.

I finished watching Revenge of the Sith again last night. After the Grand Master of the Jedi Order dueled Sidious, Yoda escapes and remarks, "Failed I have. Into exile, I must go" ...or something similar.

Question is: Did Yoda really have to go into exile?

After watching the movie, my initial reaction is "NO!" Yoda barely lost. He should regroup with Obi-wan and take another stab at the Emporer. Furthermore, Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma are going to need to him. Yoda was giving up.

However, answering this question requires an examination for Yoda's options. After fleeing the Senate, Yoda could have elected to regroup with Obi-wan and other Jedi and attempted to take on the Emporer and Vader again. Yoda could have gone into hiding, but remained active in the fight against the Empire. Yoda could have started a secret Jedi academy in a corner of the galaxy to rebuild the Jedi order and challenge the Sith. There were a hundred things Yoda could have done. So, why pick exile? Did he have to go into exile?

I have mixed feelings on this issue, but I believe there was a correct choice to be made.

Yoda could have been useful to the Rebellion. He could have lead armies an inspired a resistance. However, Yoda and Obi-wan, and any other surviving Jedi had just learned a harsh lesson. The Jedi were not destined to be generals. They were keepers of the peace and servants of the Force. The Clone Wars distracted them from their purpose, spread them across the galaxy, and destroyed their order.

Yoda could have found a core world to hide on and from there attempted to advise the diplomatic leaders of the Rebellion. Jedi weren't meant to be politicians though. They were thought of as negotiators. What was there to negotiate with? Not the Empire.

Could Yoda have reamined in the Core worlds and stayed in hiding? Not likely. Yoda was a major presence in the Force. It was unlikely that Vader or the Emporer would not have sensed his presence. By staying in the Core, Yoda would have put those worlds in danger of Vader's wrath.

Why didn't Yoda recruit Obi-wan to attempt to seek out and reorganize the Jedi? This question nags at me the most. Yoda and Obi-wan pinned their hopes on two infants that would not be raised as Jedi. The odds of the plan working had to be daunting. Other Jedi had escaped Order 66.

This plan probably had several things working against it. The Jedi were yesterday's heroes. The Empire successfully tarnished the image of the Jedi and turned them into traitors and usurpers. Organizing the Jedi on any planet wasn't going to be easy. The fledgling Empire wouldn't tolerate their presence anywhere. In addition, the Jedi were going to have to go into hiding. Getting word out to them that the Jedi were regrouping would be difficult at best. What Jedi is going to trust a rumor that Yoda is rallying the Jedi? It would appear to be an obvious trap. Furthermore, how would the Jedi recruit new prospects into their fold? Revealing a child to be force sensitive with a high midchlorian count would probably scare more parents than it would elate. Who was going to turn their children over to the reviled enemies of the Empire anyway?

Then there is the issue of Obi-wan's exile. He managed to hide on Tatooine, essentially under Vader's nose, for two decades. Could Yoda not have done the same? This question is hard to answer. I suspect the answer is probably not. First, should the Empire have stumbled upon Obi-wan on Tatooine before they did, it would have put Yoda in jeopardy. One of them needed to be around to train Luke and/or Leia. Second, Obi-wan probably had an easier time blending in on Tatooine. Yoda may have found it more difficult.

I've painted a picture that is definitely more pro-exile. Yoda and Obi-wan could have chosen a different path. However, the risks associated with each alternative appeared to vastly outweigh their chances of success. Instead, Yoda and Obi-wan were forced to take a page from the Sith game plan by going into exile and biding their time until Luke or Leia was ready...or until their hand was forced. Such a plan was not without its own risks, but it did pay off.

Post note: as an aside, does anyone know what happened to the ship Yoda used to get to Dagobah? For some reason, the fate of this ship is bugging me.