Mini Series Sol

RIP, Sol. This character was one of the best Jedi characters ever created, IMO. Part of the credit surely has to do with the actor, Lee Jung-jae, who brought an unparalleled humanity to Sol.

The character was notable for a number of reasons, but I'll remember him for being a great cautionary tale about noble intentions paving a pathway to hell. He didn't truly understand the Coven and his good intentions led to tragedy. This is an important lesson about history that few seem to learn.

He's also an example of someone who yearned more to be a father than a Jedi, but he was cursed to have these desires twisted inside of him since he was indoctrinated into a religious order at the age of five. He was doomed the day the Jedi took him.

 

For all the show's flaws, the soul of the show (no pun intended) was quite strong with this tragic Jedi.

The choke, and the line, "Stop talking" was particularly effective imo.

And Lee Jung-jae is such a star. Hope to see one of the other big franchises pick him up. I think he'd be a great Martian Manhunter in the new DCU.

 

I really don't understand what Vernestra is trying to do. The truth is way less salacious and way more acceptable, except maybe for her specifically since Qimir is her student. But the lie is far worse than the truth.

 

She is trying to close the case before there can be an outside investigation. "A rogue Jedi was responsible, he is dead now" does that. "There is a powerful dark sider on the loose, who has taken on a new pupil, and the direct perpetrator of the crimes is in custody" doesn't do that.

 

Sol was a great jedi who made a mistake.

 

That was a great shot. Would've liked more of that kind of cinematography throughout. The show's palette needed more contrast, strong silhouettes and interesting positive/ negative space compositions, IMO. As here, in the Unkown Planet scenes, some of the exteriors on Brendok, and in the excellent "Jedi Control Room" scenes.

 

Well I understood that much. I just don't get why she thinks that's so advantageous. If shutting down the investigation is worth the salacious story, I don't really get that impression unless there are other issues they are hiding besides this series of events.

 

From the Vernestra thread:

What say you?

 

Geezer prevents a child from disintegrating and then has his legacy bastardized by his seemingly self serving “friend” and confidant.

#justiceforsol

 

According to headland the dynamic she wanted from Sol and Osha was father and daughter. Basically Sol had a strong attachment to Osha and we see him start to lose himself half way though the show. Which is another showing that attachment is not good for Jedi. And her story is that she needed to reject Sol expectations so she could stand on her own like a daughter needs too. And that’s what makes her story complete, that she chose her own separate path.

 

I think that's all on screen, more or less.

 

My main question about Sol is whether he actually felt a connection in the Force to Osha, or whether this connection was imagined and purely an emotional need for family.

I'm leaning toward the latter explanation currently. The show goes out of its way to tell us that Sol thinks about how he was taken by the Jedi at age 5, and this seems like a wound that he's never able to fill until he's ready to take on a padawan.

I don't think he was actually connected to Osha in the Force, or if he was connected, his own psychological needs to be her father distorted whatever their true connection was.

 

A bit of both. I don't think they're necessarily exclusive of one another. He could genuinely feel connected to her through the Force, in a way he can't explain, and also allow that to foster into something even more personal and emotional need-based.

He seems to rather insta-feel something special in Osha, that drives him to want to discover more about her. Something that the others do not .It could even be the planet tugging at him for some reason for all we know. At the same time, perhaps feels akin to her upbringing, and it reminds him of his own, and sees a personal bond to her.

 

^ Agreed

"sexism"

 

Sexism can absolutely exist even it its unintended or ... unseen. That's why it persists. Just because you don't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

It's not that Sol doesn't respect women, or those in authority who are women, that's the potential issue here. I think what LH is referring to is that Sol sees Osha as something that HE has to be protect - not only from a coven lifestyle - but from all harsh realities and truths. I suppose her statement is about how traditionally fathers generally see themselves as their daughter's protector. That is until another man shows up to be their husband.

That doesn't mean that fathers don't love their daughters, or that Sol doesn't truly love Osha in the same manner, or how they treat or 'protect' them is not down out of good intentions. It actually usually is. That's the point. Sol couldn't accept a life for Osha, which is perhaps why he's determined to control the truth about what happened - even his own guilt and mistakes - so that Osha can have a better life. I think LH sees the sexism in that relationship.

That said, even accepting this theme, I think the writing could have better in this regard.

 

You don't have to listen to the creator when it comes to meanings in the art. You can interpret it for yourselves.

I don't always agree with what George Lucas says about Star Wars.

 

I'm still here:

 

Right. Which is why Headland said “benign sexism” and not just “sexism.” But of course, that qualifier doesn’t help the strawman, and so it’s omitted.

Further, Headland is not saying that protecting Osha from literal, physical harm is benignly sexist. But rather, the overall “protection” attitude, which is possessive in nature (and much like Anakin’s protective attitude towards Padme, which was also initially benignly sexist, and became malignantly sexist by the end). That benign sexism led Sol to lie to Osha for many years (for her protection), accost, imprison and then try to run down Mae (for her protection), etc. She is HIS to protect, the way he sees fit. Her own autonomy and personhood don’t factor into it for Sol. It’s the textbook Lucasian definition of an unhealthy attachment. And given the gender and power dynamics, it’s sexist.

Finally, I think it’s odd for people to deny that there’s benign sexism in the show when Headland says there is. I mean, what does she know? She’s just the showrunner.