Re: The Incomparable #329: He’s More Man than Puppet - An Open Letter
/I listened to Incomparable 329 this morning while making breakfast, great episode! There is one point that I feel was glossed over, however.
Right around the 51 minute mark, Dan brings up the point that Obi Wan is there but doesn’t say anything, everyone laughs, the end (well there’s obviously some discussion, it’s a nerdy discussion podcast, after all).
BUT! I think a very important point is missed that completely dismisses the suffering and anguish that ghost Obi Wan must be going through, since I believe he wants to tell Luke, but he knows he shouldn’t because it could potentially have fatal consequences for the known universe, and has been ordered to keep his mouth shut by Yoda.
Remember that Obi Wan and Yoda staked the whole republic on their trust in a young force-sensitive kid that they had some concerns about (don’t think too hard about this part, it involves prequels). And they now have placed their (new) hopes into a young force sensitive kid that Yoda has some reservations about [1].
Anyways, back to the point: Obi-Wan and Yoda know that Luke has a sister, and they even know who Luke’s sister is. But they feel they must keep this a secret just in case Luke, who they already are kinda concerned about, goes dark side.
Which brings us to my point: Yes, ghost Obi-Wan could tell Luke not to mess around with his sister but he can’t without compromising their fall back plan (a New New Hope), Leia. So Ghosti-Wan is literally sitting there for 2.5 movies being super duper grossed out by his corporeal padawan’s rather un-familial feelings toward his own sister.
Obi Wan is literally[2] dying inside the entire time, meanwhile Yoda is like “OBI WAN I ORDER YOU NOT TO TELL HIM!” And Obi-Wan is like “I understand master Yoda but you don’t know how gross this is making me feel, I can’t even meditate on it without feeling vomit rising in the back of my throat!” Then Yoda is all “Hmph! When nine hundred years old you reach, less judgmental about alternative sexual arrangements you will be.” (just work with me here). Then Obi Wan is like “STOP. TALKING. I’ll just not tell him fml fmal[3]”.
In summation, I think the entire Incomparable cast, even those not present, should personally apologize for failing to address, and thereby marginalizing, the extreme anguish that Obi-Wan had to endure while his trainee had impure thoughts about his sister.
Cheers,
Nate[4]