Protecting Our Children From Darth’s Secret (Star Wars Life Thoughts Part 2)
To continue my Very Deep Life Ponderings from Monday, I wanted to move to point #2. In case you forgot the important points Sarah & I came up with, here’s a refresher:
1. Boba Fett is THE HOTTEST character (possibly even more so than Han Solo)…but only so long as you ignore those silly prequels and their silly Boba Fett-backstory.
2. Darth Vader’s “secret” as Luke’s father should be protected from our children at all costs.
Okay, so we’re going to address #2 today. I know not all of you lovely readers have seen the Star Wars original trilogy, but you DO know Darth Vader is Luke’s father.
EVERYONE knows Darth is Luke’s father. It’s ingrained into our psyches…
But it wasn’t always.
When I was a kid, I had no idea who Darth Vader was, and I certainly didn’t know of his parternal relations to a certain Luke Skywalker.
And that ignorance made ALL the difference. Why? Well, indulge me for a moment as I share a story.
—
When I was at the ripe old age of 9, I was taking my first steps into vivid fantasy worlds thanks to Lloyd Alexander and Dianna Wynne Jones. I was HOOKED to all that EPIC-NESS that was happening on the page.
As such, it should come as no surprise that the first time I saw Star Wars: A New Hope, I fell completely and irrevocably in love.
You see, growing up, my family always watched a movie together on Friday nights. Well, on this particular Friday, my parents had deemed it Time. Time to introduce their offspring to the greatness that is Star Wars. We would devote three Fridays in a row to watching the entire trilogy.
Well, Star Wars had me at “hello”. The music, the scrolling prologue, the DOUBLE MOONS ON TATOOINE? What was a fantasy-loving 9-year-old to do but let her imagination run wild? I spent the next days in a blur of battles against stormtroopers with an imaginary light saber in my hands…
But then my brother ruined it all, and this day–this BETRAYEL–will live in infamy for the rest of my life. I remember it all so vividly:
My brother, David, came home from a friend’s house (Brian’s, in case you were wondering) and cornered me in the front hall.
“Guess what. I saw the next Star Wars.”
“What?” I planted my hands on my hips. “That’s not fair! We were gonna watch it tomorrow as a family. You can’t just–“
“Darth Vader is Luke’s father,” he interrupted
“Nuh-uh.”
“Yuh-huh.” A gloating grin tugged at David’s lips.
I felt the blood drain from my face. “No.”
“Yep.”
“No!” My stomach heaved. “That’s…that’s impossible.”
“He cuts off Luke’s hand too.”
I shook my head. “I-I don’t believe you!”
“Just ask mom.” My brother’s eyes shone gleefully. “She’ll tell you.”
So I staggered around, screaming, “Mom! Mom!” Through the house, I ran–horror boiling in my throat–until I found my mother cleaning the bathroom sink.
Her head jerked up at my shrieks. “What is it?”
“Is Darth Vader Luke’s father?!”
Her eyes widened. “How…how did you find out?”
“David told me. So…so it’s true?” Tears were brewing in my eyes. How could it be that the wicked Darth Vader–the Villain to Top All Villains–was Luke Skywalker’s father.
Oh, poor poor Luke.
“David!” Mom shouted, flinging her sponge onto the floor. “I told you not to tell her!” She stormed past me and out of the room, presumably to punish my evil brother. Yet all I could do was sink to the floor, hug my knees to my chest, and ache with the pain of it…
Darth Vader…Luke’s father…No, no, no…
—
I swear, all that happened. I’m not exaggerating at all (well…maybe a little), but truly, learning that Darth Vader was Luke’s father stands out as one of the most devastating betrayals of my childhood.
But nowadays, everyone knows about that familial connection. They know it before they see the movie, so the full impact–the WHY THIS MATTERS–just isn’t there.
Yet I want it to be there. I want my children to see Star Wars and become as attached to the characters and the story as I was…
The only other globally-binding story and betrayal that I can conjure–one that still has a “SURPRISE!” effect–is the Harry Potter series. Specifically a certain someone’s death at the end of The Half-Blood Prince. I won’t tell you whose death just in case you haven’t read it–I want YOU too feel the depth of that moment as it was meant to be felt.
But ten, twenty years from now, everyone will know that X-character died…and when that death comes, the readers won’t be as affected as they should be.
And it makes me sad. 🙁
So I ask you, other than keeping our children locked away, how can we protect these “story secrets” from them? How can we ensure they feel the full weight of these story-events?
Short of writing our own stories with our own dramatic turning points, I honestly don’t know what the answer is–or if there even is one.
Now, enough dramatic talk. Let’s watch this scene and laugh at how MELODRAMATIC Luke’s expression is. (I’m pretty sure Sarah and I watched it at least 10 times, howling with laughter. I mean, seriously, it looks like his face is melting off…)
♥
January 25, 2012 @ 12:42 pm
Darth Vader is Luke’s father?!?!
I’m kidding. 😀 But I completely agree with you. I was fortunate enough that my sisters and I didn’t find out early. When it happened, we cried together. The breakfast table was abuzz the next morning and we spent hours recreating that scene using a broom and a mop.
I’m totally going to let my kids find out as they watch it and heaven help the person who ruins it.
January 25, 2012 @ 1:17 pm
Yes. YES. Your experience sounds just like mine, Erica. Yet explaining that to someone nowadays–someone who *didn’t* feel the full weight of that betrayal? ‘Tis impossible.
You and I can start a “Protect Our Children From Vader Society”. 😉
January 25, 2012 @ 12:51 pm
The awkward moment when Luke lets goXD
Yeah I’ve never actually watched Star Wars, probably becuase I know what happens.
Ahhhhh that death that shall not be named. That came as a collasal suprise!:O Although, I actually kind of guessed the, um, reasons. So the reveal was ruined for me a little bit. But holy crap it was still good:O
January 25, 2012 @ 1:18 pm
Exactly! You know what happens, so there’s no excitement or weight to the story… ::sigh:: At least Harry Potter is still a “shocker” for most readers. 🙂
January 25, 2012 @ 1:18 pm
Oh Sooz, the EXACT SAME THING happened to me. Child Caitlin was, like, contender for Biggest Star Wars Nerd on Earth (or any other planet, including Naboo). And then … sigh … my mum ruined it all for me. Terrible parenting, I tell you!
Also, the New Zealand guy who played Boba Fett’s dad in the (cringe-worthy) prequels came into my cafe a few years back (!!!) and I wanted to verbally abuse him for letting the backstory occur, but managed to contain the urge. The things I do for celebrities…
🙂
January 25, 2012 @ 11:32 pm
Wow. WOW! You saw the freakin’ pseudo-Fett-guy. THAT’S CRAY-CRAY. But cool. Even if it was the worst backstrory addition EVER, it’s still cool you saw him. 😉
And dude, terrible parenting is RIGHT. There should be a therapy group for people like us…
January 25, 2012 @ 4:27 pm
I mentioned your post at my work yesterday. I work at a preschool/daycare. I likened this secret to the biggest secret we as adults keep– Santa. The secret of Darth Vader as Luke’s father should be kept JUST AS SECRET until kids see it. Thankfully, fiancee agrees (because otherwise the whole thing might be called off! ;p)
My boss is one of those horrible people who ruined this secret for one of her kindergartners. She mentioned who Luke’s father was and the kid BROKE DOWN. She will never divulge the secret again.
I absolutely love this post. And watching that video. I’m going to watch it again and again ALL DAY.
<3
Mer
January 25, 2012 @ 11:34 pm
Meredith, ma dear, Freya just shared this with me, and I’m CERTAIN you’ll appreciate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5hn_ET0U
And you’re right–it’s TOTALLY like the Santa Clause Betrayal (another event I very clearly remember…).
January 25, 2012 @ 5:14 pm
We’ve decided our kids will watch the original Star Wars before the prequels for exactly that reason. Maybe they’ll hear it somewhere else first, but we can try! Knowing the backstory ruins a big reveal, and I think that’s something to remember in our writing.
January 25, 2012 @ 11:35 pm
So, SO true Michelle. Backstory can make OR break a story. Too much and you risk telegraphing the story to come. Not enough, and the character fall flat.
January 25, 2012 @ 5:33 pm
Aww, poor little Susan. 🙁 I have to admit that when I was a kid (probably later than when you were), that part did shock me – but my friends softened the blow by taking it more as a comedy as a tragic event. Hence the long summer camp days where Ice Pops were used as sabers and “I AM YOUR FATHER!” was a favorite expression.
Maybe that’s why the counselor hated lunch break.
But yes, I do understand what you mean about “story secrets”. I haven’t even read some stories yet, and I already know what happens, and it does seem to take the magic away from it. Maybe it’s up to the parent to take their literary/film education into their own hands and make sure it isn’t corrupted beforehand?
January 25, 2012 @ 11:38 pm
It absolutely takes away from the magic–and you’ve worded it perfectly: corruption. How DO we keep our kids from that literary/story corruption?? As Freya suggests below, homeschool may be our only option. 😉 😉
January 26, 2012 @ 5:03 am
LOL! Well, not to burst anyone’s bubble, but I’ve been homeschooled my whole life, and there has been some story corruption for me – mainly because of those in my friend circle who go to public schools, but still…
January 26, 2012 @ 10:25 am
AHA! And there we have it, folks: proof that NO ONE can be protected. The Vader-Secret is as contagious as the zombie virus, so unless we lock our children away (erm, NO), then they’re gonna learn the truth. ::sigh::
January 26, 2012 @ 10:28 am
AHA! And there we have it, folks: proof that NO ONE can be protected. The Vader-Secret is as contagious as the zombie virus, so unless we lock our children away (erm, NO), then they’re gonna learn the truth. ::sigh::
January 25, 2012 @ 10:25 pm
Oh my oh my – when I have kids, I am going to try EVERYTHING to not let them find out. Maybe even consider home schooling… no I couldn’t do that.
You should sooooo watch this video of two kid’s reactions to this very moment- you can live through them (I know I do): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5hn_ET0U
January 25, 2012 @ 11:43 pm
This video is AWESOME. His face–holy crap, I love it. I am most *definitely* living through them.
And HAHA, I think you’re right: home schooling it will have to be. 😉
January 26, 2012 @ 4:20 am
Oh, I totally get what you’re talking about. (I mean, even I know the line “Luke… I am your father!”) I remember very clearly thinking how, in the Percy Jackson series, once you know who Percy’s god parent is, you can never go back to the beginning of the series and reread it quite the same way again…
It also kinda makes me sad, because I won’t get the full Star Wars movie experience (if I ever do watch them, hehe). But I suppose it can’t be helped. 🙂
January 26, 2012 @ 10:32 am
Such a good point: once you know ANY “big reveal”, you can’t read the book in quite the same way ever again…
Heck, I remember the first time I read PRIDE & PREJUDICE. This was before it became very popular and “cool” for everyone to love Austen, and so I had NO IDEA what the story was about. I was simply a 14-year-old who thought the cover looked cool on her library’s shelf…and KAPOW! I stayed up the entire night and read the whole thing because I *didn’t* know who Elizabeth would wind up with–I had no idea how events would play out.
Needless to say, I ADORED how events played out…but no other P&P reading has that same sense of satisfaction.
January 26, 2012 @ 11:54 am
Haha! This reminded me of something in Tumblr a while back, when a girl posted that she just finished watching the first (of the original) movies and she shipped Luke/Leia, then asked people not to spoil her XD
January 26, 2012 @ 10:43 pm
HAHAHA! Boy was she in for a big surprise!! Excluding the whole brother/sister thing, Leia + Han is way better anyway!
January 27, 2012 @ 8:33 pm
I honestly felt sick to my stomach reading this. What is it about older brothers?? (Mine revealed the big Santa secret). We decided to let our kids watch these movies when my son was 5, daughter 8. A little younger than I would have liked for my son, but so many kids are into Star Wars these days, we did it specifically because we didn’t want that revelation to be ruined for them. Because it DOES matter. A LOT.
Their reaction while watching was priceless. Not as face-melting-off as Luke, but close. 😉