by Steve Cass

Created on: June 25, 2007

There are two plot errors that have bothered me about this series. These are not 'movie goofs' or wardrobe errors or anything like that. This has to do with the story and how it was portrayed. Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and love the storyline. The first error has to do with Obi-Wan's training. The second has to do with Chewbacca's seeming indifference and mockery of the use of the Force.

Obi-Wan's Training

One of the errors that have always bothered me was due to the statement in Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, by Obi-Wan Kenobi while Yoda was training Luke. Obi-Wan ask the rhetorical question of Yoda in reference to Luke, "Was I any different when you trained me?"

The situation is that Yoda is now training Luke in the ways of the force. We know from the movie story line that Yoda was the ONLY trainer of Luke in the ways of the force. Obi-Wan in this prequel movie stated that Yoda trained him in the ways of the force. In Episode I, a later movie, we find that Qui-Gon is the one who is training Obi-Wan in the ways of the force, not Yoda.

While watching Episode V and soaking in all of this new information (at that time as the movie was release in the early 80's), it's completely understandable why George Lucas would leave some questions unanswered and open. That's just great script writing. But to have a hanging question answered incorrectly in a future prequel, a historical gaffe if you will, is something that would be a show-stopper for some viewers.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I have perused the official Star Wars forum as well as other forums to find answers, or at least conjecture, to this nagging question. Why would George Lucas leave this obvious rotten fig hanging from the tree?
There is, apparently, a simple explanation. At the Jedi temple, all training of the small children who were identified throughout the galaxy as being strong with the force was carried out by Yoda. When the children turned 13 years of age they were placed under the protection of a Jedi master. The master would then give the young trainee 'field experience'. So in effect, Obi-Wan was trained by both Yoda and Qui-Gon.

However, this is still a problem for me. Not as a huge Star Wars fan, for I can understand the underlying plot, but because this sort of information should have been made readily available to us within Episode V. This is the sort of story-line hang nail that turns off the average viewer. In addition, we were led to believe throughout the entire story line,

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