A central question throughout the Star Wars story is what it means to have ‘balance in the Force.’ This idea first appeared in The Phantom Menace with the prediction of a ‘Chosen One’ – Anakin Skywalker – who was supposed to bring that balance. However, the movies never clearly explained what ‘balance’ actually is. While the Jedi believed it meant wiping out the Sith, even Yoda admitted that the original prophecy could be interpreted differently.
George Lucas generally supported this understanding of the Force, often describing the dark side as a destructive, parasitic force – almost like a cancer. He explained that Anakin brought balance back to the galaxy by destroying the Emperor and defeating the dark side, seeing the light side as representing life and the dark side as death. This balance, he believed, meant the light side should prevail to allow the universe to thrive. However, Lucas later seemed to change his perspective.
15 Years Ago Today, Star Wars Totally Rewrote the Chosen One Prophecy
As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I still remember being completely blown away fifteen years ago when Season 3 of The Clone Wars gave us the Mortis arc. Specifically, episode 15 introduced these incredibly powerful beings – the Mortis Gods – who basically were the Force itself. There was the Son, representing the dark side, the Daughter embodying the light, and their father, who was trying desperately to keep things balanced. What really stuck with me was that the Father was dying, and he believed Anakin Skywalker was destined to take his place and maintain that balance – fulfilling the prophecy of the Chosen One. It was a wild, unexpected turn for the series, and it’s stayed with me ever since.
It seemed clear that George Lucas wanted to present a new understanding of the Force – one that saw light and dark sides as equally necessary, like yin and yang. He envisioned a ‘Chosen One’ who would balance both forces. At last year’s Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni admitted that Lucas’s ideas about the Mortis gods felt very unusual, even to him. Filoni recalled Lucas introducing the concept and said, “I didn’t understand where he was going with that.”
The discussion around the nature of the Force in Star Wars has become quite heated. Fans disagree about its origins and meaning, with some favoring classic ideas and others believing the Mortis Gods offer a more accurate explanation – while still others think those Gods have been misunderstood. We may get some answers in Season 2 of Ahsoka, as the season finale showed statues of these beings on the planet Peridea. However, even before then, we’ve started to see hints that the way the Force is presented is changing under Disney.
Star Wars Has Committed to the Mortis Gods Model
Evidence suggests the Star Wars universe is now exploring a concept similar to the Mortis Gods – beings representing the light, dark, and balance of the Force. The Last Jedi included artwork of the Prime Jedi, the original founder of the Jedi Order, depicted in a way that symbolized the interconnectedness of light and darkness. This idea has been further developed in official Star Wars materials with the introduction of an ancient Jedi saying: “We walk into the light, acknowledge the dark, and find balance within ourselves.” This suggests the earliest Jedi understood the Force in a more complex way than previously shown, seeing light and darkness as parts of a single, balanced whole.
The unique connection between Rey and Kylo Ren, a key element of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, also reflects this idea of balance. Expanded stories have shown their bond was forged through both negative emotions – like grief, anger, and hatred – and positive ones such as compassion and understanding. A highlight of The Last Jedi features Rey and Kylo fighting side-by-side, with Rey driven by intense anger and Kylo displaying a calm, Jedi-like focus.
Recently, the series The Acolyte explored similar ideas, suggesting a connection between the sisters Osha and Mae as another example of a ‘Dyad’ – two individuals, one representing the light side and the other the dark, who are linked to each other. The show’s imagery seemed to reinforce this understanding of the Force. If the upcoming second season of Ahsoka continues this trend, it would firmly establish a new direction for Star Wars, one that began with George Lucas’ creative choices fifteen years ago.
What’s your interpretation of the Force’s balance? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-28 18:43