Unleashing the Force: The Jedi's Secret Weapon They Chose to Ignore!

The Star Wars prequels did more than just take us on intergalactic adventures; they expanded the very concept of the Force, like a well-meaning but somewhat clumsy uncle introducing you to all his eclectic hobbies. As if the Force wasn’t mystical enough, they threw in scientific explanations and a plethora of new powers, some of which made us giggle in delight while others left us scratching our heads in confusion.

One particularly eyebrow-raising ability popped up early in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Picture this: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, cool as cucumbers, suddenly ambushed by a couple of droidekas. If you don’t remember them, think of them as the little blobby robots that look like they took a bad fashion turn in a scrap yard. Realizing their blaster bolts were chugging powerless against the droidekas' shields, our esteemed Jedi duo decided discretion was the better part of valor and beat a hasty retreat, using the Force to enhance their speed. Suddenly, they turned into the Flash, zipping away in what can only be described as a light-speed blur. It was thrilling! But, much like your favorite sandwich with just the right amount of mustard, it never appeared again in the rest of the film—or any other live-action Star Wars flick for that matter.

Now, while it's established that Force users possess an edge in agility, this specific application of Force-enhanced speed was, let's say, a rare bird—a beautiful but fleeting sight. It would have certainly come in handy later in the movie, particularly when Obi-Wan was gallivanting through those laser gates. If only he could have zipped through faster, perhaps he would have saved Qui-Gon from a rather unfortunate encounter with Darth Maul. Who wouldn’t want to be the hero of the day, saving friends while looking effortlessly suave? But alas, the films offered little in the way of a rationale for this mystical time-saver’s disappearance from the Jedi curriculum.

In fact, other pieces of the Star Wars universe began to explore the deeper lore behind Force Speed’s absence. You see, the most plausible reason it’s scarcely mentioned is that it’s just too darn powerful. We wouldn’t want a bunch of Jedi and Sith racing through every battle in the blink of an eye, now would we? Audience members tuning in to watch lightsaber duels expect dynamic battles—not a bunch of Jedi playing hide-and-seek.

Some fans, in an attempt to make sense of this narrative oversight, posited that maybe the scene was edited so heavily there was literally no footage of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon using their flashy escape route, though we lack substantial evidence to back up that theory. In the novel Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen, Obi-Wan is depicted as aware of his options but chooses not to use Force Speed because, well, it's a bit like knowing you can eat an entire chocolate cake but opting for just a slice instead. In Chapter 30, he thinks about how overexerting himself could leave him in a weak spot, saying, “He ran at normal speed, attentive to the way overexertion of the Force’s physical gifts might affect anything from strength to coordination.” Yikes! Imagine being too pooped to duel!

Indeed, the intricate details of Force Speed reveal why Obi-Wan didn’t whirl through those laser gates in The Phantom Menace. Had he used it, he would’ve been left gasping for breath, and let’s face it, he was facing a Sith Lord for the first time. It’s like going for a marathon and deciding to sprint all out from the get-go. Qui-Gon had barely held his own against Maul, even at full strength! Obi-Wan would need every ounce of energy he could muster.

Admittedly, it’s odd that this spinning whirlwind of an ability only emerged during one escapade in the Star Wars saga. But let’s not forget: the Jedi from the prequel era were like the crème de la crème of Force users. They had trained their whole lives with countless resources to squeeze every drop of Force wisdom they could. In contrast, newer heroes like Luke and Rey have had a far rockier relationship with these nifty tricks. They’re still learning how to tie their shoelaces, let alone mastering all the delightful abilities of their predecessors.

So, there you have it! Force Speed, a glamorous fleeting moment like a shooting star that doesn’t quite sustainably fit into the vast tapestry of the Star Wars universe. It reminds us that some elements will inevitably become iconic while others…well, they might just get lost in space, floating around like an errant piece of space debris. Such is life in a galaxy far, far away.