It is a constant question within the Star Wars fandom: in what order should the movies be viewed? This is especially true for those of us with children. What is the proper order in which we should introduce these epic films to our children? Certainly one can appreciate certain aspects of the films differently on subsequent viewings but what is the best order for first viewing: chronological or order of release?
It is undeniable that there are certain aspects of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace that can only be truly appreciated if one has already viewed the original trilogy. Such is true with all prequels, but George Lucas packed a lot of foreshadowing and hints in the prequel trilogy, especially with regard to Anakin Skywalker, the hero who will become Darth Vader. However, knowing Anakin’s destiny makes the most overtly Christian theme of the film somewhat problematic for Catholic viewers.
Virgin Birth
In the original trilogy, Obi-Wan Kenobi describes Anakin to his son Luke as “the best star pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior.” Anakin is presented as an exceptionally skilled Jedi Knight who fell to the Dark Side. However, Episode I introduces the viewers to a ten year old Anakin who is so powerful in the Force (His midichlorian count is higher than Master Yoda’s!) that Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn believes Anakin to be the prophesied “Chosen One,” a messianic figure for the Jedi who will “restore balance to the Force.”
Later in the film, when Qui-Gon is speaking to Anakin’s mother Shmi, he askes who Anakin’s father was. Shmi explains, “There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can’t explain what happened.” Anakin’s birth was literally a virgin birth! The fact that Anakin is meant to be some kind of Messiah figure is punched home even more when Shmi tells Anakin after he wins the pod-race that will guarantee his freedom, “You’ve brought hope to those who have none.”
Even as a 10 year old watching The Phantom Menace for the first time, this development did not sit well with me. I knew Anakin would eventually fall to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader. I did not like the idea of the iconic villain of Star Wars being a fallen messiah. It seemed like a swipe at Christianity. However, one can also look at it as a warning.
In the Return of the King, Frodo Baggins is one of three Christ figures (The other two being Gandalf and Aragorn). Frodo suffers throughout the trilogy with his burden of carrying the One Ring, as Christ suffered with the burden of carrying all our sins. Yet, at the very last moment, Frodo falls. Having resisted the pull of the Ring, at the point of throwing it in the fires of Mount Doom, Frodo succumbs and attempts to take the power of the Ring for himself. It is only through the arguably providential intervention of Gollum trying to take back the Ring that it is destroyed.
Unlike his friend C.S. Lewis, who wrote Aslan to be not a Christ figure but the Narnian manifestation of Christ Himself, Tolkien felt it was important to show Christ figures as imperfect and at best representations of Christ. Thus, he made all of his Christ figures, to one extent or another, flawed, so that the reader understands that only Christ Himself is perfect. One can view Anakin as another one of these flawed Christ figures and a warning against following after virgin-born messiahs who are not Christ.
Seeing Anakin as a Christ figure, even an imperfect one, sheds an interesting light on the refusal of the Jedi Council to accept him for training. Presumably, the prophecy of the Chosen One is a Jedi one, and the Jedi Council is the elder leadership of the Jedi Order. So we have a council of elders rejecting one who has been prophesied to come to them in order to save them. It is hard not to think here of the rejection of Christ by the Pharisee and Sadducee leaders and his condemnation by their ruling council, the Sanhedrin.
Rejection of Authority
However, it is important to remember that while the Sanhedrin rejected Christ because he was a threat to their leadership who called out their hypocrisy, the Jedi Council is exercising their rightful authority in rejecting Anakin from training on the basis of his age, his fear and his lingering attachment to his mother (The latter two will both contribute to his later fall).
Qui-Jon of course will hear none of it and threatens to break from the Council in order to train Anakin himself. This is not unusual behavior for him either, as Obi-Wan even warns him, “Do not defy the Council, Master. Not again.” When Qui-Gon responds, “I will do what I must,” Obi-Wan tells him, “Master, you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would just follow the Code.” Qui-Jon’s reputation for recklessness and defiance has cost him a seat on the Jedi Council, of which his Padawan feels he is more than deserving.
If one is viewing the films in chronological order, this can be seen as a heroic moment for Qui-Jon. In fact, he becomes a Nicodemus/Joseph of Arimathea figure, bucking the ruling Council because of his belief in the “Chosen One” whom they reject. However, those who know the full story and what happens next, can see here a powerful warning about rejecting the rightful authority of the Church.
The ruling authority of the Church has been instituted to protect its members from slipping into destructive error. Stepping out from under the authority, even when one believes that the rulers themselves are wrong, is incredibly dangerous. Martin Luther did it, with disastrous results. When Qui-Gon rejects the rightful authority of the Jedi Council and follows after the “Chosen One” instead, he is rejecting their authority in favor of his own interpretation of prophecy. In doing so, he sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to the almost complete destruction of the Jedi Order. Of course, even Yoda is partly at fault, as he reverses his earlier decision and allows Obi-Wan to train Anakin after Qui-Gon’s death.
Demonic Foes and (In)Sidious Subtlety
Exorcists like Fr. Chad Ripperger have pointed out that stepping out from under the authority of the Church will make one much more susceptible to extraordinary diabolical activity like oppression and even possession. It is interesting then that shortly after rebelling against the authority of the Jedi Council, Qui-Gon is killed by Darth Maul. Maul’s appearance is deliberately and overtly demonic: he even has horns and red skin.
Moreover, when Darth Maul first attacks Qui-Gon as he, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme are leaving Tatooine, it is the first time in centuries that someone has encountered a Sith Lord. Mace Windu even states after receiving Qui-Gon’s report that, “The Sith have been extinct for a millennium.” For decades now, exorcists have been warning about the rise in need for their services. Like the Jedi who thought the Sith had been defeated, society has forgotten the Devil and his power and thus God has allowed him a freer reign, with more overtly demonic manifestations for the purposes of waking up the people to the existence of the Evil One.
However, behind Darth Maul, orchestrating the events, is his master Darth Sidious. As Yoda tells Mace Windu at the end of the film, during Qui-Gon’s funeral, “Always two there are, one master, one apprentice.” I am ashamed to admit that when I first watched Episode I, I did not realize that Sidious and Palpatine were the same person. Nevertheless, anyone who has knowledge of the original trilogy knows that Senator Palpatine will eventually become the Emperor, Darth Vader’s evil Dark Side master. One can watch as Palpatine manipulates events to gain power, masquerading as a good man concerned about his people. Although Palpatine will show his true satanic nature more fully in the latter films, it is already starting to show here. Although there are overtly demonic manifestations, Satan very much prefers to work in hiding, especially when he can fool his enemies into believing he does not exist and infiltrate the very organizations that are supposed to be fighting him.
Humility
Anakin’s status is a Christ figure is further bolstered by his status as a slave. Although the historical Christ was not a slave, St. Paul writes that “Our Lord Jesus Christ…emptied Himself, taking on the form of a slave…He humbled Himself.” It is this last part that is exemplified, not by Anakin, who will instead become a tragic of pride, but by his future wife. Anakin first meets Padme on Tatooine, as she accompanies Qui-Gon while he tries to acquire parts to repair Queen Amidala’s ship. Later, when the Naboo are planning the battle to retake control of the planet from the Trade Federation, they go to the Gungans to ask for help.
At first the Gungans, who have always been treated with discrimination by the more human in appearance on Naboo, are reluctant to help. It is when Padme reveals that she is not actually a lowly handmaiden but in fact Queen Amidala herself in disguise and humbles herself by kneeling before the Gungan leader Boss Nass to beg for his assistance that not only do the Gungans agree to help but the first steps are taken toward reconciliation between the Gungans and the Naboo.
In the end, The Phantom Menace has much to teach us and sets up important themes that will be explored in more depth in future articles.
Thomas J. McIntyre
Thomas J. McIntyre is a teacher and amateur historian. He holds an MA in History from Georgia Southern University. In addition to the Voyage blog, he writes for Catholic 365 and on his personal blog "Pope Damasus and the Saints." He resides in Louisiana with his wife Nancy-Leigh and daughters Kateri and Alice.