Red Kyberr doesn't sing, it yells because it's bleeding.

✨🌙  ART LOG ->  @404ama

And like. The Jedi are a culture. They’re a religion.

You know that, right? You know that many cultures, including generally peaceful ones, have sacred weapons, right? You know that the bond between a Jedi and their crystal(s) is an extremely sacred thing that requires the consent of both parties and is integral to their way of life, right?

You know that lightsabers are not intended to be only for killing, right? That the first thing Luke learns to do with his lightsaber is to shield and defend? You know that a culture having sacred weapons doesn’t mean that they view killing as sacred, right?

Lightsabers, in the original trilogy and the prequels, are the weapon of a jedi knight. The Jedi Knight part is significant, because every time a lightsaber is used in a positive context the weapon part is actually the least important, or even detrimental. Luke gets his first lightsaber to signify the beginning of his training, and he loses it when he is stupid and rushes in to fight. His second symbolizes him becoming a Jedi Knight, and he throws it away when he realizes that violence is not the solution. He declares that he is a Jedi, and he doesn't need a weapon to prove it. In the Phantom Menace we see that the reason that lightsabers are worn at all is because it means people like Anakin can recognize a jedi and know them as a symbol of hope, not because the Jedi want or need to be armed.

In the prequels, the overt reliance of lightsabers as weapons are part of the Jedi's downfall - the slow shift towards violence and militarism that led them to their doom. Literally, the Clone Wars - the downfall of the Jedi Order - begins when a gang of them rush into battle lightsabers drawn. In Legends, there's a reason that Dawn of the Jedi had the earliest lightsabers be powered by the dark side - they're weapons, and weapons are fundamentally bad things.

Disney Star Wars ascribes this enormous religious significance to the things that I just don't agree with. The lightsaber isn't a mechanical tool that can be used for good or ill but whose significance is mostly in what they represent, no they're borderline magical holy relics that radiate with the power of the force. The crystals who used to be just focusing lenses are now sapient and with a special connection to the Force, and a special crystal will make your lightsaber special - some concept art even flirts with the idea that the crystal generates the blade somehow.

I feel the extreme spiritual significance given to lightsabers and kyber crystals ruins the point because it means that this weapon is a fundamental and important part of being a Jedi. Being a Jedi requires this spiritual connection to a weapon made for killing people. It's why Luke tosses Rey's lightsaber away when handed to him, he is disappointed that the girl has this belief that a weapon is an important part of being a Jedi. You'll notice that he never trains her in using a lightsaber because he doesn't want her to use one. And just like how Luke lost his first lightsaber when he ran ahead into a fight that he shouldn't have, Rey's lightsaber is destroyed when she and Kylo get into a pointless fight over it.

tmag spoilers

✮ ── When you first met the Mandalorian, you never imagined that a few years later, you would be fighting for your life in a pit in Shakari.

The crowd erupted in a thunderous roar of anticipation as you made your way into the ring, your hand instinctively reaching up to shield your eyes from the blinding spotlight that enveloped you in a warm embrace. When your eyes adjusted, you were greeted by the sight of thousands of viewers, all nearly out of their seats, screaming for you. After all, they had never seen a Jedi in the fighting pit. Looking down at your belt, you felt relief in seeing your two sabers clipped still in their original place at your hip.

“And now!” Looking upwards, you spotted Janu, and more importantly, Grogu. The green baby cooed solemnly from his cage, reaching out to you with his tiny hand. It’s alright, you communicated through the force. I’ll be okay. “A Jedi from Corusant!”

You snarled. The crowd erupted with thunderous applause, chanting the moniker over and over again. Your hand instinctively reached for your sabers.

“Win this fight, Jedi, and you shall have your freedom.”

The red laser doors to your right and left both flickered off. From the depths, two purge troopers emerged on both sides.

“Are you serious?” You muttered in annoyance, sighing as you pulled your sabers from your belt. They hummed to life as you activated them, their purple hue covering your body.

The purge troopers circled you like prey, their swords zapping with electricity. You had dealt with their kind before. Back when Darth Vader first rose to power and dispatched the troopers, along with the Inquisitors, to scour the galaxy for any remaining Jedi. It was surprising that there were any still around. Hiding in places like these, most likely.

You sensed the first attack before it came. Swiveling around you raised your sabers, blocking the first hit. You used the force to push the trooper into the wall, his neck letting out a loud and sickening crack. Thats one, you thought. Another hit came from your side, causing you to jump backwards shakily. From up above, Grogu cried out with worry, and you could only send a nod his way.

From behind, one of the other troopers brought his sword downward with brutal force. You crossed your sabers, catching the strike with sparks exploding between. Pushing with all your might, you managed to disorient the trooper, ultimately leading to your blade in his armored chest. That’s two.

The two remaining purge troopers attacked together. Their swords slashed from opposite directions, forcing you backwards. Unfortunately, there was no advantage for you in here. No cover to get behind, no high ground to get on top of. Seeing you were cornered, the crowd began to get loud again. Taking in a deep breath, you moved. Using all of your might to push yourself up and over them, landing a few feet behind. One trooper whirled around. Too slow. Your left saber released from your hand, spinning so fast that the trooper could do nothing but die. Your saber sliced cleanly through the troopers neck, returning to your hand with a zip. His helmet clattered to the floor, spinning on the edge before coming to a complete halt. Three.

Only one trooper remained, his electric sword crackling as he charged. This one was faster than the others, cleaner. His swords darted faster than you could keep up with, forcing you to change your entire fighting style. For nearly 5 minutes neither of you had gained the advantage. Saber clashed against sword, white sparks flying out onto the ground. That was until the trooper made one fatal mistake.

The trooper attempted a powerful overhead strike, overextending and allowing you to seize the opportunity. You used your sabers to trap his swords, forcing your arms outwards. The swords shattered due to the force, the metal parts falling to the ground. You lifted your foot and kicked on his chest, forcing him to stagger backwards and onto his knees. You stalked towards him before crossing your sabers, his neck in between them.

“Kill him!” The crowd chanted with adrenaline, some banging their fists on the railing. From his chair, Janu smirked.

In a fluid motion, the troopers head was removed from his body. Your chest rose and fell quickly as you took a few steps back. From the audience, you could hear the adoration in their voices. The happiness as they shouted your name. Each purge trooper lay dead around you, bodies cold. Your sabers extinguished as you put them back on your belt.

“Congratulations, Jedi!” Janu started, pressing onto the armrests of his chair as he rose to his feet. “You have won your freedom.” As soon as he was done, the familiar gas that knocked you out earlier filled your nostrils once again.

You woke up with a pressure on your chest and a small tapping on your forehead. Blinking rapidly, you spotted your green baby, arm halfway out as if he had just been caught Smiling sleepily, you lifted your hand to rub his green head.

“Hey bud…What’d I miss?”

“You missed one hell of a fight.” Your head jerked over to the voice on your right, spotting your Mandalorian resting on the wall with his arms crossed. Your sabers were hooked onto his belt, most likely so you wouldn’t accidentally activate the blade by sleeping on them.

“I had one, that’s for sure.” You groaned as you sat up, placing your hands behind you to hold your weight. Din pushed himself away from the wall and walked over to you, his gloved hand reaching up to gently caress the back of your head. You rested your temple against his chest plate, leaning on him for support.

“You sure did. Did they get you anywhere?” You shook your head against his beskar, feeling the cool metal on your warm skin.

“What about you? Are you okay?” His helmet tilted downwards to find you staring up at him, wordy etched onto your face. He dragged his hand to your face, caressing the cheek that wasn’t against his body.

“Yeah, i’m okay. Glad I got you back.” You pressed your lips to the palm of his hand, giving it a tiny kiss before placing it back on your cheek.

“But seriously. I’m done with Shakari.” Din chuckled, his voice modulator making it deep.

“Whatever you want, mesh’la.”

Obi-Wan finds this bit endlessly endearing

Mace and Rex wish they'd stop being so sappy right in front of their salads