For The Love of Plot Continuity

So I introduced my son to Star Wars the other day. While I'm not a fan of George Lucas as a director, the core of his work is a wonderful story, and one that non-sarcastic tykes can enjoy without reservation. I look forward to reliving my enjoyment of the films, and watching to see how even the Ewoks might have some special place in my son's heart.

I enjoy hearing him say names like Chewbacca, and especially enjoy being awaked by threats that Ben Kenobi and Luke Skywalker are going to blaster me with their starfighter made of Magnetix and imagination. My wife told me they were pushing the shopping cart down the isle and, as it began to drift, my son said, "Stay on target! Stay on target!" Equating the shopping cart and grocery isle to the Death Star's trench is no simple feat for a three and a half year old.

About mid-way through Empire Strikes Back I had an epiphany regarding a major plot element of the Star Wars saga. Sure others have found a number of inconsistencies and continuity errors. But this one is, IMO, a big one. One that I've never heard anyone else talk about (but I'm sure the Star Wars geek has already beaten this one to death like a dead tauntaun.)

So let's go back (or is it forward) to episode III. The Jedi have been destroyed, Anakin is lying, burning on a pile of ash, and the twins have been born. Yoda and Kenobi decide to hide them in an attempt to avoid the Emperor and/or Vadar from finding them. They send the girl to live with Senator Organa, where he adopts her and gives her the name Leia Organa. Thin but supportable plot. Works for me.

But then Yoda and Kenobi lose all ability to reason, apparently the Force lost faith in them and said, "Screw you, I'm going home!" With Leia safely tucked away, they give the boy to Anakin's half-brother on Tattooine, leave Kenobi to watch over him, and name him Luke Skywalker.

Hello, idiots. Why would you not give him Owen's sir name? I mean, it's not like this young Skywalker will be running around on the only planet in the galaxy where the name Skywalker might be know, right? What, is Skywalker the galaxy's version of Johnson or Smith?

Sure, Vadar didn't know Padme survived and therefore didn't know the children were alive. Nor did Yoda or Obi Wan know that Anakin was alive and in the form of Vader (at what point did they discover this?). But come on.

Lucas was obviously spending too much time birthing Jar-Jar to take a serious look at his plot details. Or did he assume that the average viewer wouldn't be able to work through who little Ani was without giving him the Skywalker name. Either way, it's weak.

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