Movies - TV
6 Force Powers That Changed The Star Wars Galaxy
By MARY BETH ELLIS
The Jedi mind trick
In "A New Hope," Obi-Wan Kenobi mystically convinces a stormtrooper that R2-D2 and C-3PO aren't the droids he's looking for. This scene is the first glimpse of how the Force can be used as a subtle weapon for civil defiance, virtuousness, and pushing back evil.
Animal kinship
In "The Book of Boba Fett," Grogu calms Fett’s rancor, thereby mirroring two earlier moments in the franchise: Luke's battle with the rancor in "Return of the Jedi" and Grogu's assistance to Din on "The Mandalorian." Grogu’s encounter with the rancor confirms he's rediscovered the Force, as he controls it with finesse and comes closer to being a Jedi.
Force bonding
In “The Empire Strikes Back,” Luke sends out a distress call to Leia for help, having discerned enough about her Force-sensitivity to know that she'll hear him. The unveiling of Vader's connection to him overshadows this moment, but the scene still provides the first hint at the connection between the Skywalker twins.
Force projection
The power of projection wasn't widely known until "The Last Jedi," when Luke sends his image across the galaxy to help the Resistance escape from Kylo Ren and the First Order. Its use emphasizes his vow to defeat evil without harming others, which aids in ultimately vanquishing the First Order.
Obscure understanding
According to Yoda in “Attack of the Clones,” the Force can be weaponized to obfuscate, and the novel "Tarkin" hints at dark side energy beneath the Jedi Temple, which blinds the Jedi to Palpatine's plans. The return of the Sith relies on an ability to hide in plain sight, which enables the Order's downfall.
Visions of the future
In "Revenge of the Sith,” Anakin’s visions of Padme dying in childbirth unnecessarily doom him as he uses these horrors, in typical Sith fashion, as an excuse to assert control over others. Ultimately, he sets himself on a road to a living hell, albeit one paved with the best of intentions.