(no subject)
So it's been a long, long time since I've used this, having deleted my first (rather dull) post. Had to post, though, in the light of spoilers emerging about Sacrifice...
I'm really in two minds on this one. On one hand, I don't like the way Mara has been handled through the NJO and LotF, both in terms of her characterisation and in the role she plays. For a woman of such prodigious skills, it amazes me that she has no official role other than to be "Mrs Luke Skywalker". Before they married, she was a respected businesswoman, a role she'd built over a number of years. Since her marriage to Luke, she's become... what? I know they say she's a Jedi Master in her own right, but it's said more than it's shown. Most of the time Mara seems to do little more than hang around Luke, attend the occasional meeting with him, and accompany him into action. It just seems wrong to me that Mara should be relegated such a role. It's as if the powers behind the novels just don't know what they're supposed to do with her, and so do the bare minimum, not bothering with pesky things like development.
In that sense, the end that's apparently coming could almost be viewed as a merciful way out for Mara. I hate to say it, but at least it means I don't have to cringe at her butchered characterisation through another set of novels.
That doesn't mean that I'm happy about what's happening. In a meta sense, it's such a cheap play for readers - "look everyone! Someone dies!" - and doesn't seem necessary. And I really, really would have liked to see her and Luke grow old together. It seems incredibly cruel to separate them like this.
I just hope that Luke's response is handled well. I want to see some serious angst, because the severing of a bond as close as the one that exists between Luke and Mara is going to hurt. I'm not necessarily wanting to see dark!Luke, which (depending how it’s handled) I'm not sure would be entirely in character for him at this point in life, but there's got to be major pain and anger coming up. It'll be interesting to see what the effect of this will be on his relationship with Ben, also. I've gotten the sense from what I've read of LotF so far that Mara acts as something of a buffer between the two of them (though, honestly, I still don't quite understand where Ben's resentment is coming from) so her death could either bring them together or drive a further wedge between them.
The bits and pieces I’ve heard about what happens to Mara’s body are odd. It seems as though it’s leading towards something, though I’m reluctant to speculate based on second-hard information. I’m dubious about claims that Luke and Mara will be separated forever, etc, with Mara’s body not disappearing. I don’t think that canon is specific enough about how exactly the process works to be certain what is and isn’t possible. Personally, it’s an area I’d prefer to be left grey. Let’s let the Force have some mysticism, mmkay? The book may claim otherwise, but I’m going to have a hard time buying it.
As for Jacen…. Pfff. There are ways to create an interesting villain, but making him a self-deluding, pseudo-sanctimonious egomaniac isn’t one of them, in my opinion. Or maybe that’s just my dislike for the character shining through. Perhaps.
Ah, Mara. She’ll be missed in the EU, and, whatever happens, I know for a certainty that she’ll live on elsewhere.
In other news, I’m incredibly envious of those who are attending CIV. Sounds like it’ll be a blast.