Just how many Jedi are there?

😂 it was a JOKE Merc...had to get cha because you were giving Ush a hard time 😂

Anyway...back on topic.

I think that the KEY point was made by Qui Gon.

"Had Anakin been born in the Republic he would have been discovered much earlier" Or something like that.

Anyway, the Republic does not consitutate the entire galaxy, though admittedly it is big just from looking at the number of Senate Officials in the Sanate.

But, there is a finite area in which they look. Perhaps the tests were carried out routinely at birth for Midichlorian detection, much at Qui Gon did with Anakins blood. Children with high MC's are notified to the council who then would initiate further testing. I doubt you needed to be a Jedi to run the tests.

Just a thought Mr. Lucas.

I think that the midi-chlorians are a secret and that if you wanted an organization of civilians large enough to screen all new-borns then the secret of the MD's would get out.

midi-chlorians are the stupidest thing I've ever heard, can we not talk about them??

Sorry Merc. Much as people hate them they are in there, so I can't really get away without talking about them... anyhow, let's put our stupid argument aside. Quote as much EU as you like... the only point I'll make is that as it's not canon, it's only as valid as any other opinion- and this is an opinionated topic, of course.

A couple of points, especially to the guy who wrote the mini-essay earlier...

I feel after a thousand generations of colonisation most world will actually be roughly Earth populated, what with decent medicine and agriculture and all. And if many planets are like Coruscant- totally urbanised, you don't want to even THINK about the popuilatuion. EU says Coruscant has 100 bllion people, wans't it? Or was it ten? Either way, I think my estimate of trillions in the Republic is closer to the mark.

And (apologies, Merc) the Midi-Chlorians... do people really think they are a secret? Like I say, that's vital to the number of Jedi question. I don't see why they should be- as I've said before, knowing about MCs hardly means you can do anything about them. They are just a naturaL life-form...

The question about whether only Jedi or not can test for them is interesting. Appearnces are deceptive- on firstr watching, it looks like Amidala's ship has the relevant testing equiipment. A closer look reveals otherwise...

BAH! HUMBUG! Midi-Chlorians I never want to hear that again.

Closer look? Please explain, Ush.

A. Amidala's ship is a Royal Yacht. A science suite probably isn't in the specs.

B. And even if it was, why would Obi-Wan be sitting next to it while talking to Qui-Gon?

C. But then, why does Qui-Gon send the sample to be analyzed? He has a hologprahic dispaly thing that could display the results for him.

D. But most tellingly, Obi-Wan turns the computer next to him on BEFORE Qui-Gon tells him what he wants done with the sample.

The logical conclusion is that Qui-Gon wanted a more detailed analysis than his equipment could provide. The device Obi-Wan turns on is a simple computer. He runs the sample analysis through it,and knows how to interpret the results.

That's not necessarily a CERTAIN conclusion, though. It just seems the mostlikely.

Now wait. He never got any blood before that moment. He just wanted to check his blood, now he could have discussed that with OB1 but he sent it almost immediately after acquiring it. So that's just some movie storytelling I think.

Well yeah, a cklassic "Plot Point" But the terst was rather straight foreard, which is the point being made I think, therefore a test of a new born baby could be none routinely.

However, it would make sence that the Midi-Clorians are secret, otherwise Luke could pick up that info very easily.

Also, why did OB1 or Yoda not tell him about the little critters.

"A mystical energy force" indeed.....

well, the reason Yoda didn't tell Luke about them is he thought that they were real stupid and that George should take them out of the plot.

The continuity of the testing sequence is quite clear, although I may be doing everyone a disservice by taking it all so literally (mind you, that's being a fan for you...).

As to why Luke was never told (bloody retroactive continuity, eh?). Is it possible that telling Anakin about it is part of what helped him fall, so they decided to stay quiet about it next time?

You know, the MCs may turn out to be a really good plot. I think much of the hatred to them stems from assumptions about what they are that are incorrect. Though if some of the assumptions ARE correct, then Merc has every right to moan!

what??!! I've never moaned over something like this in my entire life. If midi-chlorians make a good plot, then from now on call me Kelsey Grammar

Hello K... no, far too obvious.

Oh, forget it, I don't care anymore, this is the place to get angry at Star Wars isn't it??

Well, as much as any place.

Well I will get angry then.

Ok...

Back on topic, do people think Jedi status is hereditary, at least in part? That could help the Republic deal with the massive organisational overload, and explain why Anakin was so totally missed.

some people think that jedis are just crazy wizards.

That's an interesting question, which has been bugging me for a while. It all has to do with the question if there's such a thing as a "no marriage"cluase for Jedi. Only Ep2 can answer that.