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In an episode ofObi-Wan Kenobi, the titular Jedi Master and Leia make their way through an Imperial checkpoint, with the help of a native, who very loudly proclaims that there is nothing wrong with The Empire and the order it brings into civilian lives.
This is something that was also touched upon inAndor, where people were willing to cooperate with The Empire if they were adequately kept out of the politics of the Galaxy. However, these arguments in favor of the empire are often depicted in a bad light, such that those who hold these beliefs are either ignorant or have not been on the receiving end of the Empire’s wrath.
The Sith, by contrast, despite being synonymous with the atrocities of the Empire, has rarely been depicted as needing sympathy. While there have been tragic characters that have been Sith, such as Darth Maul, they have never been depicted as deserving of that sympathy because they are the Sith.
However, this was changed withThe Acolyte, who decided that the Sith, who were so power-hungry that they ended up in civil war, were actually just a group of people who wanted to level the playing field with the Jedi.
Something similar appears to be the case inRings of PowerSeason 2. Tolkienian Orcs had a distinct flavor of evil and malice, and have been depicted in a completely new light. Not only do Orcs have families, but they do not have any drive to war and fight for Sauron. This has sparked a major controversy, just like The Sith did in The Acolyte.
Given that both these stories take traditionally evil and malicious factions in their respective universes that have been cast as simply disenfranchised, hint at ramifications that do more harm than good in the long run.
The Orcs and The Sith embody all that is wrong with their respective universes
The Sith doctrine believes that the lust for power is necessary for change and growth and progress. On the other hand, the Jedi are galactic peacekeepers, who preach the use of the Force only in defence of innocents, and never to attack.
Similarly, Orcs inJ. R. R. Tolkien‘s Legendarium are depicted to be malicious, spawned exclusively through the corrupting influence of Morgoth. While there has been some debate about whether Tolkien’s works are racially insensitive or not, there has been little debate about the fact that Orcs are the evil, irredeemable servants of Morgoth and Sauron.
“Orcs just want a better life for their families”: The Rings of Power Turning Tolkien’s Malevolent and Male Only Orcs into Sympathetic Creatures Has to be the Biggest Joke of the Year
However, more recent works, such asRings of PowerandThe Acolyte, have decided to challenge this paradigm, perhaps in hopes of bringing nuance to what seems like a black-and-white situation. Both these works, set in the distant past of their respective universes come from very stories franchises that have consistently informed the audience about the misgivings of Orcs and The Sith respectively.
Therefore, when these shows end up depicting ‘evil’ as just ‘disenfranchised’, not only do they paint culturally significant heroes that fans and audiences adore in a menacing light, but also tear apart the core themes of the story.
Reinterpreting Orcs and The Sith might not be the kind of nuance that enriches the worlds they inhabit
Rings of PowerSeason 2 depicted Orcs having a morality akin to that of humans, such that they could protest going to war, have families, and raise children. Similarly, Qimir’s quest as a Sith is depicted as simply being allowed to train an apprentice, which he is unable to do because of the machinations of the ‘hegemonic and imperial’ Jedi Order. These ‘retcons’ paint everything that comes later in their stories, from morally good to morally questionable.
“There’s nothing beyond what they have right now”: Sam Witwer Has Understood the Sith Code to a Degree Even Diehard Fans Would Agree He’s the Henry Cavill of Star Wars
While there are some who would believe that that was the point of these developments, what these changes to canon manage to do is equate the disenfranchised with evil. There have been historical misunderstandings, and sometimes even malicious reinterpretations in the real world.
However, these ideas might not fit well in fantasy settings, where good and evil intentions have outward manifestations in a fixed but nuanced moral setting. The Orcs are evil, as are the Sith. There are no two ways about it. Both are manifestations of evil in that they are hardwired to feel and respond to emotions that are altogether detrimental to themselves and those around them, such as fear, hate, anger, and lust for power.
The Acolytecan be streamed on Disney +
Rings of PowerSeason 2 can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Anuraag Chatterjee
Content Writer
Articles Published :1633
Anuraag Chatterjee, Web Content WriterWith a passion for writing fiction and non fiction content, Anuraag is a Media Science graduate with 2 year’s experience with Marketing and Content, with 3 published poetry anthologies. Anuraag holds a Bacherlor’s degree in Arts with a focus on Communication and Media Studies.
