Summary
In the wake ofThe Acolytepremiere, a viral George Lucas quote is showing just whyStar Warswas never scientifically accurate. Nobody is particularly that the latestStar WarsDisney+ TV show,The Acolyte, has proved so controversial; theStar Warsfandom is well known for being divided and divisive. Butsome of the criticisms are somewhat odd, because parts of the fanbase have become focused on a scene inThe Acolytefeaturing fire in space. The argument is that flames require oxygen to burn, so - scientifically speaking - the entire scene should be impossible.
Paul Duncan, author ofThe Star Wars Archives: Episode IV-VI, has shared a quote from George Lucas himself that was already doing the rounds in response to this criticism. Discussing the Millennium Falcon, Lucas noted that he wanted there to be a little “drift” in the freighter as it turned, as though it was facing air resistance. “In my world, there’s air in outer space,” Lucas quipped. “When I want it.”
5 Times Star Wars Had Fire In Space
The latest Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte, showed fire in space - but though this may defy physics, flames in space have always been part of Star Wars
Star Wars Was Always Science-Fantasy, Not Science-Fiction
The rules of physics don’t really apply
George Lucas never had any intention of being scientifically accurate, insisting from the beginning that it was science-fantasy instead. In fact, that’s whyLucas chose the name lightsabers; he worried that the word “laser-sword” would distract people with discussions about how they worked. Lucas simply wanted viewers to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the show, immersing themselves in a fantastical story of heroes and villains.
Lucas’Star Warsfeatured so many moments that aren’t scientifically accurate, whether overtly or in subtle details. What’s more, Lucas didn’t care at all; he was simply telling a story, and he wasn’t interested in nitpicking. There are actually several scenes inStar Warslore that already feature fire in space, and none of them proved insurmountable for audiences in 1977, 1980, or 1983, when the original trilogy released.
The truth, of course, is that the portion of theStar Warsfanbase complaining aboutThe Acolyte’s “fire in space” scene never had any intention of suspending their disbelief. They’d already judged the show - explaining theRotten Tomatoes review bombing- and this was simply a convenient thing to hate. Lucas' quote calls it out rather well.
