Anghraine

Re: Yoda: for some reason I always interpreted the physical angle of Luke's training with Yoda as being at least implicitly about training a warrior? But that's just me. And I think you're absolutely right that Revenge!Anakin-and-Yoda would have been an at least somewhat better match, though I can't see Anakin ever not being a warrior. (Now, PT!Yoda needs to stay as far away from Anakin as possible, plzkthx. Not a good match at all.) Agreed completely on the Yoda-Palpatine parallel!

I'm glad you like my "marriage as rebellion" theory! And I agree completely that their reactions to parenthood were almost painfully stereotypical. (Actually, I have that trouble with Padme throughout RotS.)

Re: midichlorians: it's weird, I tend to veer away from the mystical side, and this is Star Wars, for cryin' out loud! It's space fantasy; clearly there is something wrong with me, lol. But, either way, carrying strongly Force-sensitive fetii is a big-time risk.

Re: Obi-wan: Yes, just yes. I like your mantra. And, yeah, that man never really seems to learn what his issues are--- any more than Yoda does, really. (I have soulsoothing fantasies about ghost!Qui-gon chewing them out royally for at least the first few years of their respective exiles.)

Yeah, you're right about the whole (completely stupid anyway) podrace plot. I read Qui-gon as having, by that point... almost a sort of moral fatigue? Because he really wants to do things like fight just wars and free slaves, and the Jedi Order has him mediating frickin' trade disputes and he's just on some level emotionally exhausted from fighting them on all these points. And they're supposed to be the arbiters of what goodness is, and yet, as you rightly pointed out, they're more about the rules and less about the Force. So... when he can act, within the scope of what the Order permits (or a little beyond it, heheh), he does. And there's also a level for me where... the whole thing has also eroded his own conscience just that much, if that makes sense? Where his own ethics have gotten a little fuzzy around the edges from all the times where what he valued would have been more ethical than what the Order allowed. But, oh yes, a much better mentor for Anakin! (I can totally see the two of them just smirking at each other over some piece of rule-bending/gray-area-ness. And Obi-wan off on the sidelines going, "Qui-gon, you are supposed to be the responsible adult here! You are corrupting that boy!" And Qui-gon being all blase and "We do what we must, Obi-wan." And Anakin snickering. And, as you say, Anakin also learning how to navigate moral conundra in a less absolute sort of way.) (On which note: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes," really, Obi-wan? And what was that that just came out of your mouth, hmmmm? Could it be... an absolute? *eyeroll*)

Oooh, I'm glad you like my whole joyful-intuitive-connection-to-the-Force idea! It just seemed--- on the one hand, something that would make sense and on the other something that the Jedi Order as of the PT would have been utterly appalled at. (And I love appalling the Jedi Order; it's good for them. :) )

And oh, I look forward to hearing more about the Revenge!verse Skywalker family's relationship to the space-time continuum!!!! (Actually, I just look forward to anything and everything Revenge!verse related, but that sounds especially cool.)