That Tower AK again (Star Wars I, II, and IV spoilers)

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 141994

There has been a lot of speculation recently as to whether the AK 
cast by Snape on the Tower was a real AK.  

To recap, one side says, "Snape said *Avada Kadavera*, there was a 
shot of green light, and DD died.  Therefore it was a real AK."  

The other side says, "We have seen the AK in action, and it was 
different than the one on the tower.  Therefore it may not have been 
a real AK."

These are, of course, oversimplified on my part.  Both sides have 
also included thematic and symbolic evidence, and both have presented 
strong arguements for their side.

I'd like to further recap the "not an AK" side a bit.  Several 
people, here and elsewhere, have brought into evidence previous 
examples of the AK as we have seen it in the text.

To recap briefly:  LV AKs his dad and grandparents, who drop dead, 
unblemished, with a look of terror on their faces.  Later, LV AKs 
Frank Bryce, who drops dead as well.  We don't see his expression, 
but his echo later expresses surprise.  Fake!Moody AKs the spider, 
which drops dead, although again, we are unable to discern whether or 
not it looked surprised.  When Wormtail AKs Cedric, Ced drops dead 
with an expression of surprise.

The "not an AK" folks have used this to further their side by noting 
that DD did not just "drop dead" but rather flew up over the wall on 
which he had been heavily leaning and landed with an expression which 
was described as "might have been sleeping" (I'm not opening that can 
of worms!) rather than a look of shock or terror, as previously 
described on the faces of the AK victims.

Now that the recap is done, I am actually going to say something 
original.  The other night I found myself with an uncooperative 
internet connection and amused myself by watching Star Wars Episode 
II.  I noticed something which may explain a few things here.  I have 
not included any spoilers for Episode III as it is not out on DVD 
yet.  

SPOILERS FOR STAR WARS I, II, AND IV:

I am taking the events in the order they "actually" happened, rather 
than the order in which the movies were made and released.  (What do 
you mean "It's fiction"?)

I am focusing on the use of light sabres and the effects on those who 
have been struck by them.

In Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi slashes his light sabre through Darth 
Maul in Maul's midsection.  Maul has a look of pained bewilderment on 
his face as his body severs neatly in two and he falls into the 
melting pit.  

In Episode II, Mace Windu slices his light sabre through the neck of 
Jango Fett.  Fett is cleanly decapitated, and his head and body fall 
seperately to the ground.  His facial expression is not discernable 
due to his helmet.

Also in Episode II, Count Dooku cuts off Anikin's arm.  The arm drops 
to the floor, and Anikin is thrown back onto the ground where he lays 
with a look of agony on his face.

In Episode IV, Obi-Wan severs the arm of Ponda Baba in the Mos Eisley 
Cantina.  While Baba's Aqualish expression is difficult to read, 
there is little doubt as to his reaction.  His arm falls to the 
floor, and he appears to be clearly pained and shocked.

Later in Episode IV, Darth Vader slices Obi-Wan right in the area of 
the ribcage.  The light sabre clearly goes through Obi-Wan.  From 
everything we have seen in previous light sabre battles (and I have 
only listed a few of the main ones), Obi-Wan *should* have been split 
into two halves and fallen to the ground with a look of pain and 
shock.  This doesn't happen.  Instead, Obi-Wan vanishes, leaving only 
his cloak and light sabre.  

Was this a *real* light sabre attack?  It would seem so, and to my 
limited knowledge, no one has suggested that it was a fake lighe 
sabre.  Why didn't it act like the previous attacks?  Let's rewind.  
Immediately before the fatal blow, Obi-Wan has ascertained that Luke 
and the others are almost to the ship, and that their escape is all 
but assured.  The Storm Troopers' attentions are diverted to the 
battle between Vader and Kenobi.  Obi-Wan, realizing, and indeed 
having told Vader, that if Vader strikes him down, he (Kenobi) will 
become more powerful than Vader could imagine, raises his light 
sabre, and with a look of meditative concentration, allows Vader to 
strike the mortal blow.  

I am going to throw in a bit of an Episode III spoiler here as it is 
expositional in nature and does not effect the plot of that movie.  
We learn that Kenobi's Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, has extended his 
knowledge of the Force to allow a dead Jedi to communicate with the 
living, and that Kenobi has spent the last 20? years meditating on 
this.  

Obi-Wan is powerful with the Force, as DD is powerful with his 
knowledge of Magic.  Both die in circumstances which are not 
consistant with canon as to the effects of the fatal blow to them.  
Neither seems surprised by the final blow or terrified of death in 
general.  

With all this in mind, I would like to throw out this question:  
Would it be possible that the uncanonnical effects of the AK on DD 
were due not to the verity of the AK itself, but rather, due to the 
power and intentions of the person on whom it was cast?

This could indicate that DD went willingly, or that he has a 
knowledge of Magic that would cause him to think that his departure 
in that manner would be beneficial to the survivers, or some other 
explanation altogether.  It is not necessary to think that he planned 
it in advance, or that he did it in a calculated manner, although the 
latter is my personal opinion.  There is much room for all kinds of 
speculation as to DD's motives, powers, and knowledge, as well as a 
ton of other factors that I have not touched on.

Something to think about. 

On another topic, as long as I have your attention:  I am requesting 
a bit of help from the old listees.  Once upon a time, way back when, 
someone described Snape as being "sexier than socks on a rooster".  I 
have not been able to find who said that, and would like to know as 
it popped into my head as a filk bunny.  Should I use it, I would 
like to give proper credit to that person.  If anyone remembers 
saying that, or who said it, could you please let me know offlist?  
It would be greatly appreciated.

Ginger, still annoyed that SW III isn't being released on VHS, 
despite the fact that Little Sister gave me her old DVD player so I 
wouldn't have to buy one for one movie.