I think Snoke was a jedi before

I can definitely see your point, because they are new and we see them after having known the Empire, the Imperial starfleet and its commanders.

Everything about the First Order is supposed to be a meaner/tougher organization than the previous Empire: bigger Star Destroyer (e.g. The Finalizer), more capable TIE fighters, better-trained Stormtroopers (even ones able to block lightsabers), bigger bases (Starkiller vs. the Death Star).

Still, the First Order, for all its newness, did not pop-up overnight: it took planning, leaders, resources, and years to develop.

Simply to take part in that build-up and to establish himself as the Supreme Leader would mean Snoke had to have some experience, first or secondhand.

Unless there was some sort of "How to Build a New Empire for Dummies" book he found and studied

JediMasterRobert

 

yes, but all that show of Force is largely just that: show. build a bigger star destroyer, a bigger planet-killing weapon. like Snoke on his 30-foot toilet, it's practically just an illusion of power with not a lot propping it up.

i agree there was influence and resources to support all this. i just don't think Snoke would have to be someone particular (i.e. connected to the larger Star Wars universe, Plagueis, whatever) to wield that.

not over this crew.

 

LOL, that really gives that Snoke some new... perspective.

Yes, I think this could be true in the Snoke-as-master-of-illusion line of thinking, to which there could be some basis.

The Hosnian System did not experience an illusion of power though. The sadness inflicted there was presented as real, well beyond Alderaan-level devastation.

That Starkiller Base and Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma were dispatched so handily didn't really help the First Order seem all that dangerous. But they are clearly intended to be antagonists.

Right, he could be anyone, as I said, but I believe many of us would like or prefer him to have that connection.

To put it another way: to consider Snoke as the "rightful heir" of sorts of the remnants of Empire, for him to be a step-above the upper Imperial dignitaries and associates still around after Return of the Jedi, some of us would prefer that deeper history and connection to be there.

Otherwise he's simply "just another bad guy," and maybe he could function in that manner as well.

I've also considered he could be an embodiment of the Dark Side of the Force itself.

As I mentioned earlier, he could be literally "anyone" (or, as Rey would say "no one" when in fact she is someone). I just think Snoke, who is perhaps the most influential Star Wars character in this Sequel Trilogy, given all the things he effects and events he sets off, should have some kind of compelling story behind him to justify all he has done and destroyed.

We will have to wait and see what the storytellers make of his character, if anything.

JediMasterRobert

 

Unlikely

 

absolutely. they do manage to be untold-levels of destructive even if they fall apart in the process.

i know mine is a minority voice in this, but just as i'd like Rey to be no one, i think Snoke ought to be no one as well. we have our connection to the OT/PT legacy through Luke, Leia, Chewie, C3PO, R2D2, (RIP Han), and Ben Solo. i get that people want Snoke to give us a longer tether to the PT and there's nothing wrong with that, but i personally don't prefer it. i like that characters like Finn, Poe, Hux, etc. don't need to be tethered and don't see why Rey and Snoke need it either.

and since i'm now so far OT, i'll try to wrap up my warbling sentiments by saying:

i don't think Snoke was ever a Jedi. i think he's been watching Sith and Jedi from the sidelines for however many eons and has come to the same conclusion Luke likely has: that the fracture between Light and Dark is what's driving the imbalance of the galaxy which, for whatever reason, Snoke personally thrives upon.

Luke wants to heal that fracture and that threatens Snoke's existence somehow.

 

Very well said, FN-3263827. Thank you for providing more helpful context.

The "eons" part you mentioned is something I think could prove important: that he has some kind of intellectual investment in the affairs of the galaxy, whether or not he was a former Jedi or Sith.

I think he has seen much, and he might have benefitted grandly from the collapse of the Empire just as Palpatine benefitted from the collapse of the Republic. If they ever get into how he became "Supreme Leader," it should be interesting. I hope they don't "save" important stuff like that for books. I'd like to see/hear him defined within the saga itself, just as we learned above Vader and Palpatine.

And I also think Luke can play somewhat of the healer archetype in the Sequel Trilogy.

After such galactic devastation over ages, I think it would be good to see the possibility of healing, togetherness, and a path toward peace.

JediMasterRobert

 

One thing that really pi**ed me off about the PT was not resolving who Sifo Dyas was and what happened to him...hmmmm

What is it Kylo says about Snoke considering a clone army, again?!

 

Interesting idea that former Jedi Sifo Dyas is Snoke? Although canon says Sifo Dyas is dead, that leads me to perhaps another interesting idea: What if Snoke is actually dead? A dark side user who has figured out how to be a Force ghost, but projects as a hologram in order to mask the fact that he is actually dead. Biggest impediment to that idea of course is that he tells Hux to "bring Kylo Ren to me" so that he can finish his training. But perhaps Snoke's spirit is trapped and dwells in some specific tomb or shrine, like was shown in the CW cartoons, and that is where Kylo Ren must be brought. Improbable as it may be, it is at least interesting to ponder...

EDIT: Sifo Dyas also had the power of foresight, so perhaps he knew to just bide his time until after Sidious and Vader checked out and to corrupt the grandson...

 

subtext:

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--- Double Post Merged, Feb 11, 2016, Original Post Date: Feb 11, 2016 ---

bokemkeboadthespacebasntwokngethestheke.sonofabtchgvemeabulletfuckt

 

If he was a Jedi previously, perhaps he had been out of the galaxy in an event similar to the old EU outbound flight story? A survivor (thus, scars) of some terrible incident that left Snoke the only Jedi remaining of his party. Going dark side may have saved him or seeing the weakness of his associates, abandoned the light side of the force in disgust?

 

I highly doubt Snoke is a Jedi. He might be a force user or a Sith but I don't see him as being good turned evil.
I also say if Snoke is a new character, he more than likely will be 100s or 1000s of years old. Alive long enough to master the dark side or choose to remain hidden until now to lead the new First Order. His apparent fear or apprehension about Luke Skywalker is something to ponder.
I don't say Snoke is a "Gray Jedi" or some type of being that lost faith. If he is in fact 25-30 feet tall, he may have been wounded or hurt 100s of years before. In some early Jedi vs Sith conflict or a different battle.

 

FYI the snake in Eden is not Lucifer.

That being said I like your thinking OP. But why.did they make his wounds so similar to Anakin's? That bugs me in so many ways

 

What if he was The first of the "fallen twenty" Jedi ?

 

how are they similar? just because they're on the face?

 

I doubt too that Snoke is in fact either Anakin Skywalker, a clone or copy of Anakin(OT era), a new being with Anakin DNA or midiclorines, etc.
The Anakin Skywalker character both in the PT films & in Return of the Jedi seemed lacking in leadership or persuasion skills. He never said he wanted power or had any desires to control the galaxy in the PT era films, only when he was seduced or drawn over to the Dark Side did he behave that way.
It seems a big leap for Anakin to now have a long term goal to stay alive or maintain his form to now rule the galaxy, after 30-35 years????....
Also why would Anakin as Snoke chose to wipe out all of Luke's new Jedi? Wouldn't Vader/Snoke/Anakin gain more by converting those young Jedi to his First Order or Knights of Ren group?
I can see his fear or apprehension of Luke Skywalker but having a large group of dark force/evil Jedi could tip in his favor.

Luke going into exile seems a lot like Yoda but it's odd why he didn't help in TFA's climax or reply when R2D2 came back up. . Why hide or evade everyone when you are needed the most?

 

About that... I have the feeling Snoke always knew that he can't complete his masterpiece with Kylo- Therefore he messed with Rey's mind during the fight and told her to kill Kylo. But that didn't work so for now he stuck with the "second best" and he is using Kylo, until he has no further use for him.