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The Star Wars Holiday Special is one of the strangest things the franchise has released, but one gross scene alludes to the mature future of VR.
As a franchise, Star Wars‘ creativity has helped advance technology in ways that are hard to notice at a glance. For example, before lasers hit the mainstream, the idea of lightsabers seemed impossible. But now, lasers can perform complex surgeries, and plasma can be manipulated to create crisp television screens and more. That being said, even during the series’ lowest points, advancements in technology were still present, albeit far more suggestive and adult-oriented.
One of the most universally panned projects to come out of Star Wars is The Star Wars Holiday Special, released in 1978. The special follows Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca and the droids traveling to Chewie’s family to celebrate the Wookie holiday of Life Day. Like Christmas, the holiday includes gift-giving and shows audiences scenes where members of Chewie’s family receive gifts that include an early idea of virtual reality called the Mind Evaporator. The scene that follows is, with adult eyes, far lewder and inadvertently teases the future pairing of VR and adult entertainment.
While in the Mind Evaporator, Chewie’s father, Itchy, watches as a woman (Diahann Carroll) appears in a dream-like setting and talks to him in a low, seductive tone. She insists on the notion that this is a very personal experience and an image created by Itchy for Itchy. Before breaking out into a song, the woman mentions a mutual excitement between them and having a good time. But what is even more cringe-worthy is how Itchy replays the woman telling him that she finds him adorable. The scene makes it seem like Itchy craves validation or, at the very least, affection.
The Mind Evaporator managed to predict the immensely personal experience that comes with virtual reality. Most people who use it for games are placed in a role and become the story’s main character. As a result, users can live out fantasies of heroism or power in ways that the real world can’t provide. However, adult content also found its place in virtual reality, making its content even more personal. But by introducing this idea in The Star Wars Holiday Special, the entire concept feels even more uncomfortable.
During the scene, the woman in Itchy’s video breaks out into a song about living in the moment and stretching out the personal experience between them forever. While it’s only a song, her tone remains seductive and is a fairly obvious nod to what the scene’s content is alluding to in the real world. Even in a world where the entire holiday special is still hard to find, this remains one of its grossest and cringe-worthy moments.
The Star Wars Holiday Special remains one of the lower points of the billion-dollar franchise. However, even with its strange and uncalled-for subject matter, it still manages to maintain the series’ best quality — to innovate. In a world where virtual reality is steeped in sci-fi, it’s hard to believe it could ever be in the real world. But now, people can experience anything thanks to devices like the Oculus. That being said, while it’s mainly used for gaming, the special also reminds viewers of its more mature capabilities.
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