Most Popular
1500 questions
63
votes
4 answers
What was the deal Lando made with Darth Vader?
So in Empire Strikes Back, Lando makes a deal with Darth Vader which is he will help him capture Luke and possibly his friends:
Darth Vader: Calrissian. Take the princess and the Wookiee to my ship.
Lando: You said they'd be left at the city under…
Blin
- 693
- 1
- 5
- 6
63
votes
8 answers
Was the Millennium Falcon a one-off or was it mass produced?
Do the books ever specify whether or not another ship of this make exists? Or is it truly unique? Maybe a long time ago in a galaxy far far away manufacturers made single one-off units, but here that's kind of rare for something you'd assume to be…
Kai Qing
- 1,459
- 1
- 13
- 21
63
votes
12 answers
How did Paul Atreides Differ From the Intended Kwisatz Haderach?
It's been a while since I've re-read the Dune books, but I remember the Bene Gesserit were upset with Jessica because she was ordered to bear only female children. The long range plan was to breed one of her daughters with Feyd Harkonnen line to…
Tango
- 107,123
- 86
- 479
- 752
63
votes
2 answers
When did pure-historical Doctor Who go out of fashion?
When Doctor Who first came on TV in the 1960s, it was designed in large part as an educational show, and alternated between stories set in the past (teaching children about history) and stories set in the future (teaching children about…
Rand al'Thor
- 134,408
- 65
- 607
- 854
63
votes
7 answers
What made R2-D2 reactivate in “The Force Awakens?”
During The Force Awakens, BB-8 tries to wake up R2-D2, but is unsuccessful.
At the end of the movie, R2-D2 wakes up.
I didn't catch anything really explaining why he would activate just at that time. So, what did happen to make him wake up?
Relix
- 2,506
- 5
- 17
- 25
63
votes
1 answer
Where did the phrase "Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!" first appear?
There is a phrase that is pretty commonly known to fans of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos (whether or not they've actually read the stories or not):
Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!
Sometimes a longer version of the phrase comes up as well (untranslated…
Thunderforge
- 51,516
- 43
- 212
- 431
63
votes
11 answers
Who gets Muggle-born students onto Platform 9 3/4?
Who gets Muggle-born students onto Platform 93/4? Their parents can't pass through the magical wall (I suppose).
Harry only gets onto the platform by good fortune in his first year after bumping into the Weasleys. How do the rest of the Muggle-born…
DVK-on-Ahch-To
- 342,451
- 162
- 1,520
- 2,066
62
votes
13 answers
What's the origin of Picard's signature phrase, "make it so"?
Was Jean-Luc Picard's famous "Make it so" phrase introduced by Patrick Stewart or by the series writers? Was use of the phrase inspired by any other fictional character?
What I was wondering was, was the phrase taken from the Aubrey/Maturin novels…
James Ramsay
- 717
- 1
- 6
- 6
62
votes
6 answers
Why would the elves help destroy the One Ring?
In Lord of the Rings, the rings preserve what you desire the most. The Elves have three rings preserving their kind's well-being, as well as preserving Rivendell. If the One Ring is destroyed, and this takes the Elves' three rings down with it, what…
James
- 511
- 1
- 4
- 4
62
votes
1 answer
Looking for a really old novel where the people are geometric figures
A while ago I read about a really old science fiction novel/novella (could have been more than a century old) where there weren't exactly people, but geometric figures in a 2-D world.
I think the protagonist (and maybe narrator) was a square and he…
Shevliaskovic
- 27,468
- 21
- 155
- 188
62
votes
8 answers
Could the Sorting Hat Have Told Dumbledore That Harry Was a Horcrux?
The Sorting Hat is a sentient magical artifact that has the ability to initiate communication and have conversations with the person wearing it. There's two things that make me wonder if it would have been possible for the Sorting Hat to have told…
Slytherincess
- 164,854
- 146
- 684
- 899
62
votes
14 answers
Why didn't Luke become disfigured when he was electrocuted by the Emperor?
In Star Wars Episode 3 : Revenge of the Sith
As Mace threatens Palpatine, the Sith unleashes a torrent of Force lightning. However, Mace deflects it with his blade, casting much of the energy back into Palpatine's body. He becomes disfigured and…
DavRob60
- 95,899
- 114
- 452
- 602
62
votes
5 answers
Why does Data have to use a computer in Star Trek?
In the earlier episodes of The Next Generation is where I noticed it, and I realise he could be inputting commands into the command terminal, but why isn't his positronic brain interfaced with the command console in that case?
I can't remember the…
BenjaminJB
- 1,467
- 3
- 13
- 17
62
votes
8 answers
Who is the eponymous Jedi in Return of the Jedi?
I had always assumed the Jedi in the title of Return of the Jedi referred to Luke Skywalker's return from defeat. But Jedi is its own plural -- could it be referring to the rebuilding of the organization/movement/religion that presumably occurs…
Plutor
- 30,595
- 11
- 126
- 153
62
votes
8 answers
Why do X-wings change wing configuration?
The X-wing fighters can change their wing configuration, from the X shape during battle to flat wings (the wings on the same side fold together) during FTL travel.
I'm guessing that the real world explanation is something like, "it looks cool". But…
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE
- 48,642
- 52
- 200
- 294