Star Wars fans might not be too fond of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, but for all of the movie's political chat and slightly racist characters, the fanbase can't help but remember the Boonta Eve Classic podrace.
Sure, Anakin Skywalker might have been trying too hard to be cute while spinning his pod around during the podrace, but fans do have to admit that the galactic chariot race was a pretty arresting turn of events for the movie.
Despite the brilliance of the galactic chariot race, the underground competition mysteriously vanishes from Star Wars canon after The Phantom Menace.
It turns out it had everything to do with Emperor Palpatine.
In Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire, a book written by Delilah Dawson as a tie-in with Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park (via Inverse), fans get to learn more about podracing in the galaxy far, far away. Vi, Blackspire's protagonist, is taken to a diner where meat is cooked over the engine of a podracer. There she hears talk about illegal races hidden away from the eyes of the Empire.
The illegality of Star Wars' dangerous racing competition shouldn't come as a surprise to fans following Star Wars Legends. In the Star Wars roleplaying game Endless Vigil, fans get to learn that the Galactic Empire had banned podracing.
What exactly was Palpatine's problem with podracing? Was he looking out for his citizens by banning such a dangerous pastime? Or did the Emperor want to take away one of the common folk's sources of entertainment to further crush their spirit?
The latter sounds much more likely.
The Skywalker saga is available for streaming on Disney+.
Read: Star Wars Reveals Palpatine Corrupted Kylo Ren Through Force Bonds
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