If you’ve ever watched a Star Wars movie, you know that the Jedi and Sith are surprisingly alike: both factions tap into The Force to manipulate the world around them, and each side believes they’re campaigning for what is truly right. Naturally, there are some pretty distinct differences between them, and none stands out more than the strict Jedi Code. This set of rules was established to maintain order and provide the Jedi with a consistent standard for behavior and lifestyle. To a degree, they obviously worked: the Jedi are formidable and do good throughout the galaxy, and they always manage to resurface despite the Sith Lords’ efforts to snuff them out.

On the other hand, parts of the Jedi Code simply don’t work. Some rules are genuinely harmful to members of the Order, as outlined by Ranker, and others, according to CBR, are contradictory to the Jedi way. It begs the question: how might things have gone if they weren't so strictly bound to these creeds, especially in terms of characters like Anakin? Let’s sift through the rules of the Order and talk about some of the most unrealistic expectations imposed on the Jedi.

Related: Star Wars: Every Known Jedi That Survived Order 66

5 Emotion and Attachments Are Fully Outlawed

Shmi Skywalker Death
Via: Lucasfilm Ltd.

Anyone who knows the franchise knows that the galaxy's Chosen One — Anakin Skywalker — became the ultimate Sith Lord because of his emotional attachments. He left his mother as a little boy and didn't see her again until he was a grown man. What's more, the moment she died in his arms was a pivotal point in his journey, as it instilled him with a plaguing fear of losing his loved ones. This was severely exacerbated when he fell in love with Padmé, and his attempts to seek support from his fellow Jedi got him nowhere. The question is: why is emotional detachment the only option? Only Sith deal in absolutes, yet the Jedi absolutely reject emotional connections as part of their training. If he was taught to balance healthy attachments and understood that death and change are natural, Anakin may never have sought answers from Chancellor Palpatine. Furthermore, Padmé might still be alive, the Order might still exist, and the story may have been radically different.

4 Curiosity Should Never Be Entertained

Phantom Menace Qui-Gon’s Smoulder
20th Century Fox

Another point in the Jedi Code is to avoid using The Force to satisfy curiosity. The Code mainly uses this in context with probing for private information, which could easily cause people to distrust the Jedi. This is understandable, but this stipulation can potentially limit innovation and discovery for the Order. If the Jedi aren't allowed to experiment with different aspects of themselves or The Force, the Jedi as a whole run the risk of stagnating and becoming obsolete in an ever-changing world.

3 ‘Evil’ Never Gets a Clear Definition

Darth Vader Revenge of the Sith
Via: Lucasfilm Ltd.

Every Force-user in the Jedi Order took a solemn vow to use their abilities for the good of the galaxy. This is very noble, but who defines "good?" Everything in the universe is a matter of perspective; the hero in one story could be a villain in the next. Any way you slice it, the Jedi operate with a bias, primarily because they strive to distance themselves so far from the Sith. The Jedi define the Sith as evil because they give into emotions and tap into the Dark Side, but who's to say every Sith is out to destroy or enslave the galaxy? Furthermore, why are the Jedi so heavily involved with political happenings if they're meant to be a purely neutral party? Neutrality is almost unheard of in politics because humanity is extremely polarized. The issue here is that the Jedi fight for what they believe is good, but the reality is that good and evil are entirely subjective.

Related: Here's What Makes Darth Vader's Story So Tragic

2 Jedi Aren’t Allowed to Hold Positions of Power

Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi
Lucasfilm

Additionally, it's odd that the Jedi are so deeply entwined in the struggle between The Galactic Republic and the Separatists when they're not allowed to hold seats of power. A strict tenet of the Code is to serve rather than rule, again for the good of the galaxy. There's nothing wrong with selflessness and servitude, but the Jedi Council in the Prequel Trilogy twist this creed to suit themselves: they support the Republic, but they blatantly distrust the Chancellor. As a result, they directly contradict their vow to reject curiosity and task Anakin with spying on him. Why? Because believe they're in the right, and he's in the wrong. This is another example of biased zealotry, not to mention a move that suggests the Jedi have more power than they let on.

1 All Things Are Governed By the Force Alone

Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
20th Century Fox

The Jedi believe that The Force is the greater power of the universe; there is no death, there is only The Force. This philosophy limits the Jedi to nothing more than servants, which lines up with their existing creed of serving rather than ruling. All of this would be cohesive if it weren't for the fact that the Jedi Order is okay with altering the rules when they see fit. Their actions imply that they believe in some extent of free will, which means The Force doesn't govern their every move. They may claim that The Force will ultimately have its way, but this defies their tenets to remain emotionally detached and serve the world. Essentially, the Jedi work toward their version of the greater good and acknowledge that The Force will take its own course, which means they're anything but the obedient vessels they claim to be.

That's not a good thing or a bad thing — it's an organic thing. Humans, Twi'lek, Dathomirians, Lanniks and every other species in the Star Wars universe are imperfect and experience some level of emotion. They make mistakes and their definition of 'good' and 'bad' probably varies from one individual to the next. Regardless, the Jedi Code attempts to suppress nature, and any efforts to do so will always come back with a vengeance. Don't believe us? Look no further than the downfall of the Jedi following Anakin's breakdown.