Summary
Star Warsfans have been taking a critical look atThe Last Jedisince the divisive film was released in 2017, and now it looks like many of them have taken a spicy stance on one of its more hotly debated aspects. Specifically, they say Luke Skywalker’s character arc was actually spot on.
Among theStar Warsfandom, few entries in the franchise spark more debate thanEpisode VIII: The Last Jedi. As fantastic and well-made as the film is, it’s not difficult to see why so many fans continue to give it the side eye. It did many things differently, utilizing storytelling methods and writing styles that viewers generally weren’t used to. But perhaps most notable, it leaned into the flaws andweaknesses of Luke Skywalkeras a character, ditching the all-powerful and infallible image some had gotten used to over the past few decades. Several fans hated this change, but was it a change?
According to userblakjakalopein theStar WarsCantina subreddit, Luke’s actions inThe Last Jediwere, in fact, in line with his character. Specifically, the moment chosen to illustrate this was the flashback where Luke admitted he briefly considered cutting down Ben Solo (in the incident that turned him into Kylo Ren) when he detected the darkness in his young apprentice. Even though he ultimately stood down from this urge (Ben’s eventual reaction notwithstanding), many fans hated that Luke would be anything less than a perfect teacher who never makes mistakes.
However, as pointed out by user blakjakalope, this was far fromthe worst thing Luke Skywalker has ever done, and most certainly not the first time he let his emotions get the better of him. In the original trilogy, Luke consistently struggles to control his emotions. When Darth Vader strikes down Obi-Wan inA New Hope, Luke cries out and begins firing, ruining his friends' chances of getting to the Millennium Falcon unnoticed. InThe Empire Strikes Back, he disobeys Yoda’s orders and lets his emotions get the better of him (multiple times, it should be noted).
Finally, even as recently (in the universe) asinReturn of the Jedi, Luke is easily manipulated by Darth Vader into recklessly attacking during their final duel simply by mentioning his sister, Leia. This instance drives home why it makes so much sense that Luke would still carry that flaw even later in life. When it’s just him, he’s easily capable of the serenity and quiet dignity one would expect from a Jedi Master. But when Luke’s friends or family are threatened? That’s when he loses his composure. Luke saw Ben Solo’s darkness as a threat to the rest of his students, so he let his emotions get the better of him just long enough to, unfortunately, self-fulfill that prophecy. It’s a decision he regretted for the rest of his life.
“Luke has always reacted to darkness with immediate action. His development into a Jedi Master does not mean he doesn’t make mistakes. Isolating himself because he believes he is a bigger threat as a Jedi is in keeping with someone who has seen the kind of life he has as well. Was he right? No. Is he a damaged human? Yes. Is he still a hero? Unquestionably!”
It’s a strong argument in favor of what directorRian Johnson accomplished withStar Wars: The Last Jedi, and in fact, it even kind of poetically reflects the fan reaction. Like Luke, many fans saw something that scared them in the movie (in this case, something different from what they expected). Lots of them reacted emotionally at first. But while some refused to move beyond those feelings, others managed to re-evaluate and see the movie for what it was. Not bad for a film that starts with a “your mom” joke.
Star Wars: The Last Jediis available on Disney Plus.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space, including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other mediums like comics, video games, TV shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
