"This is not going to go the way you think." —Luke Skywalker, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
I wasn't the first Jed, and I most certainly be the last. In this vast universe we live in, it's tough to be the only one of a certain kind. No matter how special we are, there's always going to be at least one other person who is equally as special, and a bunch more who are way more special than we could ever dream of being. But, that's a matter of perspective.
What does it matter any way? Aren't names just a human concept? Would we still identify with it when we transcend our humanity? What if we all answer to one name? Would we be less special? These are the kinds of questions that keep me up at night. Ones I think that we shouldn't take lightly.
But, enough about me (for now, at least), I want to talk about something more pertinent for a second. Friends, join me as we shift our attention to...
Luke did warn you, didn't he? Didn't he!?
First of all, I just want to point out that I'm not a diehard Star Wars fan. In fact, I didn't grow up watching Star Wars, mainly because the original trilogy had already come out way before I was born, and finding a copy of it here wasn't easy back in the day. Put simply, Star Wars wasn't as formative for me like it is for many people. I only discovered Star Wars with Episode I, so you see why I wasn't hooked on the franchise at the beginning. Also, people teased me constantly about it because of my name. Truth be told, I'm more a fan of Dune than Star Wars. The spice must flow and all that.
Conversely, 
Secondly, let's acknowledge the thala-siren in the room. The Last Jedi is not your typical Star Wars film. One might argue that it's even more different than Rogue One. As to why that is, we'll get to that in a bit. A lot of people were clamoring that The Force Awakens was just a rehash of the classic film, but now that they got a film so radically different from the whole franchise, they're still finding things to bitch about. Me thinks some people need a good Force Choking.
Having watched the Red Letter Media recap of the prequels at the urging of 
Unlike 
As the central character of the original trilogy (OT), it felt like a disservice when Luke didn't have any role to play during The Force Awakens. I like how he was utilized here though, in a sort of "passing the lightsaber hilt" type of role. His messages of the Jedi Order needs to end and things are not going to go the way we think is so meta, at times it seemed as if the creators were speaking directly through him.
From a production standpoint, as harsh as it seems, Luke is a relic of a bygone era. Much like the Jedi Order, if Star Wars seeks to grow as a franchise, they need to let go of the past and move forward to the future. Mind you, I'm talking about just the movies here and not the Extended Universe. The Skywalkers and everything that came before served its purpose, and now the franchise needs to adapt in order to compete with the contemporary market. Luke knew this and he was more than willing to pass the baton.
To be honest, I wasn't really fond of Luke in the OT. I think he was a fine character, but Han Solo was just too magnetic. His character arc feels like the most complete out of all the characters. He started out as a nobody farm boy, discovered that he was heir apparent to the preeminent Jedi lineage, trained to be a master, became a master, realized that his lineage held a monopoly over the force, died a legend. If that isn't a chiasmus, then I don't know what is. At the beginning he wanted to get out of the sandbox of a planet, and true enough, he died in a planet that looks like it doesn't even have a single speck of it.
Out of all the knowledge bombs he imparted, the thing that resonated with me is the one about his legacy. His father was the prophesied Chosen One, the one who would bring balance to the Force. In his own way, Anakin did live up to the title, but that left Luke with gigantic shoes to fill. I mean, have you heard of any of Michael Jordan's sons? Exactly. He was ill-equipped for the role thrust upon him, and who could blame him. Luke didn't even complete his Jedi training. Heck, Yoda even preferred Leia as an apprentice more than Luke.
The great thing about it was, he was fine with it.
Luke stumbled upon the realization that the Skywalker name held too much of a clout than they deserved. Even though Anakin was special, the monopoly he held over the Force was a real detriment. I mean, his shadow loomed large for six of eight episodes. Sometimes literally.
Luke, while he's played out as being a legendary hero, was nothing more than a regular guy. Heck, he didn't even really "defeat" any of the central villains. He made Darth Vader realize the error of his ways, and the redeemed Anakin was the one who defeated the evil Emperor. Just like what he told Rey, being a Jedi just means that one is attuned to the Force, but that didn't mean that anyone owned it. The Force is everywhere, and the Force is for everyone. No one should hold a monopoly over it.
But, since he already had renown that he felt he didn't deserve, might as well put it to good use. When he projected himself on Crait for the final battle of the film (I just knew he was a projection because he looked way younger than when he was in Ahch-To), he leaned on his reputation and used it to further the Resistance's initiative. He was, as Poe said, "the spark that would light the fire that burns down the First Order".
With his mighty Skywalker blood, he knew how it would play out when the news will spread to the farther reaches of the galaxy. One lone Jedi against an entire army. If social media still existed there, I'm sure the feeds would be littered with overblown news. Luke knew that would happen, and he took advantage of it.
The time away from the limelight really did him good. I imagine it's akin to Buddhist monks meditating in the mountains. No matter how you slice it, Luke was the last Jedi. I just wish that they gave Leia an organic send-off as well. What comes next would be something different, and that's perfectly alright.
When Rey burst onto the scene, the rumor mill was set ablaze as to what her identity is and how she fits into the whole tapestry of the whole franchise. Luke's daughter, Leia's daughter, Luke and Leia's daughter (from that one kiss in the OT), a secret Kenobi, Jyn Erso's daughter, Captain Phasma's daughter, etc.—she had been connected to them all. It turns out she was just another nobody, much like Luke truly is. Just some kid sold by her junkie parents for beer money. With the current social climate, I think more people could relate to that rather than if she was of noble birth.
Once again, the creators of the film subverted every expectation (sure, there are people who got it right, but I'm sure nobody really leaned on that), and that's perfectly alright. Wait, no... that's more than alright. If it sticks for Episode IX, that revelation opened up the universe for more characters to come to the forefront. It's just how Luke imagined it, the Force was democratized. And, that's huge!
One didn't have to be chosen or born into prominence, one can be prominent with hardwork and determination once again. I think that's a more important lesson to tell. Rey is all of us. We can make something of ourselves if we strongly believe that we could. Also, even though Rey had tons of latent potential, she can't be complacent and just rely on it. She needs to train and hone that skill if she really wants to improve.
Not to mention the fact that Rey is apparently Sith-aligned. Who would've even assumed that? The thing that prevented me from fully latching on to the Star Wars jumpship is the concept of the Jedi and what they stand for. Don't they seem a bit authoritarian? I get that they lean on logic heavily, but some of their teachings are quite hard to get behind. As someone ruled by emotions, I've always identified myself more with the Sith, which is ironic given my name. Plus, the Force lightning is a super cool power!
I like how they reduced Rey's role in this one. It gives more credence to the assumption that the Force (and screen time) is there to be shared. Her plot surrounding the redemption of Ben Solo kind of depicts how we always try to see the best in people. She's a good character, but you can't deny that she is literally the deus ex machina near the end.
Luke said that the Force is shared by everyone, and Rey is the embodiment of that statement. He never really taught her anything, didn't he? No Jedi training whatsoever. So, it still holds true that Luke is the last Jedi.
Oh, Rogue One. Those lovable band of misfits. I wanted them to be the Knights of Ren so badly. But alas... Anyway, aside from spoiling one of the main conflicts in The Last Jedi, Rogue One was meant to support Luke's claim that anyone could wield the Force. As Chirrut Imwe, the blind monk, repeatedly said, "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me". He wasn't a Jedi and yet he laid claim to the Force. In retrospect, it sought to foreshadow the events of the movies followed it.
Plus, who were they to lead their own movie? They were set up in a way that made them seem more important than they truly were. I mean, sure, they were the ones that caused the destruction of the Death Star, but other than that, they were nothing more than regular tragic characters. From the very start, they were doomed to fail, and that's what made them so compelling. Despite having no relations to a Skywalker or a Kenobi, or any sort of renown, they accepted the mission that they knew would seal their fate. That takes balls, and they indeed deserved their own movie.
Everyone should've figured out from this what they sought to do in The Last Jedi. The creators laid out everything, but we just didn't accept it. I guess we aren't as Force sensitive as we think.
Arguably, Yoda is the face of the Star Wars franchise for many. Even for the people that doesn't know his name, they connect him with Star Wars every time. With that being said, Yoda is the epitome of "the old guard", one that Luke continually preached needs to die. The line about Luke not being afraid of raw power then but he is when he felt Rey's was a great tongue-in-cheek nod to a conversation he had with Yoda. With the deceased Jedi grandmaster, of course, correctly predicting that his former student would be.
In typical Yoda fashion, he was the one responsible for setting the old scriptures ablaze, laughing as it all burned down. It was a great cameo, and one that poked fun at the old fans. But, it also served as a message that people need to adapt because Star Wars as a franchise is moving into the future. Out with the old, and in with the new. The Jedi Order is dead, long live the Jedi Order!
Ugh. This really felt more like a political message than an interesting subplot. For those of you who doesn't even recall what Canto Bight is, it's the casino planet where Finn and Rose get DJ, the traitorous c-c-c-codebreaker. It was meant to symbolize the fall of those in power and what not. At least the Broomstick Jedi got a nod at the end.
EDIT (12/21/2017) Thanks to 
Star Wars had always been about the war between the Jedi and Sith, but with the franchise moving away from that focus, it's high time to give the other aspects their due. In the spirit of expansion, way to go to the creators for showing the divide between those who profit from the war and those who suffer from it. While I still have a problem with the pacing of the Canto Bight scene, I do realize its full significance now. Maybe they could've just depicted it without feeling like a filler. Thanks again to
Well they did say she was the new Boba Fett, right?
Now we get to my review. I'll keep this brief. I promise. While the people are divided about whether they like it or not, I on the other hand... am equally divided. I don't hate it, but I'm not over the moon in love with it. There were scenes that I felt were unnecessary * cough * Canto Bight * cough * but I feel like, overall, it drove the narrative forward. I did enjoy the first battle where they destroyed a dreadnought, and I think it's a real high point in the movie. Although, I can't help but feel it nuked the fridge a bit.
I liked Kylo's development, I think he makes a fine douchebag. Finn and Rose really put a damper on that Finn/Poe ship, but people are holding out hope. I like Rose's voice though, I think she'll make a fine voice actor. Rey putting on weight really did wonders physically. I'm not sure how that's relevant to anything, but Daisy Ridley had already put her stamp on the character during The Force Awakens. Oh, and Vice Admiral Holdo was a total badass. I'm 100% certain I know who I am if I was a Star Wars character.
If I were to rank the films, it would go like this:
With Solo coming out soon, I bet those rankings would change up a bit. And... that's it! Whew! Wrapped up and tied with a little bow.
Thank you to those who made it to the end. Let me know what you guys think about The Last Jedi in the comments section. If you would like to talk about the earlier philosophical questions more, then I'm down with that too. Hit me up in the comments section and let's discuss.
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