Luke Skywalker


I think most of us know that the depiction of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi is wrong. The true defining characteristic of Luke Skywalker is redemption. Luke Skywalker believed that Redemption was possible for those that turned to the dark side. This was clearly missing from Luke in The Last Jedi. Regardless of the evil acts that Darth Vader committed Luke Skywalker believed that his father could still be redeemed and could be turned back to the good side. Luke Skywalker felt the good in his father as his mother had felt years before. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda believed that this wasn’t possible, they thought that Anakin had been Twisted by the dark side, and that the good person that Anakin was had been destroyed. The belief in Redemption was ultimately an important part of Luke Skywalker’s philosophy as a Jedi. And it was even something that the new Jedi Order in the expanded Universe adopted.

Regardless if it was possible for Ben solo to fall to the dark side, Luke Skywalker still would have believed that it would have been possible to redeem him. Luke Skywalker proved that Redemption from the dark side is possible. Luke even proved his father wrong especially when his father Darth Vader pacifically told him that he thought it was too late for him. Indeed the dark side is powerful with its seductive nature. But still if there is some good present then Redemption is possible.

It is clear that the old Jedi Order believed that in most situations Redemption wasn't possible for those that turned to the dark side. As Yoda said once you start down the dark path forever will it dominate your destiny. Obi-Wan Kenobi especially said that Vader was more machine than man, twisted and evil. Obi-Wan Kenobi believed that there wasn't any good in Anakin Skywalker left. Indeed Redemption and its attachment to love, and compassion is the link that the Jedi Order missed. As soon as the old Jedi Order came across the dark side they sought to contain or destroy it. The force user can fall to the dark side for a number of reasons, for Anakin Skywalker it was his fear of loss.

There is indeed a contradiction to Luke Skywalker’s character in The Last Jedi. Redemption from the dark side is always possible, Luke Skywalker proved it in Return of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker rejected the dark side, and in the end helped his father redeem himself. So regardless of what potential darkness Luke Skywalker saw in Ben Solo he would have never sought to kill him. Instead Luke Skywalker would have done his best to guide him down the Light Side path, and if Ben ever turned Luke would have attempted to redeem him.

The Last Jedi is such a wasted opportunity. Luke Skywalker should have been portrayed as a wise honorable and Noble Jedi Master. Seeking knowledge and guidance in the force. Luke Skywalker should have been ready to train Rey as his Apprentice. And in the future Luke Skywalker also should have been able to Faithfully pass the torch onto Rey. But instead in The Last Jedi we're left with a twisted depiction of Luke Skywalker, as well as Luke Skywalker needlessly sacrificing his life. A true Jedi never gives up especially one as Noble and wise as Luke Skywalker. Because Luke Skywalker believed in Redemption from the Darkside he was the most wise Jedi of his time. And he was able to do what both his mentors Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda thought was impossible. Luke Skywalker helped his father Anakin find Redemption and turn back to the light. He then went on to create a new Jedi Order. This new order would learn from the old Jedi Order and fix all the mistakes they made.
Instead, in TLJ, He just chooses to burn the whole place down and quit being Jedi all together.
He thinks he only has 2 options: either have the Jedi Order (buts its the old one with all the flaws) or he destroys the Jedi Order. Which doesn't make sense. He could easily rebuild the Jedi Order to be better and to be in his vision. Why would he make this weird choice? He truly dealt in absolutes. And its NOT his character.

Yoda and Obi Wan both endured hell for 2 decades. They watched the order that consisted of what they called friends and allies and even brothers be burnt to the ground to the near oblivion abyss of extinction, by the very institution and Republic they swore allegiance to.
Yoda saw that the galaxy had turned their back on the once champions of the galaxy bringers of peace and democracy and left them for dead.
Obi Wan saw his brother turn to the very thing he hated most within his broken and shattered heart.
However both returned to prominence once again to play thier role as mentors to the true chosen one.

Luke loses an academy of like 20 students and he whines like a bitch.

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'Twisted' indeed. The real Luke sensed a little bit of good left in Vader and decided not to kill him. It's exactly the opposite with fake Luke who sensed a little bit of evil in Ben Solo and decided to kill him. So if there's a little bit of good left he believes in redemption, but if it's mostly good and just a bit of evil he thinks there is no redemption? Luke would have to be a schizo to have such contradictory beliefs.

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Yeah... I guess everyone could think about this and know it was a bad choice. I dont understand how they let Rian Johnson get away with character-death like this.

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The fact that luke will not believe in Ben solo being redeemed makes me think of another thing. Luke never had his own kids and I am sure was around to some degree when Ben was growing up so i am sure he loved him. You would think this would make him want even more to redeem Kylo. He was so certain he would redeem a father he never knew but not the boy he knew and cared for. Basically Luke has become the obi wan of this trilogy who doubts kylo can be redeemed and rey is the luke of this trilogy who believes she can redeem him. Yes we saw rey walk away at the end of the movie when kylo force appeared to her holding the dice but I think she will still pursue trying to influence him in the next movie. Also going off topic but I sort of have a book question. I know with the other movies there were prequel books. Does anyone know one involving kylo ren?

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I think it is a mixed feminism and business decision to go that way.

I bet Disney polled their key demographics, which is teenagers, and found out nobody wanted old people to act all wise and respectable. They want the parental figures (Luke and Snoke) to be mean, weak and beaten, young heroes to shine and take the lead.

After all Disney can't rely on old star wars fans forever.

Then again forgetting to tell a decent story and go for cheap laughs is a good way to make star wars nothing more than a popcorn movie.

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"After all Disney can't rely on old star wars fans forever."

Disney doesn't appear to realize that they never had to. The older fans had passed their SW passion to their children years ago. Their children are beginning to pass it to their own children now.

Disney appears to believe it's necessary to kill off the original heroes in order to have new ones.

I read a quote from Kennedy praising Johnson's pro-feminism stance so you're probably right about that too. It's possible to have diversity and heroes and heroines in a movie. But, it's not necessary to put down one group to raise another.

If we fans feel sickened by this movie, then George Lucas must be going nuts. He made a huge mistake selling to Disney.

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I bet Lucas is having mixed feelings. On one hand it is his life's work being ruined, on the other hands it is like "You think other people can do better than me, haha, I bet you want me back now".

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I don't have the impression that he believed that he wouldn't be a part of the creative process for the new trilogy. He was excited about sharing his ideas for the new trilogy to Disney. And he is still a creative consultant.

Disney pushed him out.

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If only we could have George back...

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If Disney is going to run the star wars franchise to the ground, which seems likely going to happen. I bet the third movie is not going to be much different from the first one (popcorn teen action comedy). It probably ends up nobody will have an lasting impression of new characters. At the current state of franchise people will probably still watch the third one, maybe not in theaters, but I doubt anybody is going to watch the Han Solo movie.

Then there is a chance Lucas will be brought back on board or Lucas could buy back the franchise at a fraction of what he paid for.

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"Then there is a chance Lucas will be brought back on board or Lucas could buy back the franchise at a fraction of what he paid for."

I like those proposals.

Maybe the thing to do was for Lucas to hire his own creative team for Lucasfilm to carry on the company without him. And allow ownership to pass to his wife and children after he dies.

I hadn't thought about it before, but you're right in that Disney has dummied down the storytelling like many other movies have been. That's the main reason why I just watch quality TV shows like Game of Thrones or The Handmaid Tales.

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