In Defense of The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi spoilers follow.

I’ve been thinking a bit about Luke in Last Jedi. Contrary to the seeming predominant perspective, I still do like Luke’s story arc in the film (as well as most of the film). The standard criticism appears to be based in outrage over the possibility that Luke would ever succumb to murderous impulse, if even temporarily, and that he would subsequently become so jaded and dejected. But Luke’s response is actually completely logical and appropriate to his personality, and Yoda even points it out. Luke has always been emotionally impetuous, leading to errors in judgement. When Ben Kenobi died, Luke couldn’t contain his emotions and drew the attention of the stormtroopers. In Empire Luke takes his lightsaber into the Force cave even after Yoda warns him not to. Then Luke chooses to leave Dagobah for Bespin even after Yoda warns him that he’s not fit for the challenge. Even in Return of the Jedi Luke allows the Emperor’s provocation to tempt him. Then Luke again turns enraged and avenges himself on Vader after being provoked by an implied threat against his sister. So not only does Luke have a history of allowing his emotions to control his actions, Yoda in Last Jedi specifically scolds Luke for always having his head in the stars instead of being more grounded and responsible. I’m completely convinced that the Yoda scene in Last Jedi is one of the most important and pivotal moments in all of Star Wars because in contrast to commonplace fan assumption that Luke became a responsible, dependable Jedi Knight following the destruction of the second Death Star, the Yoda ghost scene in Last Jedi proves that Luke never truly grew up and overcame his impulsiveness until he heard Yoda’s final lesson. After that point is when Luke, now truly a Jedi Master, visits Crait to face responsibility for, not redeem, Kylo Ren.

Furthermore, the argument that Luke Skywalker would never turn jaded and withdrawn and cloister himself away also doesn’t hold water with me. During his recovery from the wampa attack, Luke was sullen. During the victory celebration on Endor, Luke detached himself from his companions. Moreover, Yoda, who was the assertive leader of the Jedi Council and an aggressive warrior, who instigated duels against both Count Dooku & Darth Sidious, exiled himself to the remote planet Dagobah following the Clone Wars and the execution of the Jedi. His personality also changed from being emphatic to being distracted, jaded, and nearly senile. So Luke Skywalker’s personality in The Last Jedi absolutely has prior precedent. Yoda exiled himself and became a grumpy old man after the Jedi he was responsible for were executed. Luke behaves exactly the same way.

And if I’m being provocative, I’ll go one step further. The common assumption is that Luke died at the end of the film, abandoning his corporeal form to join the Force. However, the film previously demonstrated that teleporting matter with the Force is possible. Droplets of water transferred across space from Rey on Ahch-To to Kylo Ren on Snoke’s star destroyer. So viewers can’t entirely dismiss the possibility that Luke Skywalker actually bodily teleported himself off Ahch-To at the end of The Last Jedi so that he may re-appear alive and well in the forthcoming Episode IX.