When Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi arrived in theatres in December 2017, it was one of the most anticipated films of the decade. Following the triumphant return of the saga in The Force Awakens, expectations were sky-high for the next chapter. Directed and written by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi promised to answer burning questions about Rey’s origins, Luke Skywalker’s fate, and the future of the Jedi. What fans got was a bold, daring, and often divisive entry that challenged assumptions, subverted expectations, and redefined what a Star Wars film could be.
More than any other installment in the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi explores the themes of legacy, failure, and transformation. It’s a film that reveres the past but is not afraid to question it, pushing characters and audiences alike to confront uncomfortable truths. For some, this made it a masterpiece; for others, a departure from tradition. But whether loved or contested, its impact on the Star Wars saga is undeniable.
Picking Up Where We Left Off
The Last Jedi begins immediately after the events of The Force Awakens. The galaxy is in turmoil. The First Order, having destroyed the New Republic’s capital with Starkiller Base, is sweeping across the galaxy, while the Resistance — under the command of General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) — struggles to survive.
At the same time, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has finally found the legendary Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on the remote planet of Ahch-To. With the galaxy in peril, she hopes Luke will return and help restore the Jedi Order. But the man she finds is not the hero of legend. Haunted by past failures — particularly the fall of his nephew Ben Solo to the dark side — Luke has exiled himself and rejected the Jedi way. He believes the Jedi must end, convinced that their legacy has brought more harm than good.
This is the first of many subversions The Last Jedi introduces: Luke Skywalker, the hopeful farm boy who once saved his father from the dark side, is now a disillusioned hermit who wants nothing more to do with the Force. It’s a radical reimagining of a beloved hero — and a central thread in the film’s exploration of legacy and failure.
Rey, Luke, and the Burden of the Past
The dynamic between Rey and Luke is one of the film’s most compelling aspects. Rey, desperate for belonging and guidance, is frustrated by Luke’s refusal to train her. Luke, meanwhile, sees in Rey’s raw power the same potential for destruction he once saw in Ben Solo — a mistake that cost him dearly.
Eventually, Luke agrees to teach Rey three lessons about the Force, but not in the way she expects. He dismantles many of the Jedi myths, revealing their arrogance and failures. He points out that even at the height of their power, the Jedi allowed Darth Sidious to rise and destroy the Republic. “The legacy of the Jedi is failure,” he tells Rey — a sobering perspective from the galaxy’s greatest Jedi hero.
Rey, however, remains undeterred. She senses the conflict within Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and believes she can bring him back to the light, just as Luke once redeemed Darth Vader. This hope drives her to leave Ahch-To and confront Kylo directly — a choice that mirrors Luke’s decision to face Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, though with very different consequences.
Luke’s arc reaches its turning point when he is visited by the ghost of Yoda (Frank Oz). In one of the film’s most powerful scenes, Yoda reminds Luke that failure is the greatest teacher. “We are what they grow beyond,” he says, urging Luke to accept that his students will surpass him. It’s a beautiful reflection on mentorship, legacy, and letting go — and it reignites Luke’s spark of hope.
Kylo Ren and the Destruction of Old Powers
If Luke’s journey is about learning from the past, Kylo Ren’s is about destroying it. Throughout The Last Jedi, Kylo struggles with his identity as both Ben Solo and apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). His hatred of his former self fuels his anger, but his attachment to Rey complicates his path.
Rey and Kylo share a mysterious Force bond, allowing them to communicate across vast distances. These scenes — intimate, emotional, and deeply human — explore the duality of light and dark and suggest a possible redemption for Kylo. Rey believes he can be saved; Kylo, however, sees a chance to reshape the galaxy on his terms.
The pivotal moment comes during Rey’s confrontation with Snoke. In a shocking twist, Kylo betrays his master, killing Snoke in a dramatic lightsaber reversal. Many viewers expected this act to mark Kylo’s redemption, but Johnson subverts the trope: instead of turning to the light, Kylo seizes power for himself. He offers Rey a place at his side, urging her to “let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” Rey refuses, setting the stage for a new conflict — one not dictated by Sith or Jedi, but by new ideologies and choices.
Kylo’s rise to Supreme Leader marks a shift in the saga. He is no longer just a Vader imitator; he is his own villain, driven not by loyalty to the dark side but by a desire to break from all that came before.
The Resistance on the Brink
While Rey and Kylo’s stories unfold, the Resistance faces its darkest hour. Pursued relentlessly by the First Order’s fleet, their dwindling ships are low on fuel and hope. General Leia is incapacitated after a devastating attack, leaving Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) in command.
Holdo’s cautious strategy clashes with hotshot pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), whose impulsiveness leads to disastrous consequences. Poe stages a mutiny, convinced that Holdo is abandoning the fleet, only to learn that she has a daring plan to evacuate the survivors to a hidden base on Crait.
This subplot explores leadership, sacrifice, and the consequences of recklessness. Poe, once a swashbuckling hero, must learn that heroism is not always about daring charges but about survival and trust. Holdo’s ultimate sacrifice — piloting her ship at lightspeed into the First Order fleet — is one of the film’s most breathtaking moments and a testament to quiet, selfless heroism.
Meanwhile, Finn (John Boyega) and new character Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) embark on a mission to disable the First Order’s hyperspace tracker. Their journey to the casino city of Canto Bight is a divisive subplot, but it enriches the film’s worldbuilding and explores broader themes of war, profit, and exploitation. It also pushes Finn’s character forward, transforming him from reluctant participant to committed Resistance fighter.
The Battle of Crait and Luke’s Final Stand
The film’s climax unfolds on the mineral planet Crait, where the remnants of the Resistance make a desperate last stand against Kylo Ren’s forces. Outnumbered and outgunned, their situation appears hopeless — until Luke Skywalker appears.
Luke’s arrival is one of the film’s most iconic moments. He confronts Kylo, offering himself as a distraction while the Resistance escapes. Their showdown is steeped in symbolism: Kylo, blinded by rage, seeks to destroy the past, while Luke, calm and centred, embodies the enduring power of hope.
Then comes the twist: Luke is not physically present. He is projecting himself across the galaxy using an advanced Force technique, sacrificing his life force to buy the Resistance time. As the battle ends, Luke peacefully becomes one with the Force, gazing into the twin suns of Ahch-To — a poetic callback to his first scene in A New Hope.
Luke’s sacrifice cements his legacy. Though he once believed the Jedi should end, he realises that the spark of hope they represent must endure. “The Rebellion is reborn today,” he tells Kylo. “The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.”
Themes: Failure, Legacy, and Renewal
The Last Jedi is deeply thematic, weaving together multiple threads that explore the nature of failure, the weight of legacy, and the possibility of renewal.
- Failure as a Teacher: Nearly every major character experiences failure — Luke with Ben, Rey with Kylo, Poe with his mutiny, Finn with his mission. Yet these failures are not endings but opportunities for growth. This message is one of the film’s most profound contributions to Star Wars’ mythology.
- Legacy and Change: The film questions the worship of the past. Luke dismantles the myth of the Jedi, Kylo seeks to destroy old institutions, and Rey learns that her power and worth are not defined by her lineage. It’s a bold statement that Star Wars is not just about bloodlines or nostalgia — it’s about ideals and choices.
- Hope and Rebirth: Despite its darker tone, The Last Jedi is ultimately a story of hope. Luke’s sacrifice reignites the Resistance, Rey embraces her role as the future of the Jedi, and even a stable boy on Canto Bight, inspired by the legend of Luke Skywalker, uses the Force — symbolising that the spark of rebellion and the Force itself live on in ordinary people.
Legacy and Impact
The Last Jedi was both a critical darling and a lightning rod for debate. Critics praised its bold storytelling, complex characters, and thematic depth. It earned over $1.3 billion at the box office and received multiple award nominations. However, its subversions of fan expectations — particularly regarding Luke and Rey’s parentage — divided audiences, sparking intense discussion about the direction of the franchise.
Regardless of opinion, The Last Jedi undeniably expanded the Star Wars mythos in daring ways. It challenged the series to grow beyond its past, embracing change while honouring tradition. Its influence continues to shape discussions of what Star Wars is — and what it can become.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is one of the most ambitious and thought-provoking films in the saga. It takes risks, confronts sacred myths, and pushes its characters — and its audience — to reconsider what they think they know about the Force, heroism, and destiny. It’s not a comfortable film, nor is it meant to be. Instead, it’s a film about learning from the past without being bound by it, about finding strength in failure, and about the eternal power of hope.
In the end, The Last Jedi reminds us that the Force belongs to no one — not the Jedi, not the Sith, not a chosen few. It belongs to everyone. And as long as there are those willing to stand against darkness, the light will never be extinguished.
