[Opinion] Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Why it’s time for the end of the Jedi

Today saw the long-awaited release of the first trailer for The Last Jedi; the eighth episode in the Skywalker Saga. Based on internet reactions, the world is clearly excited for this movie. Not much was revealed pertaining to the story in the teaser, but we did get one thread: Luke Skywalker no longer wishes for the Return of the Jedi.

This is a far cry from his feelings in the original trilogy where he wanted nothing more than to be a Jedi. We got a glimpse of this change of heart at the end of The Force Awakens when Rey finally located Luke and tried to return his original Lightsaber. He didn’t look happy.

The final line of the recently released trailer for The Last Jedi is the most revelatory of the 2-minute teaser and had me wondering exactly what brought about Luke’s change of heart.

“There’s one thing I know to be true. It’s time for the Jedi to end.”

First some speculation, and then we’ll talk about this subject in a more historical context.

Based off of statements made by Han Solo and Leia Organa in The Force Awakens we know Luke sought to restore the Jedi Order after the events of Episode VI. One of his pupils was Han and Leia’s son, Ben, whom for one reason or another betrayed Luke. It’s very likely that Ben, taking on the moniker Kylo Ren, either murdered the other pupils or had them join him as the Knights of Ren. Either way, it all ended pretty grimly.

Between this event, and Luke’s own origins as the son of Jedi Knight turned Sith Lord, Anakin Skywalker AKA Darth Vader, it's understandable that he would feel a little jaded. His training as a Jedi was rather short-lived, highly unconventional, and lacked greater context. Whilst he was given the gift of training under Yoda and taught the wisdom of the Jedi Master, the rest of the time it’s been bleak. Therefore, it’s understandable that he would want the Jedi to end: for him, no good can come of it.

This is further compounded by extended universe stories which become even more personal for Luke. Before Marvel’s current slate of Star Wars comics, Dark Horse was publishing content telling stories of a galaxy far, far away. One of these series was known as Dark Empire. Set after the events of the Battle of Endor, a cloned Palpatine returns to lead the Empire with his new apprentice: Luke Skywalker himself. Luke had initially joined Palpatine in the belief that he could bring the Empire down from within. However, he is unfortunately swayed and consumed by the Dark Side of the Force.

This goes back to the original trilogy themselves, particularly in Return of the Jedi when the Emperor invites Luke to kill him, knowing if he did so he would have turned to the Dark Side like his father. Luke takes a swing at him with his Lightsaber, which is blocked by Vader. Still, he fully intended on murdering Palpatine, which — whilst no one would have shed a tear — would not have been the Jedi way. It was an act of anger, not of justice. Luke most likely understands this, and possibly even sees this in Rey when she comes looking for him. The new poster for The Last Jedi even hints at Rey struggling with the temptation herself.

In a wild theory, maybe we don’t know the full story of Luke’s time reforming the Jedi Order. Is it possible that he himself was even teaching a young Ben Solo and other Padawans the way of the Dark Side? It is known that Sith apprentices tend to betray their Masters. It’s possible Ben Solo’s fall from grace and becoming Kylo Ren wasn’t necessarily all his fault.

There’s so much more to speculate on why Luke believes what he does and where we find him in The Last Jedi. Comment below if you’d like to add your own theory into the mix!