Honestly, it’s been years, and we’re still fighting about it. You know the one. Star Wars VIII, better known as The Last Jedi, landed in theaters back in 2017 like a thermal detonator tossed into a crowded cantina. Some people walked out feeling like they’d just seen the future of sci-fi. Others? They felt like Rian Johnson had personally walked into their childhood bedrooms and smashed all their vintage Kenner action figures.
It’s wild.
Even now, in 2026, the mention of this movie in any corner of the internet is basically a bat-signal for a three-hour argument. It’s the film that gave us Porgs, salt-flats combat, and a version of Luke Skywalker that nobody—including Mark Hamill at first—really saw coming. Whether you love the subversion or hate the "deconstruction," there is no denying that Star Wars VIII changed the trajectory of the franchise forever.
What Most People Get Wrong About Luke Skywalker
Let’s talk about the Bantha in the room.
The biggest point of contention in Star Wars VIII is, without a doubt, Luke Skywalker. When we left him at the end of The Force Awakens, he was standing on a cliffside looking majestic and mysterious. Then, the sequel starts, and he literally chucks his old lightsaber over his shoulder.
It was a shock.
A lot of fans felt betrayed. They wanted the "superhero" Luke from the expanded universe—the guy who could move black holes with his mind. Instead, we got a hermit who drinks green milk and thinks the Jedi should end. Mark Hamill famously told director Rian Johnson, "I fundamentally disagree with virtually everything you’ve decided for my character." He even joked that he had to treat the character as "Jake Skywalker" just to get through the performance.
But here’s the thing: people often forget how Luke’s arc actually finishes.
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He doesn't stay a hermit. He doesn't die in a hole. He performs the most "Jedi" act in the history of the series. By projecting himself across the galaxy to face Kylo Ren, he saves the Resistance without swinging a blade in anger. It’s total non-violence. It’s peak Jedi philosophy.
Is it a bummer to see your hero fail? Yeah, totally. But The Last Jedi argues that failure is the greatest teacher. Yoda literally says it. If you look at it through that lens, the movie isn't trying to ruin Luke; it’s trying to make him human.
The Critics vs. The Fans: A Great Divide
If you look at the numbers, things get even weirder.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the "Tomatometer" sits at a glowing 93% from critics. They loved the cinematography. They loved the risks. They loved the fact that it didn't just feel like a remake of The Empire Strikes Back.
The audience score? That’s a different story.
It hovered around 42% for a long time. Some of that was genuine disappointment from fans who didn't like the direction of the story. Some of it was, unfortunately, "review bombing" from certain corners of the web that didn't like the diverse cast or the prominent roles of characters like Rose Tico and Admiral Holdo.
Why the disconnect?
Basically, critics watch thousands of movies and they get bored of the same "hero's journey" beats. They saw Star Wars VIII as a breath of fresh air. Fans, on the other hand, are invested in the lore. They spent years theorizing about Snoke’s backstory and Rey’s parents. When the movie answered those questions with "He’s just a guy who died" and "They were nobodies," it felt like a slap in the face to the theory-crafting community.
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Snoke, Rey, and the "Nobody" Problem
Remember the Snoke theories? He was Darth Plagueis. He was an ancient Sith. He was a Palpatine clone (well, okay, that one actually became true later, sort of).
Then Kylo Ren just... cuts him in half mid-sentence.
It was a bold move. By killing the "Big Bad" in the middle of the trilogy, Rian Johnson forced Kylo Ren to step up and be the actual antagonist. He wasn't just a lackey anymore. This move made the stakes feel unpredictable, even if it left a lot of people wondering what the point of Snoke was in the first place.
Then there’s Rey.
In Star Wars VIII, we’re told her parents were "filthy junk traders" who sold her for drinking money. Honestly, that’s a powerful message. It says you don't need to be a Skywalker or a Kenobi to be important. The Force can choose anyone. Of course, The Rise of Skywalker eventually walked this back by making her a Palpatine, but for a couple of years there, Star Wars felt like it belonged to everyone again.
The Casino Subplot: Was it Pointless?
Okay, let's be real. The Canto Bight sequence is the part everyone skips on rewatch.
Finn and Rose go to a casino planet to find a codebreaker. They meet a stuttering Benicio Del Toro. They release some space-horses. It takes up a huge chunk of the second act.
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A lot of people say this plotline is "pointless" because they ultimately fail their mission. But that’s actually the point. The Last Jedi is a movie about people making mistakes. Poe Dameron makes a mistake by being a "hotshot" pilot and getting people killed. Finn makes a mistake by thinking he can just run away.
Even if it’s a bit clunky, the Canto Bight sequence is where Finn finally decides to stop being "a guy who wants to find Rey" and starts being "a guy who believes in the Resistance." It’s his moral awakening.
Visuals That Still Hold Up
Say what you want about the script, but visually? Star Wars VIII is a masterpiece.
Think about the "Holdo Maneuver." When Admiral Holdo rams the Raddus through the First Order fleet at lightspeed, the cinema went silent. Literally. The sound cuts out for several seconds. It was one of the most stunning things ever put on a movie screen.
And the throne room fight? The one with the red-clad Praetorian guards? It’s arguably the best-choreographed action sequence in the entire sequel trilogy. The use of color—the deep reds against the black—is incredible. Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin really brought a distinct, painterly look to the galaxy that felt more sophisticated than what we usually see in blockbusters.
How to Re-evaluate the Movie Today
If you haven't seen The Last Jedi in a few years, it might be time for a rewatch. Distance helps. Now that the sequel trilogy is complete, you can see how it fits into the larger puzzle.
- Focus on the themes, not the lore. Stop worrying about where Snoke came from and look at what the movie is saying about legacy and heroism.
- Pay attention to the Kylo/Rey connection. Their "Force-Skype" sessions are some of the best character work in the series.
- Watch the background. The practical effects, the creature designs, and the sets on Ahch-To are genuinely beautiful.
At its core, Star Wars VIII is a movie about growing up. It’s about realizing that your heroes aren't perfect and that you have to find your own way. It’s messy, it’s frustrating, and it’s beautiful.
Maybe that’s exactly what Star Wars needed.
To really get the most out of your next viewing, try watching it back-to-back with the documentary The Director and the Jedi. It shows the actual friction on set and the creative process behind those controversial choices. Seeing the "why" behind the "what" can change your perspective on the whole thing. And honestly, even if you still hate it after that, at least the Porgs are still cute.