If I Could Change One Thing-#1 The Last Jedi
If I Could Change One Thing is a series where a single change is suggested for a film or television show. The change is not allowed to materially alter the outcome of story arcs or the people involved (actors, directors,writers,etc.).
The Problem
We all know The Last Jedi was a divisive film. Arguments about TLJ continue to rage on all over the internet a year and a half after its release. Many of the largest complaints revolve around the treatment of Luke Skywalker.
Some fans believe that Luke was treated as a joke, or an afterthought. The actor Mark Hamill even stated that he fundamentally disagreed with writer/director Rian Johnson on how the character was being portrayed. Many fans felt that the end of Luke’s story was almost inconsequential.
The other side would argue that Luke’s portrayal was in line with the story that was started in The Force Awakens. This is how somebody could logically react to a traumatic event. The disappointment and self-loathing that comes with letting so many people down. especially close family, could lead to a self imposed exile. These fans feel like Luke was given a beautiful conclusion in front of the twin suns, resembling the iconic pair from his home world of Tatooine.
I would identify more with the former camp. I was not pleased with the handling of Luke, but I believe I have one change that could have united both of these rival factions.
The Change
One of the coolest things about the Return of the Jedi is that you see how Luke has progressed in the force between that story and The Empire Strikes Back. When he goes into Jabba’s palace, he’s force choking and mind tricking fools left and right. It was a huge jump from when we last saw him. He had become a Jedi Knight. Many were hoping was to see what the jump from Jedi Knight to Jedi Master looked like in this new trilogy. My change would show this leveling up and also provide a callback to one of the most pivotal moments in Luke’s Jedi training.
Luke force pulls his X-Wing out of the water on Ach-To and flies to Crait to confront Kylo Ren.
That’s the change. Luke realizes what he must do. The John Williams score swells, and he easily pulls his X-Wing out the water as you see his saber dangling at his hip. He was unable to do this on Dagobah. Now, he doesn’t even have to close his eyes and focus like Yoda did. He just has a look of renewed determination in his eyes.
He would then travel to Crait and the story would play out the same as in the original movie. Except this time he’s really there. He shows you how powerful he has become when he survives a barrage of fire from the First Order. He then ignites his GREEN lightsaber and shows you how advanced he is as he toys with Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel. He then sacrifices himself for the next generation of heroes to flee, just like his mentor Obi Wan Kenobi. As a wise man once said, “It’s like poetry, it rhymes”.
In my opinion Luke Skywalker deserves to go out on his shield. He deserves an epic final moment before leaving the mortal plane and likely becoming a Force ghost. If he pulled his X wing out of the water and flew to Crait he would have gotten it.
Everything else that happened to Luke in TLJ still happens. He still tosses his lightsaber (ugh), he still milks the alien, he still “trains” Rey, he still speaks with Yoda, and he still confronts Kylo on Crait. This time he just does it in person, and we get to see JEDI MASTER LUKE SKYWALKER .
