Yoda Returns

The Last Jedi

We’ve got 48 days to go before The Rise of Skywalker – including this one, 48 more entries on this list. Today is the first of many scenes from my favourite Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi. For me, it’s a Star Wars flick that feels deeply embedded in a galaxy far, far away, beautifully shot and with powerful messages.

Coupled with that admission, I love what Rian Johnson did with the character of Luke Skywalker. JJ Abrams told us with the first line of crawl in The Force Awakens that the Jedi master had vanished. Luke had already run away from the conflict and Johnson was effectively tasked with telling us why the hero of the Original Trilogy had turned his back on his family.

What we find on Ahch-To is a man disconnected from the force, directionless and firm in the belief that his status as a legend had ultimately led to his and the galaxy’s downfall. The 30 years since Return of the Jedi have not been kind.

More on Luke and his journey through The Last Jedi later in this list. My 48th favourite Skywalker saga moment is Luke’s turning point. Master Yoda makes a much needed to return to impart wisdom on his former apprentice – a spot of therapy from the wisest Jedi of them all.

Chills reverberated down my spine from the moment that the camera panned across and we glimpsed the back of Yoda’s head – distinctive pointy ears giving the game away.

What follows is a two and a half minute scene that’s Yoda’s greatest hits. Our little green friend is on form. Emphatically demonstrating the power of force ghosts – which sets an exciting precedent going into episode nine – Yoda sets summons lightning to ignite the first Jedi Temple and follows up with some witty dialogue, a mischievous laugh at Luke’s expense and thoughts to inspire.

“The greatest teacher failure is” – it’s just what Luke needs to hear at that moment. Fresh from reliving his greatest defeat after telling Rey how he lost Ben Solo to the dark side, Luke is reminded that it’s this failure that makes his support of Rey and the Resistance all the more important.

The Jedi Order ended when Luke turned his back on the force. Rey now has the Jedi texts and will carry the legacy forward, but she needs help. Luke is Rey and the Resistance’s last hope and must not simply be defined by his greatest failure. It’s time for him to look at “the need in front of his nose” and provide the spark to light the fire against the First Order and, in doing so, atone for his mistakes.

It’s a powerful message and one of Yoda’s most poignant lessons in the saga.