5 questions we have after Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Patrick Stuart

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

After Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we are left with questions that desperately need answering.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi changed everything we knew about a galaxy far, far away. Rian Johnson took chances and man, did they pay off.

The only problem is he left J.J. Abrams with many loose ends to tie up and questions to answer in Episode IX.

Starting with the former Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. He took the mantle of Supreme Leader by ‘Force” after the death of Snoke; we can only wonder what was going through his mind.

After throwing Hux around a couple of times and giving him the Force choke his grandfather always did, we get a sense of his mental state. One of complete Darkness and quest for total galaxy domination.

Why wasn’t Kylo Ren able to tell Luke wasn’t really there, on Crait? The most significant problem surrounding this is the lightsaber Luke held while “fighting” Kylo Ren. It was the blue weapon that was torn in two during the previous scene, by Rey and Kylo Ren.

We were not given a legitimate reason as to why Kylo Ren didn’t notice that Luke wasn’t there. The first possibility was that Kylo was so overcome by the Dark Side that he didn’t even notice the “projected” Luke standing right in front of him.

He was so blinded by his hate and anger for Luke and the Resistance, that was solely focused on one thing; destroying it all, not caring who or what got in his way.

The second possibility could be that the projection of Luke was active in the Force. Whenever Kylo Ren reached out through the force, he sensed his Master just like before.

When Luke walked out of the cave, Kylo Ren might have been leery of him is not real, but the Force told him differently. This situation still doesn’t explain the aspect of the lightsaber.

What do you think happened? Was Kylo blinded by hate and anger or did Luke’s projection seem real through the force? Is Kylo Ren going to carry the pain of his father and now his uncle with him. Or, did he let the past die?

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

How will Leia’s character officially be sent off?

Throughout the days and weeks leading up to The Last Jedi, we were told that Leia’s sendoff would be epic and worthy of her character.

We first see the potential end, as Kylo Ren begins the assault on Leia’s cruiser, where we look at her blown out into space, but since it wasn’t by Kylo Ren, she deserves a more proper ending.

As the movie came to an end and we see space shuttles getting blown out of the sky, we were thinking, maybe this could be where we see that very send off. But, that ending wouldn’t be justifiable for the end of Princess Leia either.

How is Disney/Lucasfilm going to bring an end to the Princess? Will her send-off be on the big screen or will we see her story arc come to a close in a book, novel, or even the opening crawl of Episode IX?

Now, there is going to be a year and a half of dead space between movies where gaps need to be filled, so hopefully, the Lucasfilm story group has a master plan. We all are owed a proper retirement, of sorts, to Leia.

Since Carrie Fisher passed away before they had started the filming process for the unnamed film of Episode IX, its unlikely Lucasfilm has much footage to use.

The likely venue will be a novel which focuses on her death and how it will impact the Resistance — now Rebels again.

Are we going to see a sacrificial death to protect the Resistance? Will it be Kylo that kills her, or something else?

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Will Rey carry the torch of the Jedi order?

As The Last Jedi came to a close, we see the passing of the most iconic heroes of Star Wars. Luke Skywalker becoming one with Force, with true peace and purpose.

To ensure the survival of the Jedi and the Resistance, he sacrificed himself to buy them time. Luke Skywalker was a hero once again.

With the passing of Luke, will Rey become the next great Jedi to create a new Order? Will it be immediately after this movie, in an attempt to fight Kylo, his army of Stormtroopers, and the resources of the First Order?

Or, will it be years down the road after The First Order is defeated? May she even follow Luke’s philosophy and end the Jedi Order?

Most likely, she will create a new Order after the Resistance defeats the First Order. One of balance and clarity, unlike the Jedi before her. She will have an insane arsenal at her disposal, with the Jedi texts she scavenged from Ahch-To island.

With Anakin, Yoda, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and now Luke all as Force ghosts, Rey will be able to talk with them through the Force, the amount of knowledge available to her is astronomical.

With the combined teachings of these great Jedi, maybe an Order, worthy enough, can be created to be the Light that counteracts the Dark.

There is also the chance that there will be a lot of Force ghost bickering, but hopefully, they are enlightened enough to rise above that. It would be must-see cinema, that’s for sure.

"Take a seat, young Skywalker."

Do you think Rey will become like Yoda and be able to lead the Jedi out fo Darkness and back into the Light? Or will she just fight and defeat the First Order, fading into existence, going about her own business?

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Let’s go, Chromedome

Could Finn’s arch nemesis: Captain Phasma, still be alive? After the duel, Finn left her helmet broken and exposed but was that fall enough to kill her? Highly unlikely.

Phasma was given, through her book and comics, the persona of a chew through steel kind of woman, showcasing her pure grit and determination to get things done. It’s what motivates and drives the Captain of the First Order of army.

With armor constructed from Emperor Palpatine’s former yacht, which can deflect blaster bolts with ease.

Also, with the backstory of the “becoming” of Phasma, it’s unlikely that a fall is going to be what does her in. Just like any other thing regarding Star Wars, until we receive official confirmation, we cannot believe anything we see.

Phasma has an origin story much like Tarkin, being brought up on a backwater planet, forced to survive in harsh environments. She has to become more than just a Captain in the First Order. Even Tarkin was better than that; he climbed the ranks to Grand Moff. Grand Moff Phasma has a nice ring to it.

Seeing her come back from this “certain” death, climbing the ranks of the First Order, continuing to be the equal to Finn in the Resistance, would be worthwhile, setting up a rematch.

Do you think Phasma survived that fall, or did she succumb to the injuries and fire and die? Will we ever see “Chromedome” again?

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Where is Luke Skywalker’s green lightsaber in Star Wars: The Last Jedi?

1983, the last time we saw the green blade of Luke Skywalker grace the big screen in “real-time.” The question is, where is the classic lightsaber now? Why did we only see it in flashbacks during Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Just like Luke’s X- Wing, maybe he has hidden it away, in a place where only he can find it. Or, did he toss it over the cliff as he did with his father’s weapon?

As Rey was bearing down on Luke with her staff, then the blue Skywalker blade, we expected Luke to use the Force, calling the familiar weapon to his hand, defending himself.

The location of the lightsaber will most certainly play an essential role in the film(s) to come. It’s possible Luke hid it in an extra special place, such as another ancient Jedi temple or even inside of his sunken X-Wing. Either way, getting to it isn’t going to be easy.

Hiding it inside his starfighter would be very symbolic, and another throwback to The Empire Strikes Back, just like many other instances in The Last Jedi. If it’s hidden in a different location, maybe we will be able to uncover something new we didn’t know about Luke. Or, discover another ancient Jedi or even Sith world.

More from Dork Side of the Force

Regardless, Rey needs a new lightsaber if she is going to fight Kylo Ren, and Luke’s is the only other one we know of that exists out in the Star Wars universe. Better yet, maybe we get to see Rey create her own.

Unfortunately, the Jedi pilgrimage planet of Illum was ransacked by the Empire, then undoubtedly turned into Starkiller Base.

Also, the ancient planet Jedha, which contained those unique crystals, was destroyed by the Empire during the events of Rogue One.

So, accessing a kyber crystal will be difficult for Rey and other future Jedi learners she may train.

Or, maybe Rey uses the kyber crystal of the Anakin’s broken blade instead, with the green-blade long gone. Imagine a double bladed pink lightsaber made out of her staff. Now that would be awesome.

Next: 50 Most Memorable Moments from Star Wars Rebels

Do you think these questions are warranted in asking following The Last Jedi? Do you have questions of your own? Tell us in the comments below and on our social media pages.

Patrick Stuart