The Jedi Order is a flawed organized religion like any other, but it's not beyond saving, and The Force Awakens, Luke has initiated the beginning of a new Jedi Order, but fails. Surely, there would have been plenty of exciting content to keep devoted fans entertained, but it inevitably served its purpose through flashbacks and an audience's imagination. The gears start moving in The Empire Strikes Back with Luke training under Yoda, but this was nothing more than the setup to what audiences would miss out on post-Return of the Jedi.With everything that's happened in The Last Jedi, gears are turning. The same "spark that will light the fire that'll burn the First Order down" relates to the Jedi just as much as it is does the Resistance, and Rey is at the forefront. Where Luke may have been the titular "Last Jedi," Rey is the first of something new; and there are hints as to where this new order might be headed.This Page: The Force Awakens & The Jedi Order's Missed Potential
The Force Awakens
The title for The Force Awakens wasn't random. It was informing the audience that something is changing within in the galaxy; the Force is growing. What's more, it's growing among the most unlikely of people. Assuming what Kylo Ren said was true, Rey is nothing more than the daughter of "filthy junk traders" who sold her off to Unkar Plutt for quick dough. Not exactly the most romantic revelation, but a fitting one all the same. It's symbolic of potential; that anyoneanyonehas the potential to become something great.
This concept isn't just a major theme in The Last Jedi, but also something that gets a literal nod in the The Force Awakens. The title itself hints at things to come; that "there has been an awakening," as Snoke says. Whether you want to look at it from the narrative angle or the studio's angle, themes are shifting. Narratively, this awakening hints at a new wave of Force-sensitive individuals, starting with Rey, but not ending with Rey. She represents imminent change and the inevitability of a new Jedi Order, led by Rey, which will take inspiration from Luke Skywalker himself. It will reflect on the old ways, but will also take into more "balance" than "light." Wasting time fighting the natural darkness within has only ever led to eventual defeat (see: Anakin Skywalker).
Related: Star Wars 8 Director Compares Rey's Parents Reveal to Empire Strikes Back
From the studio angle, Disney and Lucasfilm are clearly trying to tell audiences not to worry. Yes, Episode IX will signify the end of the Skywalker Saga, but by extension, it also signifies where the extended cinematic universe will be headed. In fact, don't be surprised when Episode IX gets a title that revolves around something like A New Order, referring to the next generation, while also tying into the literal reference.
The Jedi Order's Missed Potential
So, having touched on why and how a new Jedi Order will come to be, it'll help going backwards to learn from past mistakeswhat with history tending to repeat itself. Instead of being representative of the people they were protecting, the Jedi appointed themselves as meddling outsiders - including themselves in moments of peril, but otherwise standing on the sidelines. They were more interested in unnecessary ideals (often part of dated tradition) than ones that would serve to actually push the galaxy towards balance. Where the original Je'daii focused on balance, the Jedi pivoted too closely to one extreme, putting all of their eggs into one basket and never reflecting on/learning from inherent darkness.
In fact, part of the Je'daii Code reads: "I am the revealing fire of light. I am the mystery of darkness, in balance with chaos and harmony." Yielding to one extreme denied them balance, and even Luke struggles with this in The Last Jedi, leading to an all-out suppression of his powers. The mere sight of darkness in Rey terrifies him, and subsequently scares him away from training her. On the plus side, though, this fear ultimately led to Luke and Rey understanding the importance of darkness, nodding to the past, but also hinting at what Rey might introduce to a new generation of Jedi Padawans.
Ultimately, though, the Jedi became out of touch with people in the Republic (a.k.a during the prequels), leading to collective ignorance. This resulted in their destruction, focusing so much on salvaging the Light Side of the Force that they were blinded by the Dark Side taking them over from the inside. They were incapable of transcending their stubborn, ancient M.O., and they withered away as a result.
Now, if you want to expand the Jedi influence on elements outside of the actual Jedi Order, just look to the Rebels. The Rebels represented a desperate undercurrent of possibility, but without a defined center to keep them grounded (and strong). The odds were rarely in their favor. Sure, the Empire eventually fell, but considering its indirect comeback with the First Order, the lack of stability within the Jedi Order really left the Resistance vulnerable. You can even argue that the Rebel Alliance/Resistance represented balance in the Force more than the Jedi Order ever did. They were flawed, but their ultimate goal was to take down oppression. The Jedi, on the other hand, took unrealistic measures to maintain what they believed to be balance. Which brings us to our next point...
Does the Jedi Code Need an Update?
The most recent Jedi Order was old hat. They denied basic emotions out of fear; fear that these emotions might somehow interfere with the core of the Jedi Code (which is ironic, considering that part of the Jedi Code was that "fear leads to the Dark Side"). Hell, had Anakin and Pe been able to be open about their love, they could have prevented the Category 5 hurricane that followed. This is where the new Jedi Order can learn from some massive mistakes. So, to begin, let's take a look at the Jedi Code:
"There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no ion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force."
In theory, these seem nice. But time has proven otherwise. With Rey representing the beginning of a new Jedi Order within the galaxy, she has a shot at deconstructing old ideals and reshaping them for a new era. The Jedi legacy has died, and with it, impracticality. If Rey's relationship with Kylo Ren signifies anything, it's that denying oneself an emotional response will only offer strength to the opposition.
This new Jedi Order can embrace inclusivity; not just of individuals who aren't part of some Jedi family tree, but of things denied in the past Jedi Code. Allow emotion. Allow ignorance. Allow ion and chaos. The Jedi Order, as well as the fate of the Resistance, look to benefit from a dismantled foundation. It's about embracing the Dark Side; not to feed from it, but to learn from it. It breaks away from tradition, and even takes inspiration from the Gray Jedi (which isn't directly referenced in The Last Jedi, but gets a shout-out all the same).
Related: Star Wars: Is Luke Skywalker a Gray Jedi?
The narrative themes in The Last Jedi are laid on thick. Kylo Ren tells Rey to "Let the past die." Snoke explains that Darkness and Light will rise together. So, if this new Jedi Order wants to even the odds, it needs to ditch its rose-tinted point-of-view. Rey will inevitably be at odds with how she'll influence this new Force-sensitive generation, and the balance (or lack thereof) rests on her shoulders alone. Will fear get the better of her, influencing her to revert back to the way things used to be? Or will she heed the tone laid out in the final scene of The Last Jedi, putting confidence into pure and unadulterated hope?
Assisted by Force Ghosts
Now, as inspiring as it might seem to have Rey initiate a new Jedi order, you can argue that she's hardly ready to be a leader. Yes, she's Force-sensitive, and yes, she's especially powerful, but Padawans require years of training before they can upgrade their status. Luke was an exception, but only partially. He trains to become a Jedi Knight briefly with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and then officially on Dagobah with Yoda, but the years in between weren't necessarily void of additional Yoda tutelage. Return of the Jedi and The Last Jedi don't necessarily have to be the only occasions where Yoda showed up in his ethereal form. In fact, Yoda's return only hints at even more Force ghost action in Episode 9.
Rey never officially completed her training on Ahch-To, but with this potential birth of a new Jedi Order, Mark Hamill could very well reprise his role as Luke Skywalker to seal the deal. In fact, seeing as he still has unfinished business with his nephew, Luke may even play a role in offering both of his Padawans advice for what the future could potentially hold, thus bridging together the Light Side and the Dark Side even after his ascension into the Force.
Assuming things get really heavy in Episode 9, Luke may not even have to carry the Jedi Master weight alone. The action could potentially pull Obi-Wan out of retirement as well, and seeing as Obi-Wan has his own standalone film planned for 2019, his appearance could serve as a nice segue. With these two, as well as a possible return of Yoda, there could be a solid Force ghost trifecta helping Rey reshape the Jedi Order, continuing their attempts to bring balance to the Force, and ultimately ing the torch to a new generationJedi and audiences alike.
What are your thoughts on the Jedi Order's future? Let us know in the comments!
