Undoubtedly the biggest talking point of The Last Jedi poorly received by many, but the way his character was treated before this also received criticism. As someone who adores The Last Jedi and thinks Luke's character arc in that movie is one of the more profound in Star Wars, I have spent the last six years listening to opinions on the matter that differ greatly from my own.

While many will continue to tell me that The Last Jedi is one of the Star Wars movies take risks like Rian Johnson did. That said, I have always been intrigued by the intense reaction to Luke's character arc and why it was so disliked, intrigued enough to try and uncover its source.

George Lucas Intended Star Wars To Be A Modern Fairy Tale... & Luke Was The OT Fairy Tale Hero

Luke Was A Vehicle For Audiences To Experience The Star Wars Galaxy

The reason I have found that may explain the strong dislike of Luke's The Last Jedi journey actually stems from an earlier part of the Star Wars timeline than the sequel trilogy. It stretches back to the beloved original trilogy, specifically a novel centered around these movies released in 2015. This book, written by Adam Gowitz, was titled The Empire Strikes Back - So You Want To Be A Jedi? In this novel, Gowitz explores the character archetypes of the three main original trilogy heroes at that point in the timeline, and Luke's depiction is one I found very interesting.

Gowitz outlines that some of Star Wars' best characters like Han Solo or Leia Organa are brimming with personalities, yet Luke is not. While I it Luke is a fantastic character in the original Star Wars trilogy, rewatches of the film make this clear. Little is known of Luke outside of his desire to leave Tatooine in A New Hope, whereas Han's backstory with the criminal underworld and Chewbacca is outlined, as is Leia's fight against the Empire while acting as a diplomatic princess. The reason for this is that Luke is the typical fairy tale hero of Star Wars:

"People sometimes complain that Luke Skywalker is not much of a character... He is a little bland. A little empty. Which is just as it should be. The hero of a fairy tale must be empty. What do we know of Cinderella, except that she has to work in the ashes and her family is mean to her? Do we know her sense of humor? Her taste in literature? Her opinions on the politics of her kingdom? Of course not. That would ruin the story. Because the point of Cinderella is that we can put ourselves in her shoes... We all feel like Cinderella sometimes - mistreated, unappreciated, with great potential that has yet to be recognized. Her story has endured for so long... Because she is so universal. So universally empty... These heroes are not full characters. They are empty. Intentionally so. They are avatars for the reader. They are empty so we can inhabit them, so we can do their deeds, live their lives, and learn their lessons. Luke is such a character. Empty as a pair of shoes."

As Gowitz points out, Luke is not meant to be a character that receives great depth or history or personality. Instead, Luke is the vehicle through with the audience will experience the story. Much like the avatars of a video game that players control to experience worlds, stories, and relationships, Luke is the same for the original Star Wars trilogy. I am not saying that Luke has no character of his own in the OT, but in comparison to the charismatic likes of Lando, Han, or Leia, Gowitz' writing becomes somewhat true.

Fans Of The OT Identified With Luke... Which Made His Fate Their Own

Luke Became A Mirror To Viewers Of The Original Trilogy

With this viewpoint in mind, I think it is worth exploring the potential psychological connection that formed between fans of the original trilogy and Luke Skywalker. When we as audiences read fairy tales or sprawling epics or watch long-running TV shows and movie franchises about heroes toppling empires, confronting evil, and saving the day, we often desire to see the good guys succeed. In a way, this is about escapism as much as it is fantasy. In many ways, audiences watching these stories imagine themselves in the heroes' shoes, as Gowitz points out.

Since being children, we have always liked to imagine ourselves as the Luke Skywalker many - Rey and the Resistance included in the Star Wars sequels - hoped he would be: the hero striding toward countless enemies wielding a laser sword. However, as we are all well aware, The Last Jedi subverted this expectation. Luke said that he would not face down the entire First Order with a lightsaber, and instead wished to be left alone on Ahch-to so that he could die and the Jedi could with him.

It could be the case that, psychologically, Luke's depiction in The Last Jedi cut too close to home for many who would rather see themselves reflected as a brave action hero...

Immediately, this rubbed some audience the wrong way. After all, this is not the hero we saw ourselves as. This is not the hero we have followed for decades who we are sure would never turn away from a fight, is it? As it turns out, Luke's story in The Last Jedi was much more human. Rather than being a vehicle for audiences to see themselves fighting the Sith and saving the galaxy, The Last Jedi's Luke was a reflection of the darker parts of people's lives.

Luke was no longer a heroic archetype, but a flawed, depressed, guilt-ridden, old man whose depiction attacked what has, for decades, been a reflection of the audience. It could be the case that, psychologically, Luke's depiction in The Last Jedi cut too close to home for many who would rather see themselves reflected as a brave action hero. As a result, criticism of this new version of Luke that felt all too human and not enough Jedi followed.

There's A Fundamental Mistake In This View Of The Last Jedi

The Last Jedi Is Not About Typical Legendary Heroes, But Making Way For Future Ones

However, if indeed mine - and by extension Gowitz's - theory is to be believed and those who did not respond to The Last Jedi did not like how Luke's character reflected their flawed aspects, this is the wrong way to view the film. As I have long been made privy to by those who dislike The Last Jedi, oftentimes the culmination of Luke's arc is ignored. Of course, I will note that this is not a reflection of every single person who does not like The Last Jedi, and many criticisms of the film are certainly valid.

Luke's heroic arc is, instead, given to Rey, Finn, Poe, and everyone else his legendary feats from the original trilogy inspired...

That said, some pinpoint the first half of The Last Jedi as the part that they hold issues with, thus ignoring the resolution of Luke's arc. Luke's journey is about accepting that these human flaws are present in everyone and that they can be overcome. Luke's heroic arc is, instead, given to Rey, Finn, Poe, and everyone else his legendary feats from the original trilogy inspired. As such, viewing Luke's arc in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as the ing of the torch from one group of archetypal heroes to the next might be the best way to view it after all.