Unfortunately, Grand Master Yoda’s biggest mistake, costing the galaxy greatly. Of course, since Yoda was one of Luke’s greatest influences as a Jedi, it’s no surprise that he would follow in his Master’s footsteps – no matter how cowardly those footsteps may have been. Luke is undoubtedly one of the greatest Jedi who ever lived, but he also made grave mistakes, some of which threw the galaxy into turmoil just when it needed him the most.

One of the reasons the Star Wars sequel trilogy is so divisive is how it portrays Luke’s character; when we see him again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Luke is broken, a shell of his former self. While I still, on some level, believe it was an interesting (and daring) narrative choice, there’s no escaping the parallels with Yoda’s decision at the end of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Story-wise, Luke’s exile was interesting. In-universe? It was a huge mistake.

Quick Links

Both Luke And Yoda Chose To Hide From Their Problems Rather Than Face Them

After Palpatine’s Order 66 wreaked havoc across the galaxy, killing countless Jedi and leaving the galaxy in upheaval, Yoda blamed himself. Perhaps rightfully so – the Jedi’s biggest issue during the Clone Wars was that they allowed themselves to be swallowed up by the political machine, rather than fighting on their and for the good of the Force. He probably should have seen it coming.

Of course, Yoda wasn’t singularly to blame (even though he was the highest-ranking Jedi). In the aftermath, as we see in Revenge of the Sith, Yoda chose to exile himself to Dagobah, never to be heard from again – at least until a certain desert farmer needed to learn the ways of the Force. Yoda claimed it was for the good of the galaxy, that exiling himself was something he had to do (and ittedly, there was something he had to learn on Dagobah), but I would argue that the galaxy needed Yoda more than ever by then.

Why couldn’t he help the Rebellion like many other surviving Jedi did, even if he believed he wasn't strong enough to defeat the Sith? At least Obi-Wan Kenobi was doing something useful in protecting Luke on Tatooine and even Leia, for a time. Yoda took the coward’s way out, surrendering himself to his guilt over what happened rather than using that guilt to fuel his desire to help those in need.

Luke did the same. After he tried and failed to create a new Jedi Order, one which fell because of his nephew, Ben Solo, Luke retreated in on himself, convincing his conscience that the only way to keep the galaxy safe was to take himself out of the equation. While he did at least provide a complicated map to his location should someone ever need him, he still hid away on Ahch-To for years, leaving the galaxy to deal with Kylo Ren’s wrath and the emergence of the First Order.

Luke Eventually Returned To The Fight While Yoda Remained Hidden

Unlike Yoda, however, who, even when Luke first arrived on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back, was reluctant to train him, Luke eventually returned to the fight. Meeting and training Rey, watching her grow in her power and her determination to help Kylo return to the light and save her friends in the Resistance, changed something in Luke. He knew he needed to be better.

Perhaps he saw a bit of himself in her. Perhaps he realized he owed it to Han, Leia, and even Ben. Whatever the case, Luke returned to the fight at a pivotal moment one last time, allowing the Resistance to live on and the Jedi Order to have a future. Luke sacrificed himself for the greater good. His death truly meant something.

Luke Skywalker as seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Return of the Jedi (1983)
Related
Six Years After The Last Jedi, I've Finally Figured Out Why Its Luke Skywalker Story Was Really So Controversial

Luke Skywalker’s story in Star Wars: The Last Jedi proved incredibly controversial, and I may have finally figured out why six years after release.

67

Yoda’s death, while sad, didn’t truly change anything. Yes, he’d helped Luke in the end, but even then, his advice was, arguably, wrong. Both he and Obi-Wan wanted Luke to abandon his friends in Empire. They wanted him to kill Vader in Return of the Jedi. Luke chose his own path, and thankfully, he did so again in The Last Jedi.

Luke itting His Mistakes Changed Everything For Rey And Future Jedi

Luke’s choice to protect the Resistance on Crait changed everything. It broke the cycle. When Rey flew to Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, ready to give up on herself, Luke understood her predicament better than anyone and gave her the strength she needed to return to the fight. We all know what happened next, as she defeated Palpatine and the Sith Eternal on Exegol – with a little help from a newly restored Ben Solo – and saved the galaxy from certain doom.

Because of Luke’s change of heart, Rey has the chance to build a new Jedi Order.

Now, because of Luke’s change of heart, Rey has the chance to build a new Jedi Order. She’ll have learned from Luke’s mistakes and taken the Jedi Order’s ancient lessons to heart. We won’t know the truth until Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s tentatively titled New Jedi Order movie, set to take place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, is released, but arguably, Rey has everything she needs. Yoda and Luke Skywalker made grave mistakes – hopefully, the next generation won’t repeat them.

Star Wars movies

Release Date

The Mandalorian and Grogu

May 22, 2026

Shawn Levy's Star Wars movie

TBD

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's "New Jedi Order" movie

TBD

James Mangold's "Dawn of the Jedi" movie

TBD

Dave Filoni's untitled Mandalorian movie

TBD
  • Yoda Holding his Cane in Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
    Yoda
    Created By
    George Lucas
    Cast
    Frank Oz, Tom Kane
    Died
    Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi
    Alliance
    Jedi
    Race
    Unknown

    The aged Jedi Master had trained Jedi for 800 years by the time he met Luke Skywalker on the planet Dagobah. One of the most famed and revered Jedi, Yoda served as Grand Master of the Jedi Order for centuries; he was powerful enough to duel Darth Sidious himself, although he was defeated. Yoda exiled himself to Dagobah, where he learned how to become a Force Ghost and offered guidance to Luke Skywalker.

    TV Shows
    Star Wars Rebels
    Franchise
    Star Wars
  • Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker In Star Wars Return of the Jedi
    Luke Skywalker
    Created By
    George Lucas
    Cast
    Mark Hamill, Grant Feely
    Died
    Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
    Alliance
    Jedi
    Race
    Human

    The son of Anakin Skywalker and Pé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke's faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine's manipulations, but Luke's legacy lives on in Rey.

    TV Shows
    Obi-Wan Kenobi
    Franchise
    Star Wars