@@paperfilmworld2520 Truce at Bakura, Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor and Courtship of Princess Leia are three amazing examples of the EU building up on Luke's new, kinder and more compassionate philosophy for the Jedi. Highly recommend them. Example, for those willing to read, from "Courtship of Princess Leia": “It’s all right,” Luke said. “She won’t hurt you anymore. She won’t hurt you anymore.” Barukka looked up at him, and her face was a mass of purpled bruises. “But what of me?” she cried. “When will my scars heal?” Luke touched her face. “Those who use the dark side of the Force to harm others often do harm to themselves,” he said softly. He ran his fingers over the bruises, and immediately the puffiness diminished. “Sit with me tonight,” Luke said, “and together we can begin your healing.” For a long time that night, Leia stretched out on a blanket. The chorus “Han Solo, / What a man! Solo,” played over and over in her mind until she had a fierce desire to take a hammer to Threepio. Had he known it would affect her this way? Had he known it would get caught in her mind and play over and over again until she thought she’d scream? To calm herself, she lay awake and listened to Luke as he taught Teneniel, Barukka, and Isolder. “The Jedi uses the Force only for knowledge and defense, never to injure or gain power.” “But with the spells of our clans,” Teneniel countered, “the words of the spells are the same whether we cast them for darkness or light. How will we know whether we are using them rightly?” “It’s not the words that give you power, it is your intent,” Luke said. “When you remain calm, when you feel at peace, when you show mercy and justice to those who make themselves your enemies, then you will know that you are using the Force correctly. But if you surrender to hate, or despair, or greed, then you give in to the dark side and it will dominate your destiny, take control of you.” “I have … friends among the Nightsisters,” Teneniel said. “As a child I played with Grania and Varr, and I considered them dear friends. Even Gethzerion gave gifts to me during Winterfest. We cast her out of our clan only seven years ago. I cannot think of them as all lost.” “Some of them you may win back from the dark side,” Luke said. “If you feel good in them still, then you must awaken them to that if you can. But don’t be fooled. The dark side can be compelling, and some turn completely from the light, become agents of evil. Remember the good that was once in them if you can, love them for it, but don’t let them sway you. The agents of evil seldom reveal themselves willingly.” “You said that those who follow the dark side can be won back. But what if you yourself become tainted?” Barukka asked quietly. “How can you free yourself?” “Then you must turn away from the dark side with your whole heart. Give up your anger, give up your greed, give up your despair.” Leia looked over at Barukka, saw that the woman’s brow was furrowed and a tear glimmered in her eye. Though Leia could not imagine what was going through the woman’s mind, she somehow felt grateful not to have Barukka’s problems. Luke reached out and touched Barukka’s chin, raised her face and said softly, “And in time, you must give up your guilt.”
In Legends Obi-Wan has a line where says Luke is not the last of the old, but the first of the new. He wasn’t going to be beholden to the old Jedi’s dogma but forge a new path. The Sequels take that away from him because apparently you can’t have both Luke AND Rey be cool. They felt Luke had to be diminished for Rey to shine. How cool would it have been if you could have had them both standing together? One generation of hero and the next. Why not build upon instead of deconstructing?
Agreed, but it continues in mandalorian. The issue with Luke is we really never got to see him fully in his prime, only stories in the EU. Mandalorian finally showcased that.
the sequels are not as awful as everyone says. tfa is a good movie , tlj has equal parts shit and genius , tros is awful. the prequels have 2 shit movies and 1 decent movie
In my eyes, Luke Skywalker is simply the perfect version of the hero's journey archetype. It's truly a shame that the sequel trilogy didn't properly continue that journey.
@@dylanmorgan2374 So TLJ Luke was fresh and subversive...by conforming to a trope. Wouldn't it have been fresh and subversive for him to break that mold?
I think Luke becoming a fallen hero who's cynical of the Jedi ways because of all the shit he's been through was an interesting idea, but it was so poorly executed. Luke just jumped from "I saw good in my father who was an evil dictator and I brought him back to the light by showing him my love for him" to "I'm going to try to murder my teenage nephew in his sleep because I just have a feeling that he's evil. No, I'm not going to try to talk to him first. That failed and created Darth Vader Jr., don't mind me I'm going to go off to die on some random island without telling anyone, even my sister and my best friend."
@@rainyrouge5123 I actually don't find it interesting because the "Fallen Hero" trope is already getting overplayed at this point. I'm growing sick and tired of the narrow-minded self pity. Please can I have a hero who uses their pain to reach out to others in a positive way and be a guiding hand? No, pain has to be shown as self-centered nowadays.
The EU arc for Luke is awesome - he figures out the flaw of the old jedi from the prequel era that led to their fall was losing touch of their humanity, their compassion, not embracing life and love and serving both (something Kotor I and II hint is critically lacking in the jedi code as well). He really was a hero in every definition, what Disney did to him is truly an abomination.
I always loved how EU Luke already recognized the follies of the old Jedi Order and he built his order to be better than what it was.. He didn't become a coward when his Nephew turned to the dark side and murdered his wife
It’s a shame that the sequels are the last time the trio will be back together and the story is so embarrassing that fans are virtually forced to compartmentalise them as expensive fan fiction.
@@George-um2vc yeah that will always sting, we'll never get the true continuation we deserve, but at least we might still get something good and fulfilling with Dave Filoni and John Favreau leading the way especially with the different dimensions and timelines being introduced
So I've heard. I'm currently reading the X Wing books. After Book 4 is done, I'm gonna start on the Jedi Academy Trilogy. I've heard so many good things about how Luke runs things and I'm really looking forward to it.
@@George-um2vc He wasn`t being a coward!The tragedy of "The Last Jedi" is with Ben he was actually trying ta deal with a Dark Sider the way his Masters taught him to for the first time but couldn`t bring himself to do it and by the time Ben woke up, Luke`s betrayal sent him all the way over the edge into the darkness!In other words, the Jedi`s paranoia about the Dark Side makes it stronger!
@@AspieMediaBobby That's the point. Luke isn't like the Jedi from the Prequels, he shouldn't be paranoid to the point of killing someone he helped raised from the cradle. It goes against everything he is, as Okiro demonstrated in this video, because Luke's journey is about learning to be a Jedi in the TRUE sense of the word. He saw his father, a merciless monster, and decided to show him kindness and a helping hand, and in the end this proved to be the right solution, one of never giving up on people, no matter how fallen they appear to be... only to, in Disney's mind, for him to throw it all in the trash and try to kill his nephew, a troubled young man. This is beyond "ironic" or "tragic", it reaches "nonsensical" and "senseless". They had a story in mind, and used Luke to accomplish it, ignoring who he was and what his character would have done, completely disrespecting Star Wars as a whole, something that didn't happen in the EU, specially when Jacen Solo (who Kylo Ren ripped off) fell.
Seriously though, Luke was MY first hero too. He's the reason I fell in love with Star Wars as a 12-yr-old and I'm still ride or die at 36 yrs old. Luke had my whole heart because of his kindness and compassion, things I had a sore lack of in my life back then. I've never loved another character as much as him and at this rate I likely never will, and hell yeah, I wish we all had a friend like him. So many kudos and thanks for making this video, man.
No problem! Luke Skywalker means the world to me as a character. He taught me a lot as a kid and he was And his relationship with his father helped me understand my father better
@@TheFirstOkiro funny: every single SW fan i spoke to despised Luke as a whiny do-gooder and preferred Han Solo or the villains to him. my brother was a prequel-baby and therefore preferred Anakin anyway, so i was the only one who liked Luke. it's also funny that i never heard anyone else say "hey we actually like Luke" right up until Disney dragged him through the dirt in TLJ, so pardon me if i don't instantly buy all this bs 'worship'
@@OneTrueVikingbard then you've been talking to people who were not true OG fans, all of us who grew up with star wars (the wovie not the whole saga, the star wars movie) luke was always the goat
Luke is still the saga's greatest hero, the sequels or any other Disney content could not alter that. And despite all his bravery he always is the boy next door, the fans' window to the classic movies because he's the most approachable, the guy almost everybody wants to be friends with. An unusual hero if there ever was one. But that's the beauty of the character.
@@gregorde yes. I would never have contemplated murdering an innocent child in his sleep - one who was also my nephew, my sisters son, and my best friend’s son.
I always though Luke was more like the mother he never knew..her decency, her sense of right and wrong..Luke had those qualities and he dis not get that from his father.Anakin understood friendship and loyalty, but his desire for status and power clouded his judgment. When Anakin is tempted he turns to the darkside. Luke half trained takes on Vader on Bespin, Luke did well but Vader was gauging and testing Luke's abilities and was in complete control of the fight until Vader attempts to tempt a wounded Luke to the darkside. Its here that Luke suprises Vader by choosing to fall to his death rather than turn. This suprises Vader. Luke survives, and chooses to surrender trying to convince his father to come away with him.Taken before the Emperor, Luke fights his Father a 2nd time but Luke has grown and the battle is on nearly equal ground. Vader threatens Leia to provoke Luke, and Luke tears into his father..beating him down and cutting off his father's hand before he stopped realizing how close he had come to killing his father, now Luke suprises his father and disappoints the Emperor by refusing the darkside a 2nd time. Luke was determined to save his father, but he was able to do so because he was also the son of Padme Amidala. I agree with you able his kindness, he truly was his mother's son...
Man I wish they'd have given him a fraction of the development the EU novels and comics did when they brought him back for the sequel trilogy. So much great story potential left on the cutting room floor.
@@CynicallyObnoxious he means that Luke should have learned from the mistakes of the prequel jedi and rather than following he dogmatic views of the old jedi the New Jedi Order needs to embrace the force rather than using only one side of it more like the je'dai of old. The sequels could have played with so many great concepts like it but we all know what we got.
Rian wanted to subvert expectations though, it didn’t matter what was the next logical step for Luke, what mattered was Rian getting a reaction to his movie, and now we are stuck with Luke from TLJ and expected to assume its canon, all because one weird dude wanted to fuck with the character and make people talk about his movie.
When you say about Luke not being an everyman is absolutely true, your average everyman would have immediately gone with Obi wan, yet after talking about wanting to escape tatooine, yet when he gets the chance to leave he's originally too afraid to go, honestly Luke's arc was so amazing
I was born in ‘80 and grew up with this and I’ve tried to base my moral compass on this fictional character. If Luke can see the shred of good in one of the most evil men in the universe, perhaps we can too.
'Luke was my first hero and wil always be my hero ' you can feel the warmth passion and sadnes in his voice i wish disney could hear this voice as i did
One of the greatest examples of the modern hero's journey. One the sequel trilogy ruined so bad I will never forget the damage. Thank God the Mandalorian got it right.
I’ve been a life long fan of Luke Skywalker and yet I your video still helped me to have better insight and a deeper appreciation for Luke. You should be really proud of this video. You really do get what Luke is all about.
It helps that my father and one of my best friends are giant Luke Skywalker fans and I was able to go to them for lots of input for this video. I appreciate your kind words!
I like what they did with Luke in mandolorian, it gives the impression he continued to train and become a strong warrior so he could help people. And it's that same thing is why I hate what they did in the Disney trilogy.
It’s funny because throughout the prequel trilogy, Anakin has these exact traits: he is loving, compassionate, kind, but reckless to a fault. The Jedi Council, however, seems to paint these traits as “markings of the Dark Side.” He is attached to Padme, to Obi-Wan, to his troops in Clone Wars, even to his Palawan, Ahsoka. Nope! These are “markings of the Dark Side.” When Anakin pleads with Yoda for guidance after receiving visions of Padme’s death in Episode III, he is told not to mourn, not to miss anyone, but to detach. And since Anakin does that, I argue it’s ultimately what pushes him to the Dark Side in the first place (aside from the obvious death of his mother, and his desire for more power in order to help his loved ones). However, Luke is very much his father’s son. He’s reckless (Empire Strikes Back basically shows us all of this, and briefly in ANH when he rushes off to check on Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru), but it’s ultimately due to his compassion, kindness, and love for his loved ones. He’s not being reckless when hurrying to Cloud City, he isn’t facing Vader for “more power.” He’s going to save his friends, as he doesn’t want them to get hurt. Above all, Luke Skywalker has faith - and that’s what ultimately keeps him going. He isn’t willing to let his friends lay down and die, and he isn’t willing to let the Emperor win. He still believes in his father, believes in everything. And that’s what saves Anakin Skywalker. These “detriments” were not detriments at all - Luke showed that these traits make you strong. They make you kind, honest, and yes, heroic. It mattered when I first watched these films and perhaps that’s why I gravitated the most to Luke. His compassion and faith made me want to be that person, too, and yes, I would’ve loved a friend like Luke. Thanks for this video, man.
Yep Luke shares some of the traits that his father had in the prequels. Both characters were loyal to the people they cared about, fearless but also rash, reckless and impulsive. In A New Hope those traits help Luke fight the empire and destroy the death star. In Empire Strikes Back they cause problems for him and lead to him being defeated by Vader. They are also one of the reasons why he has that vision in the cave. So those traits that he shares with his father could've also turned him to the dark side like what happened to Anakin. Fortunately that doesn't happen and Luke realizes that saving his father and redeeming Vader will also save himself by preventing him from succumbing to the dark side. It seems like Luke recognizes how similar he is to his father and he understands his father well. There's another youtube channel called 'So Uncivilized' which did a great Luke video that talks about this as well.
You have to embrace Luke as the true hero of the saga. As much as some of us have our own heroes and heroines we cling to. Be it Obi-Wan, Rey, Ahsoka, Ezra, you name it, we still need to see Luke as the top notch hero of the tale that he is. So yeah, agreed x200.
Disney...a company with a hundred years of classic storytelling under their belt and with dozens of handpicked industry writers and producers working on their version of SW....can't seem to understand WHY Luke is such a special character to many of us. And that is why they fail. Great video, sir.
Love how you showed how Luke's story arc was continued in the last episode of Mandalorian. Jon, Dave, and George taking back what KK tried so hard to destroy.
Luke really is the hero we need. He's not there to judge us, or to give us a speech, he's there to give a helping hand. Luke is my favorite star wars character because he is relatable, not just as who we are, but what we can become, even though the odds are against us. When he realized that nothing went as he planned, he suffered, but he kept going, and that's a lesson we can absorb. No matter what happened, what are you dealing with, you can find a way to overcome it. You've got a new sub my friend :)
And THEN The Last Jedi happened! >_< But seriously man, this is a well constructed video. Feels like I'm learning more and more about SW that's giving me a better appreciation for what they mean, especially as to why Luke will always be an endearing and important hero for so many generations.
To be fair, even though he stumbles again, in Last Jedi, he finds this kind loyal man he returns to throughout the OT. He acts with his heart to protect his friends even when he can’t be right there for them, he still finds a way.
@@furryjackal I get what you mean, but the set up was rushed that came out of left field, and the ending battle on Krait, as Okiro talked about before in another vid, ruined TLJ and what would've been a great payoff for the sequel. And that's the major problem with TLJ aside from the horrific treatment Finn went through and every other POC actor behind the scenes. Great ideas, but sloppy execution. I attribute this to being the same like a student rushing to get their school essay done. Had some great arguments and ideas, but it was NEVER proofread and the flaws are painfully obvious, and I'm not far off since Rian NEVER screen tested TLJ.
@@furryjackal Least you get it, I have no problem with anyone who enjoys it for their own reasons as long as they acknowledge the huge problems within it. So you're good in my books. Its just for me, to see others call it a "masterpiece" is not only wrong for how harmful the film was for POC, but also just from a writing and structural standpoint its just sloppy. Even TLJ fans have a hard time defending the convenience of them finding DJ and how the film has 2 endings as if Rian was trying to make his own Return of the King. Which is another problem I can name for TLJ, it was like Rian was trying to end the trilogy on his own terms in the middle of the entire trilogy. But we can also chop that one up to Lucasfilm literally having no plans at all.
I'd say people thinking that Luke doesn't change is a testament to how good his arc is. Anyone who's paying attention will realize that the Luke from the beginning of ANH is different than the Luke from the beginning of ESB who is different than the Luke from the beginning of ROTJ but if you aren't paying attention these changes might go over your head just because of how seamless it all is, he goes from the everyman to the hero answering his call after almost dying, going through a tragedy and running away from his planet, becomes a commander of a rebel army after saving the princess and achieving a victory against the Empire and then he starts becoming a Jedi after repeated defeats caused by his recklessness that ultimately teaches him to let go, not of emotions, but of victory, the one thing the old Jedi Order refused to let go, and all of those events just naturally flow across the movies in such a way that it becomes easy to not see him changing, the same way it's easy to not see Han changing. It's beautiful, the Original Trilogy is a beautiful work of art.
What a fitting tribute to Luke Skywalker. This is how I’ve always felt about Luke’s character, but I’ve never been able to really articulate. He is truly selfless. The real hero. Everything the Jedi were meant to be … and yet failed to be. This is my favourite Star Wars video essay for a while. Keep it up! 👍🏻
This is an awesome video. I remember being a little kid and Luke being the coolest ever. Then I got older and Han was just cool. And I got older, and my favorite turned into Obi-Wan. For a time I looked at Qui-Gon as the best Jedi to ever live. And recently, I started looking at Luke again. I noticed that endless empathy, and that constant optimism, and the fact he always is willing to do the right thing. And I realized, sure, Han is cool. Obi-Wan is a great man who did what was right often despite the pain he went through. Qui-Gon understood the failings of the council. But despite how cool all of them are, I don’t want to be them. I do want to be Luke. I see Luke, his loyalty, his heart, and I know if I can be more like him, maybe I can do some good for this world. The world would be too rough if everyone was Han, too dishonest if Obi-Wan, too disobedient if Qui-Gon. But if everyone was just a little bit like Luke, man, what an awesome world that would be. I loved the video man. Keep up that good work
I agree Luke is the greatest Hero and that why it is so infuriating how he was treated in Disney. I loved how he was kind and the most powerful Jedi person in the galaxy but he legitimately earned it(Legends). Luke is my hero, and I can relate to him. Luke is the perfect example of a person who keeps changing but stays the same he always is changing but his kindness pivots to a different position but it wasn't until ROTJ till he found the position that made him his best after all the suffering he went through and Luke had many valid reason to not be a Kind person.
8:56 one of the greatest lines ever in terms of delivery and context. James Earl Jones still brings fear into my mind even as a now young adult. It’s such a great evil for Luke to overcome
It also prove that Luke skywalker is the true heir to Anakin/ Darth Vader and Luke pretty much is Anakin second chance of living the life that he never had due to him becoming Darth Vader I’m talking about eu Luke who accomplished his goal reforming the Jedi order for the new era having a wife and son he became his own person Luke will always be the greatest hero in Star Wars will remember forever.
He is the greatest because he faced Vader and Sidious alone . Because he didn't fear the darkness . He didn't fear evil .He feared no danger . He wouldn't accept that this father was a monster . That he could change no matter how bad he seemed . He desided to be kind . To be better . Luke Skywalker looking at the horizon .
Luke Skywalker is the hero of Star Wars because he is one whose entire being and essence seeks the best for all. Even though some people around him try to detour him, he is still focused on doing what is right even when it appears to be wrong to others at the time.
Understanding Luke Skywalker in the OT makes watching Luke Skywalker in the Last Jedi that much more painful. As Mark Hamill said, not Luke but Jake Skywalker. Because just about everything he did in that movie was out of character.
Luke Skywalker is my favorite character in the Star Wars saga. His arc in the OT is incredible and I love the growth he even has in the original film. The character goes through a lot, goes down a similar path his father went down, yet in the end he’s willing to die instead of killing his father and in doing so, he redeems his father and brings him back to the light side, bringing balance to the force. There’s a lot to Luke that makes him as great of a character as he is, not just an incredible hero for the franchise, but an incredible hero in film history. Luke is also George Lucas’s self insert, something that Harrison Ford mentioned in the Empire of Dreams documentary. George Lucas has even said in some interviews that Luke would be the character he identifies with the most in Star Wars. Luke was also George Lucas’s nickname in high school, so the connection is even more apparent. Thanks for the video man, keep up the great work!
@@hecate235 true. But it’s very interesting that Luke is the character George Lucas created as putting himself in the films and gave him the name Luke S, which is obviously Lucas when said fast enough.
This is a beautiful video that gives Luke all the credit he deserves, and growing up with Luke as my own hero, I am not ashamed to say it made a little teary-eyed
He's my favorite character of all time. Thank you so much for this video... You highlighted why I love the character so much - his kindness, his loyalty, the love he had for his friends and his father. Well done.
Luke Skywalker was my childhood hero. He inspired me during my darkest moments. Without his guiding example, I wouldn't be here now. Luke Skywalker saved my life. Luke Skywalker is still my hero.
i recently rewatch the ending of mandalorian season 2, and i asked myself why tears comes at seeing him wielding the green saber. I have a vague idea, but you response is exactly that, he suffered, he endure, he changed in meantime staying the same so powerfull he could destroy anything, but too kind to not care about the suffering inflicted. Hes just a great person not just a hero.
The thing I like about Luke is that his story is so balanced by Anakin’s story. You see Anakin and Luke basically have the same journey throughout the first two movies and the first 2/3s of the last movie, and then Luke finally breaks the cycle by throwing his lightsaber away and being stronger than his father was
Luke is the best hero in the series he is the embodiment of what true Jedi were meant to be. He saw the good in one of the most evil men in the galaxy but still no matter what did everything he could to turn him to the light where the Jedi like obi wan didn’t believe it was possible. The return of the Jedi has two meanings the return of Anakin to fulfill the prophecy of the chosen one and the return of the Jedi order to become better than it was before the Jedi’s fall
What a beautiful tribute to Luke Skywalker, agreed 100%. Is there any chance you could make a tribute to Din Djarrin, seeing how you watched the Mandalorian? He tells a different tale, but still, the core of Din's journey is also very touching and endearing and I think he is a worthy successor.
What I love about Luke is that he has a similar journey to Anakin's and the same behaviors and pitfalls and lessons to be learned but undergoes the classic Joseph Campbellian heroes journey and was able to overcome the temptations his father was seduced by through love and compassion and armed with the truth he was able to redeem an already melancholic and conflicted Vader by ROTJ. Love Luke and grew up with him as a youngster as well as Anakin and now that I'm older I can understand and relate more so to Anakin (Luke as well of course) but I kinda lean a bit more towards Anakin. Not to mention they're just both goated, well crafted characters. 🔥🔥💯
Thank you for this video. In the digital era, you never realize what might bring you inspiration one day. That being said, you have played a crucial role in my self improvement journey with this video. Your video came at the right time in my life and I needed to remember the hero I always looked up to as a child. Luke reminds me that we have to strive to be 1% better everyday. Cheers 🍻
Really beautiful, even profound awareness here. Of all the star wars videos with millions of views this certainly deserves to be one. It’s what powered and powers star wars underneath the whole time, even if not everyone knows it ❤
Your vid touched me so profoundly, even to the point of tears, I actually cried, that is so awesome and grand, what You did, Luke is the true Hero, because of his Heart, there is no way to deny it, his Heart was the only thing, the dark side could not crush. Having a good Heart makes the difference, no matter the obstacles, no matter the insurmountable things nor entities conspiring against Us, no matter the odd, having a Heart like the Heroes of old, makes the difference... If you loose your Heart, or freeze it cold, you're done for, you will end up doing a horrible, undoable, shameful act and will keep pushing you down and down into the dark abyss, it will get to a point where there will be no escape from, hate will drown you... Thanx Bro, for the awesome vid, Excellent Work Man, Blessings! . . 😎
I agree. The EU Luke Skywalker is a jedi who is a strong believer of redemption. He would rather spare and save them if possible. But most of all, he is the model of what a true jedi should be.
I think it goes under appreciated how unique Luke is. I know this word is kind of a SJW buzzword, but he’s pretty much the antithesis to toxic masculinity, in the late 70s/early 80s no less. Before him male leads tended to be seedy like ANH Han, and after came the 80s, super buff, ultra-masculine action hero; then between them we have Luke, this adventurous and somewhat whiny but naive, sweet, proto anime boy looking kid who literally goes on to save his evil father with the power of love and compassion. For all that’s said about the Hero’s Journey and all that, Luke is pretty unique as far as western pop culture icons go. He isn’t even _that_ strong at the end of his journey, but his heart can melt ice. And I love him for it. I’m a social work major and Luke actually reminds me a lot of the ideal social worker. And this might seem slightly off topic, but I remember when Undertale first became popular for its sparing mechanic among others; I think the effect Luke had may have been similar.
The Last Jedi's fundamental flaw is that it failed to understand who Luke was as a character and what his journey in the Original Trilogy represented. Because Luke's arc in those films isn't just a journey, it is THE journey, a journey that we all must experience in life at some point where we are tested and asked who we really want to be. Luke is a hero who was forged, forged into a better man and into a better Jedi. And the best part is that in our hearts, we all know that if we really try, we can be that Jedi too.
Dude thank you for this video. Luke is my favorite character of Star Wars and I feel that so many people do not understand him, let alone the dichotomy of Star Wars.
"If he can become a Jedi like his father, his father can become a Jedi like him..." -Another RUclipsr that poetically recounted the brilliance of the narrative
What a great video - excellent blend of pathos, insight, and humour. You made me fall back in love with a character I haven’t really done so since the 80s. Now subscribed!! (Others have focused so much on his whiny side that I forgot about his strength, rebelliousness, and kindness)
I've never noticed the artwork on the ceiling in Aunt Beru & Uncle Owen's place before this vid. Huh. Funny how details can still spring out to you after many, many viewings. 13:50 - that whole sequence in the elevator is why Return edges out Empire in my favorite out of the OT. The fact that Luke won, that was the point that he got through to Vader because Vader had no arguments against what he said. It's powerful.
Luke is my hero even though i watched the prequels first, he still my hero because, everytime i got problems at home, i relate to Luke, because he also had a problems at home, he wanted to get out from the place he hates, he always had his downfall but never gives up, and he always believe in himself. That's why when i do the Star Wars marathon, i never watched the Sequel trilogy, because that's not my Luke
Some people criticize Luke's plan at the beginning of the third movie as stupid elaborate, but it really shows how Luke has learned to plan, to be patient and explore peaceful solutions instead of plunging head-strong into crazy bullshit (like in episode 5). And although he chocks the guard like Vader, he also gives his enemies a lot of chances and tries to reason with them like a jedi. He is someone who has power but is restrained, a perfect example of what it's like to be balanced in the Light and Dark side. The power of the Dark Side without principle lead to corruption, but Jedi principles tend to stifle and dogmatize, so in the final scene of episode 6 Luke rejects both schools of thought and upholds his own principles. His kindness, tenacity, and integrity helped Anakin redeem himself and ended the destructive conflict in the galaxy. A true hero.
@TheFirstOkiro, I dont know if you still keep track of comments. But have you ever considered bringing back the "Hero of Kindness" video? You explained so well how uniquely kind and gentle Luke is there, no other character analysis on RUclips ever came close! I do hope you remake it rerelease it some day, it was so good!
You. Are. The. MAN! Okiro, I doubt there is someone who speaks to me with such passion, such conviction, and supported by such incisive insights into the StarWars universe. Your love for the original trilogy is second to none. Yes, I said it, and I stand by it, because you HUMBLE me with your expert analysis on everything StarWars. (I can hear it in your voice, too) I love your personal story and connection with this galaxy far, far away, but man! "All telling Luke to do the same thing" is GENIUS! Luke can easily be seen as a pawn, but that's only in the eyes of those who want him to do what they themselves cannot. Luke is a hero because he did it his way, and he never compromised his integrity. From all the pain he endured, all the loss, all the psychological angst that goes on (when I hear your voice, I have to remind myself that this is a children's fantasy), he does not lose himself, he still stands, and indeed becomes the only source of agency to help his father's redemption arc. Everybody wants the father dead, except the son. But even the son overcomes the father from the moment he took up his father's lightsaber, the ELEGANT WEAPON of a TRUE JEDI KNIGHT. Even when he upgrades his lightsaber, the green one, it is now HIS; This is his vision and version of JEDI. He has changed from the training of that old lightsaber, of the old ways, and has transcended compassion through and through. YOU, Okiro, YOU brought me to that realization today. You even made me think about my own five year old son, and how he will someday be Luke, as in my youth, when I related to the son of Skywalker. Man, I feel like I can talk to you about this ALL DAY. Thank you for pouring your heart in this project - YOU ARE A HERO!
Great break down!!! Especially when you combined Yoda, Ben, and Palpatine as wanting the same outcome, nailed it, (10.0) You just got a new subscriber.
i consider myself one of the lucky few that saw star wars 40 years later and i still didn't know the "i'm your father" bit 😂 i remember watching it on my phone in 2020's quarantine and i was like "wait, what?!"
You know, watching the bit about Luke and Vader in RotJ reminds me a little hypothetical rewrite I had in my head for a scene in TLJ. You know where Luke goes on about the Jedi's failing and Vader's fall, and Rey responds about how Luke saw good in Vader? Here's what I think would have been a more in-character response: Rey: "And it was a Jedi who saved him [Vader]. Yes, the most hated man in the galaxy, but you saw there was conflict inside of him. You believed that he wasn't gone, that he could be turned." Luke: "I just wanted my father back."
One can never know the impact of a single act, be it fiction or real. One can never know their own impact until the reality is reflected upon them. He taught us that our journey is one of a million struggles, pains, and loss. But also who we can be is a Hero. We do not see our own triumphs, our own bravery. But it resonates in who we choose to be despite that. Luke, who was so human and flawed taught us we can be more. I don’t know another hero in fiction who so subtly conveys that feeling. A feeling of Hope.
I love this. Leia was always my first hero, but I never saw myself in her. But Luke? Yea, I can resonate with that journey. Always be true to what matters to YOU.
“Call to adventure?” lol His aunt and uncle were just murdered! Let’s name it a call to action. Just breaking balls. This is a great analysis. Luke Skywalker is the Classic Hero, as outlined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero’s Journey. Lucas has said time and again that Luke is the most powerful Jedi - yes, more powerful than Master Yoda. Anakin was a product of the Force, but Luke had the benefit of more refined power. What i love about an actual Hero’s Journey (as opposed to Mary Sue Rey, whose “arc” is a straight line), is that the journey takes making mistakes into account. They’re built-in. Because everyone (except Rey) makes mistakes. Luke’s biggest mistake is rushing off to face Vader before he was ready. He paid dearly for doing so, losing his hand and losing innocence (basically) with mature, heavy knowledge about who his father is and how Obi-Wan “”lied”” to him, which we know was to protect him. Luke takes that hard-earned wisdom and grows, he shows that he’s learned from his mistakes and demonstrates applied knowledge to defeat his demons - and his enemies.
Agree with most of this comment, but just to nitpick, because this is the internet: Maybe it was a mistake for Luke to run off to face Vader in Episode V. It certainly seemed like it at the time. But if Luke wasn't the kind of person who would run off to save his friends, even knowing that he was putting his life in danger, would he have been the kind of person who could have turned Vader at the end of Episode VI?
@@thatchrisguy188 You agree with most of my comment, but couldn’t be bothered to Like it. Thanks! Thanks for reading it though. Anyway, the end result would’ve been the same, or similar. If Yoda and Obi-Wan had their way, Luke would’ve ignored Vader’s bait. As follows, he would’ve continued his training to completion, resulting in one of the most powerful Jedi “out of the box,” so to speak. (In “”Legends”” his power continues to develop exponentially anyway.) As Yoda explained, Luke would’ve been immune to Vader being his father (by controlling his emotions), and would’ve been able to defeat the Emperor. So the end result would’ve been similar. That wasn’t Luke’s character though. He has always represented hope. Even in The Force Awakens, he still represents hope to the Resistance and Leia - before being undercut and destroyed in TLJ.
@@Adarkane325xi Have your like, then :P But yeah, I see where you're coming from. Still not sure I agree entirely though. Luke could maybe have beaten Vader and Palpatine if he'd completed his training, so same outcome there, but would he have been able to redeem Vader the way he did in Episode VI? I'm not sure. Still the same outcome for the galaxy, I guess, but maybe one fewer force ghost in the closing scene :(
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
The Book of Boba Fett really hurt the ending of this video in retrospect 💀
Honestly luke in the book of boba fett was very robotic. And I think that we should just look back at look from the ot trilogy
@@paperfilmworld2520 Truce at Bakura, Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor and Courtship of Princess Leia are three amazing examples of the EU building up on Luke's new, kinder and more compassionate philosophy for the Jedi. Highly recommend them.
Example, for those willing to read, from "Courtship of Princess Leia":
“It’s all right,” Luke said. “She won’t hurt you anymore. She won’t hurt you anymore.”
Barukka looked up at him, and her face was a mass of purpled bruises. “But what of me?” she cried. “When will my scars heal?”
Luke touched her face. “Those who use the dark side of the Force to harm others often do harm to themselves,” he said softly. He ran his fingers over the bruises, and immediately the puffiness diminished. “Sit with me tonight,” Luke said, “and together we can begin your healing.”
For a long time that night, Leia stretched out on a blanket. The chorus “Han Solo, / What a man! Solo,” played over and over in her mind until she had a fierce desire to take a hammer to Threepio. Had he known it would affect her this way? Had he known it would get caught in her mind and play over and over again until she thought she’d scream?
To calm herself, she lay awake and listened to Luke as he taught Teneniel, Barukka, and Isolder. “The Jedi uses the Force only for knowledge and defense, never to injure or gain power.”
“But with the spells of our clans,” Teneniel countered, “the words of the spells are the same whether we cast them for darkness or light. How will we know whether we are using them rightly?”
“It’s not the words that give you power, it is your intent,” Luke said. “When you remain calm, when you feel at peace, when you show mercy and justice to those who make themselves your enemies, then you will know that you are using the Force correctly. But if you surrender to hate, or despair, or greed, then you give in to the dark side and it will dominate your destiny, take control of you.”
“I have … friends among the Nightsisters,” Teneniel said. “As a child I played with Grania and Varr, and I considered them dear friends. Even Gethzerion gave gifts to me during Winterfest. We cast her out of our clan only seven years ago. I cannot think of them as all lost.”
“Some of them you may win back from the dark side,” Luke said. “If you feel good in them still, then you must awaken them to that if you can. But don’t be fooled. The dark side can be compelling, and some turn completely from the light, become agents of evil. Remember the good that was once in them if you can, love them for it, but don’t let them sway you. The agents of evil seldom reveal themselves willingly.”
“You said that those who follow the dark side can be won back. But what if you yourself become tainted?” Barukka asked quietly. “How can you free yourself?”
“Then you must turn away from the dark side with your whole heart. Give up your anger, give up your greed, give up your despair.”
Leia looked over at Barukka, saw that the woman’s brow was furrowed and a tear glimmered in her eye. Though Leia could not imagine what was going through the woman’s mind, she somehow felt grateful not to have Barukka’s problems.
Luke reached out and touched Barukka’s chin, raised her face and said softly, “And in time, you must give up your guilt.”
@Homer it was at that moment I considered Dave Filoni not far off from Rian Johnson when it came to writing Luke
In Legends Obi-Wan has a line where says Luke is not the last of the old, but the first of the new. He wasn’t going to be beholden to the old Jedi’s dogma but forge a new path. The Sequels take that away from him because apparently you can’t have both Luke AND Rey be cool. They felt Luke had to be diminished for Rey to shine.
How cool would it have been if you could have had them both standing together? One generation of hero and the next. Why not build upon instead of deconstructing?
rule no1 of being a SW fan. disney era SW = non canon
His story ended in ROTJ, everything else is a bad dream.
Wait...what happened after RotJ? Nothing? Oh, that's what I thought, too...
Agreed, but it continues in mandalorian. The issue with Luke is we really never got to see him fully in his prime, only stories in the EU. Mandalorian finally showcased that.
What, no happy ending with Mara Jade?
The Mandalorian: “greetings exalted ones!”
the sequels are not as awful as everyone says. tfa is a good movie , tlj has equal parts shit and genius , tros is awful. the prequels have 2 shit movies and 1 decent movie
In my eyes, Luke Skywalker is simply the perfect version of the hero's journey archetype. It's truly a shame that the sequel trilogy didn't properly continue that journey.
Luke’s final arc in the last Jedi was actually in line with the hero’s journey.... however he wasn’t used very well in Rise of Skywalker
There wasn't any journey in the last completey unhinged supposed trilogy, especially for any of the Skywalkers.
@@dylanmorgan2374 So TLJ Luke was fresh and subversive...by conforming to a trope. Wouldn't it have been fresh and subversive for him to break that mold?
I think Luke becoming a fallen hero who's cynical of the Jedi ways because of all the shit he's been through was an interesting idea, but it was so poorly executed. Luke just jumped from "I saw good in my father who was an evil dictator and I brought him back to the light by showing him my love for him" to "I'm going to try to murder my teenage nephew in his sleep because I just have a feeling that he's evil. No, I'm not going to try to talk to him first. That failed and created Darth Vader Jr., don't mind me I'm going to go off to die on some random island without telling anyone, even my sister and my best friend."
@@rainyrouge5123 I actually don't find it interesting because the "Fallen Hero" trope is already getting overplayed at this point. I'm growing sick and tired of the narrow-minded self pity. Please can I have a hero who uses their pain to reach out to others in a positive way and be a guiding hand? No, pain has to be shown as self-centered nowadays.
You know, I really am glad Vader never force choked Luke because people would have absolutely made "Choke me daddy" memes for days.
I definitely would have
The EU arc for Luke is awesome - he figures out the flaw of the old jedi from the prequel era that led to their fall was losing touch of their humanity, their compassion, not embracing life and love and serving both (something Kotor I and II hint is critically lacking in the jedi code as well). He really was a hero in every definition, what Disney did to him is truly an abomination.
I always loved how EU Luke already recognized the follies of the old Jedi Order and he built his order to be better than what it was.. He didn't become a coward when his Nephew turned to the dark side and murdered his wife
It’s a shame that the sequels are the last time the trio will be back together and the story is so embarrassing that fans are virtually forced to compartmentalise them as expensive fan fiction.
@@George-um2vc yeah that will always sting, we'll never get the true continuation we deserve, but at least we might still get something good and fulfilling with Dave Filoni and John Favreau leading the way especially with the different dimensions and timelines being introduced
So I've heard. I'm currently reading the X Wing books. After Book 4 is done, I'm gonna start on the Jedi Academy Trilogy. I've heard so many good things about how Luke runs things and I'm really looking forward to it.
@@George-um2vc He wasn`t being a coward!The tragedy of "The Last Jedi" is with Ben he was actually trying ta deal with a Dark Sider the way his Masters taught him to for the first time but couldn`t bring himself to do it and by the time Ben woke up, Luke`s betrayal sent him all the way over the edge into the darkness!In other words, the Jedi`s paranoia about the Dark Side makes it stronger!
@@AspieMediaBobby That's the point. Luke isn't like the Jedi from the Prequels, he shouldn't be paranoid to the point of killing someone he helped raised from the cradle. It goes against everything he is, as Okiro demonstrated in this video, because Luke's journey is about learning to be a Jedi in the TRUE sense of the word. He saw his father, a merciless monster, and decided to show him kindness and a helping hand, and in the end this proved to be the right solution, one of never giving up on people, no matter how fallen they appear to be... only to, in Disney's mind, for him to throw it all in the trash and try to kill his nephew, a troubled young man.
This is beyond "ironic" or "tragic", it reaches "nonsensical" and "senseless". They had a story in mind, and used Luke to accomplish it, ignoring who he was and what his character would have done, completely disrespecting Star Wars as a whole, something that didn't happen in the EU, specially when Jacen Solo (who Kylo Ren ripped off) fell.
Seriously though, Luke was MY first hero too. He's the reason I fell in love with Star Wars as a 12-yr-old and I'm still ride or die at 36 yrs old. Luke had my whole heart because of his kindness and compassion, things I had a sore lack of in my life back then. I've never loved another character as much as him and at this rate I likely never will, and hell yeah, I wish we all had a friend like him. So many kudos and thanks for making this video, man.
No problem! Luke Skywalker means the world to me as a character. He taught me a lot as a kid and he was And his relationship with his father helped me understand my father better
Same for me
same feelings
@@TheFirstOkiro funny: every single SW fan i spoke to despised Luke as a whiny do-gooder and preferred Han Solo or the villains to him. my brother was a prequel-baby and therefore preferred Anakin anyway, so i was the only one who liked Luke. it's also funny that i never heard anyone else say "hey we actually like Luke" right up until Disney dragged him through the dirt in TLJ, so pardon me if i don't instantly buy all this bs 'worship'
@@OneTrueVikingbard then you've been talking to people who were not true OG fans, all of us who grew up with star wars (the wovie not the whole saga, the star wars movie) luke was always the goat
Luke is still the saga's greatest hero, the sequels or any other Disney content could not alter that. And despite all his bravery he always is the boy next door, the fans' window to the classic movies because he's the most approachable, the guy almost everybody wants to be friends with. An unusual hero if there ever was one. But that's the beauty of the character.
well said :)
What about the bothans?
Well that was obvious in the mandalorian when he saved Grogu
Luke is easily my favorite Star Wars character. To me, he embodies everything that I love about that galaxy far, far away. Great video!
Same.
We agree that the sequels are not canon right?
@@gregorde Agreed.
@@gregorde yes. I would never have contemplated murdering an innocent child in his sleep - one who was also my nephew, my sisters son, and my best friend’s son.
Definitely my favorite character too :), Luke is relatable in myriad of ways, we watch his 'hero journey' and so get attached all the more.
OLD EU: “Still a hero and evolves into a better character”
Disney canon: “What’s this idiot taking about”
Apparently in the Disney trilogy Luke has now been made into a more complex and deeper character 😆🤣
Old EU: Legendary Jedi
Canon: A flawed human being who learns not to run away from his failures.
@@thediscomando Nice sarcasm there
nah it's just butthurt fanboys who want badass luke and not a charatcter with flaws
@@michaelphillips7623 Dang, you really do sound butthurt...
I always though Luke was more like the mother he never knew..her decency, her sense of right and wrong..Luke had those qualities and he dis not get that from his father.Anakin understood friendship and loyalty, but his desire for status and power clouded his judgment.
When Anakin is tempted he turns to the darkside. Luke half trained takes on Vader on Bespin, Luke did well but Vader was gauging and testing Luke's abilities and was in complete control of the fight until Vader attempts to tempt a wounded Luke to the darkside. Its here that Luke suprises Vader by choosing to fall to his death rather than turn. This suprises Vader. Luke survives, and chooses to surrender trying to convince his father to come away with him.Taken before the Emperor, Luke fights his Father a 2nd time but Luke has grown and the battle is on nearly equal ground. Vader threatens Leia to provoke Luke, and Luke tears into his father..beating him down and cutting off his father's hand before he stopped realizing how close he had come to killing his father, now Luke suprises his father and disappoints the Emperor by refusing the darkside a 2nd time.
Luke was determined to save his father, but he was able to do so because he was also the son of Padme Amidala.
I agree with you able his kindness, he truly was his mother's son...
I love Luke Skywalker he’s the best Star Wars character because he not only confronted Palpatine, he saved his father
And became a legend
Man I wish they'd have given him a fraction of the development the EU novels and comics did when they brought him back for the sequel trilogy. So much great story potential left on the cutting room floor.
You mean making him better then the previous Jedi order instead of him making him part of the lineage of hubris and failure
@@CynicallyObnoxious he means that Luke should have learned from the mistakes of the prequel jedi and rather than following he dogmatic views of the old jedi the New Jedi Order needs to embrace the force rather than using only one side of it more like the je'dai of old. The sequels could have played with so many great concepts like it but we all know what we got.
Rian wanted to subvert expectations though, it didn’t matter what was the next logical step for Luke, what mattered was Rian getting a reaction to his movie, and now we are stuck with Luke from TLJ and expected to assume its canon, all because one weird dude wanted to fuck with the character and make people talk about his movie.
When you say about Luke not being an everyman is absolutely true, your average everyman would have immediately gone with Obi wan, yet after talking about wanting to escape tatooine, yet when he gets the chance to leave he's originally too afraid to go, honestly Luke's arc was so amazing
I was born in ‘80 and grew up with this and I’ve tried to base my moral compass on this fictional character.
If Luke can see the shred of good in one of the most evil men in the universe, perhaps we can too.
'Luke was my first hero and wil always be my hero ' you can feel the warmth passion and sadnes in his voice i wish disney could hear this voice as i did
One of the greatest examples of the modern hero's journey. One the sequel trilogy ruined so bad I will never forget the damage. Thank God the Mandalorian got it right.
The sequels were just a bad dream.
@@gumdeo
For real
I’ve been a life long fan of Luke Skywalker and yet I your video still helped me to have better insight and a deeper appreciation for Luke.
You should be really proud of this video. You really do get what Luke is all about.
It helps that my father and one of my best friends are giant Luke Skywalker fans and I was able to go to them for lots of input for this video. I appreciate your kind words!
I like what they did with Luke in mandolorian, it gives the impression he continued to train and become a strong warrior so he could help people. And it's that same thing is why I hate what they did in the Disney trilogy.
It’s funny because throughout the prequel trilogy, Anakin has these exact traits: he is loving, compassionate, kind, but reckless to a fault. The Jedi Council, however, seems to paint these traits as “markings of the Dark Side.” He is attached to Padme, to Obi-Wan, to his troops in Clone Wars, even to his Palawan, Ahsoka. Nope! These are “markings of the Dark Side.” When Anakin pleads with Yoda for guidance after receiving visions of Padme’s death in Episode III, he is told not to mourn, not to miss anyone, but to detach. And since Anakin does that, I argue it’s ultimately what pushes him to the Dark Side in the first place (aside from the obvious death of his mother, and his desire for more power in order to help his loved ones).
However, Luke is very much his father’s son. He’s reckless (Empire Strikes Back basically shows us all of this, and briefly in ANH when he rushes off to check on Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru), but it’s ultimately due to his compassion, kindness, and love for his loved ones. He’s not being reckless when hurrying to Cloud City, he isn’t facing Vader for “more power.” He’s going to save his friends, as he doesn’t want them to get hurt. Above all, Luke Skywalker has faith - and that’s what ultimately keeps him going. He isn’t willing to let his friends lay down and die, and he isn’t willing to let the Emperor win. He still believes in his father, believes in everything. And that’s what saves Anakin Skywalker. These “detriments” were not detriments at all - Luke showed that these traits make you strong. They make you kind, honest, and yes, heroic. It mattered when I first watched these films and perhaps that’s why I gravitated the most to Luke. His compassion and faith made me want to be that person, too, and yes, I would’ve loved a friend like Luke.
Thanks for this video, man.
Yep Luke shares some of the traits that his father had in the prequels. Both characters were loyal to the people they cared about, fearless but also rash, reckless and impulsive.
In A New Hope those traits help Luke fight the empire and destroy the death star. In Empire Strikes Back they cause problems for him and lead to him being defeated by Vader. They are also one of the reasons why he has that vision in the cave. So those traits that he shares with his father could've also turned him to the dark side like what happened to Anakin. Fortunately that doesn't happen and Luke realizes that saving his father and redeeming Vader will also save himself by preventing him from succumbing to the dark side.
It seems like Luke recognizes how similar he is to his father and he understands his father well.
There's another youtube channel called 'So Uncivilized' which did a great Luke video that talks about this as well.
You have to embrace Luke as the true hero of the saga. As much as some of us have our own heroes and heroines we cling to. Be it Obi-Wan, Rey, Ahsoka, Ezra, you name it, we still need to see Luke as the top notch hero of the tale that he is. So yeah, agreed x200.
Disney...a company with a hundred years of classic storytelling under their belt and with dozens of handpicked industry writers and producers working on their version of SW....can't seem to understand WHY Luke is such a special character to many of us.
And that is why they fail. Great video, sir.
Love how you showed how Luke's story arc was continued in the last episode of Mandalorian. Jon, Dave, and George taking back what KK tried so hard to destroy.
Luke really is the hero we need. He's not there to judge us, or to give us a speech, he's there to give a helping hand. Luke is my favorite star wars character because he is relatable, not just as who we are, but what we can become, even though the odds are against us. When he realized that nothing went as he planned, he suffered, but he kept going, and that's a lesson we can absorb. No matter what happened, what are you dealing with, you can find a way to overcome it.
You've got a new sub my friend :)
"I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you." Is how I introduce myself sometimes 🤣🤣😂
I'm more of an Anakin fan than Luke fan but these are great points why OT Luke is special to others.
The end actually made me teary eyed. He's my hero too. A beautiful video for one of cinema's greatest heroes.
And THEN The Last Jedi happened! >_<
But seriously man, this is a well constructed video. Feels like I'm learning more and more about SW that's giving me a better appreciation for what they mean, especially as to why Luke will always be an endearing and important hero for so many generations.
To be fair, even though he stumbles again, in Last Jedi, he finds this kind loyal man he returns to throughout the OT. He acts with his heart to protect his friends even when he can’t be right there for them, he still finds a way.
@@furryjackal I get what you mean, but the set up was rushed that came out of left field, and the ending battle on Krait, as Okiro talked about before in another vid, ruined TLJ and what would've been a great payoff for the sequel.
And that's the major problem with TLJ aside from the horrific treatment Finn went through and every other POC actor behind the scenes. Great ideas, but sloppy execution. I attribute this to being the same like a student rushing to get their school essay done. Had some great arguments and ideas, but it was NEVER proofread and the flaws are painfully obvious, and I'm not far off since Rian NEVER screen tested TLJ.
@@HeartlessSlayer definitely well put. It has its flaws although I do enjoy it but I also agree with you on how the POC were treated being horrible.
@@furryjackal Least you get it, I have no problem with anyone who enjoys it for their own reasons as long as they acknowledge the huge problems within it. So you're good in my books.
Its just for me, to see others call it a "masterpiece" is not only wrong for how harmful the film was for POC, but also just from a writing and structural standpoint its just sloppy. Even TLJ fans have a hard time defending the convenience of them finding DJ and how the film has 2 endings as if Rian was trying to make his own Return of the King. Which is another problem I can name for TLJ, it was like Rian was trying to end the trilogy on his own terms in the middle of the entire trilogy. But we can also chop that one up to Lucasfilm literally having no plans at all.
I'd say people thinking that Luke doesn't change is a testament to how good his arc is. Anyone who's paying attention will realize that the Luke from the beginning of ANH is different than the Luke from the beginning of ESB who is different than the Luke from the beginning of ROTJ but if you aren't paying attention these changes might go over your head just because of how seamless it all is, he goes from the everyman to the hero answering his call after almost dying, going through a tragedy and running away from his planet, becomes a commander of a rebel army after saving the princess and achieving a victory against the Empire and then he starts becoming a Jedi after repeated defeats caused by his recklessness that ultimately teaches him to let go, not of emotions, but of victory, the one thing the old Jedi Order refused to let go, and all of those events just naturally flow across the movies in such a way that it becomes easy to not see him changing, the same way it's easy to not see Han changing. It's beautiful, the Original Trilogy is a beautiful work of art.
Well said and well spoken. I am right there with you. Luke is a role model of mine since I saw him in 1977
Luke is the definition of a hero!
The point about Luke going against both Jedi and Sith is excellent, and it's what makes him unique.
What a fitting tribute to Luke Skywalker. This is how I’ve always felt about Luke’s character, but I’ve never been able to really articulate. He is truly selfless. The real hero. Everything the Jedi were meant to be … and yet failed to be.
This is my favourite Star Wars video essay for a while. Keep it up! 👍🏻
This is an awesome video. I remember being a little kid and Luke being the coolest ever. Then I got older and Han was just cool. And I got older, and my favorite turned into Obi-Wan. For a time I looked at Qui-Gon as the best Jedi to ever live. And recently, I started looking at Luke again. I noticed that endless empathy, and that constant optimism, and the fact he always is willing to do the right thing. And I realized, sure, Han is cool. Obi-Wan is a great man who did what was right often despite the pain he went through. Qui-Gon understood the failings of the council. But despite how cool all of them are, I don’t want to be them. I do want to be Luke. I see Luke, his loyalty, his heart, and I know if I can be more like him, maybe I can do some good for this world. The world would be too rough if everyone was Han, too dishonest if Obi-Wan, too disobedient if Qui-Gon. But if everyone was just a little bit like Luke, man, what an awesome world that would be. I loved the video man. Keep up that good work
The Muppets Show gave us a more satisfying portrayal of Luke than most would expect. Plus, some hilarious self-deprecating humor from Hamill.
I agree Luke is the greatest Hero and that why it is so infuriating how he was treated in Disney. I loved how he was kind and the most powerful Jedi person in the galaxy but he legitimately earned it(Legends). Luke is my hero, and I can relate to him. Luke is the perfect example of a person who keeps changing but stays the same he always is changing but his kindness pivots to a different position but it wasn't until ROTJ till he found the position that made him his best after all the suffering he went through and Luke had many valid reason to not be a Kind person.
8:56 one of the greatest lines ever in terms of delivery and context. James Earl Jones still brings fear into my mind even as a now young adult. It’s such a great evil for Luke to overcome
That’s why he’s one of the greatest characters in Star Wars. If not the greatest character
JUST SAW THIS POP UP ON MY FEED AND I AM *HYPE* WOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Thank you for your support!
It also prove that Luke skywalker is the true heir to Anakin/ Darth Vader and Luke pretty much is Anakin second chance of living the life that he never had due to him becoming Darth Vader I’m talking about eu Luke who accomplished his goal reforming the Jedi order for the new era having a wife and son he became his own person Luke will always be the greatest hero in Star Wars will remember forever.
To me legends is canon
He is the greatest because he faced Vader and Sidious alone .
Because he didn't fear the darkness . He didn't fear evil .He feared no danger . He wouldn't accept that this father was a monster . That he could change no matter how bad he seemed .
He desided to be kind . To be better .
Luke Skywalker looking at the horizon .
Luke Skywalker is the hero of Star Wars because he is one whose entire being and essence seeks the best for all. Even though some people around him try to detour him, he is still focused on doing what is right even when it appears to be wrong to others at the time.
Luke skywalker is the perfect jedi. His power comes from his compassion for others as it should be for all good men
Understanding Luke Skywalker in the OT makes watching Luke Skywalker in the Last Jedi that much more painful. As Mark Hamill said, not Luke but Jake Skywalker. Because just about everything he did in that movie was out of character.
Luke Skywalker is my favorite character in the Star Wars saga. His arc in the OT is incredible and I love the growth he even has in the original film. The character goes through a lot, goes down a similar path his father went down, yet in the end he’s willing to die instead of killing his father and in doing so, he redeems his father and brings him back to the light side, bringing balance to the force. There’s a lot to Luke that makes him as great of a character as he is, not just an incredible hero for the franchise, but an incredible hero in film history. Luke is also George Lucas’s self insert, something that Harrison Ford mentioned in the Empire of Dreams documentary. George Lucas has even said in some interviews that Luke would be the character he identifies with the most in Star Wars. Luke was also George Lucas’s nickname in high school, so the connection is even more apparent. Thanks for the video man, keep up the great work!
lol The name is doubly appropriate. in Greek "Luke" means "the bright one," or "bringer of light."
@@hecate235 true. But it’s very interesting that Luke is the character George Lucas created as putting himself in the films and gave him the name Luke S, which is obviously Lucas when said fast enough.
This is a beautiful video that gives Luke all the credit he deserves, and growing up with Luke as my own hero, I am not ashamed to say it made a little teary-eyed
He's my favorite character of all time. Thank you so much for this video... You highlighted why I love the character so much - his kindness, his loyalty, the love he had for his friends and his father. Well done.
You are so underrated! Thank you for encapsulating why Luke Skywalker is the GOAT of heroes!
Luke Skywalker was my childhood hero. He inspired me during my darkest moments. Without his guiding example, I wouldn't be here now. Luke Skywalker saved my life. Luke Skywalker is still my hero.
i recently rewatch the ending of mandalorian season 2, and i asked myself why tears comes at seeing him wielding the green saber.
I have a vague idea, but you response is exactly that, he suffered, he endure, he changed in meantime staying the same so powerfull he could destroy anything, but too kind to not care about the suffering inflicted. Hes just a great person not just a hero.
Would you ever consider covering Luke from the old Expanded Universe stories that happen after Return of the Jedi?
I SO agree with your understanding of Luke and why he's a hero. A kind hero....love it! Thank you.
4:55 this moment is so relatable, being disappointed at your younger self
The thing I like about Luke is that his story is so balanced by Anakin’s story. You see Anakin and Luke basically have the same journey throughout the first two movies and the first 2/3s of the last movie, and then Luke finally breaks the cycle by throwing his lightsaber away and being stronger than his father was
Luke is the best hero in the series he is the embodiment of what true Jedi were meant to be. He saw the good in one of the most evil men in the galaxy but still no matter what did everything he could to turn him to the light where the Jedi like obi wan didn’t believe it was possible. The return of the Jedi has two meanings the return of Anakin to fulfill the prophecy of the chosen one and the return of the Jedi order to become better than it was before the Jedi’s fall
I'm a very lucky man - I first saw Star Wars in April 1978 and in the intervening 43 years I've always known that Luke is my emotional lodestar.
What a beautiful tribute to Luke Skywalker, agreed 100%. Is there any chance you could make a tribute to Din Djarrin, seeing how you watched the Mandalorian? He tells a different tale, but still, the core of Din's journey is also very touching and endearing and I think he is a worthy successor.
What I love about Luke is that he has a similar journey to Anakin's and the same behaviors and pitfalls and lessons to be learned but undergoes the classic Joseph Campbellian heroes journey and was able to overcome the temptations his father was seduced by through love and compassion and armed with the truth he was able to redeem an already melancholic and conflicted Vader by ROTJ. Love Luke and grew up with him as a youngster as well as Anakin and now that I'm older I can understand and relate more so to Anakin (Luke as well of course) but I kinda lean a bit more towards Anakin. Not to mention they're just both goated, well crafted characters. 🔥🔥💯
Thank you for this video. In the digital era, you never realize what might bring you inspiration one day. That being said, you have played a crucial role in my self improvement journey with this video. Your video came at the right time in my life and I needed to remember the hero I always looked up to as a child. Luke reminds me that we have to strive to be 1% better everyday.
Cheers 🍻
Really beautiful, even profound awareness here. Of all the star wars videos with millions of views this certainly deserves to be one. It’s what powered and powers star wars underneath the whole time, even if not everyone knows it ❤
Your vid touched me so profoundly, even to the point of tears, I actually cried, that is so awesome and grand, what You did, Luke is the true Hero, because of his Heart, there is no way to deny it, his Heart was the only thing, the dark side could not crush. Having a good Heart makes the difference, no matter the obstacles, no matter the insurmountable things nor entities conspiring against Us, no matter the odd, having a Heart like the Heroes of old, makes the difference... If you loose your Heart, or freeze it cold, you're done for, you will end up doing a horrible, undoable, shameful act and will keep pushing you down and down into the dark abyss, it will get to a point where there will be no escape from, hate will drown you... Thanx Bro, for the awesome vid,
Excellent Work Man, Blessings! . . 😎
Luke was my first hero… He will always be my first hero… Man that cut deep ❤
He was my first hero two, and honestly the story taught me about forgiveness and seeing the good within people, even if others wont.
I agree. The EU Luke Skywalker is a jedi who is a strong believer of redemption. He would rather spare and save them if possible. But most of all, he is the model of what a true jedi should be.
And that is what gives a Jedi strenght.
This one of the first videos i see in this channel and its great!
I think it goes under appreciated how unique Luke is. I know this word is kind of a SJW buzzword, but he’s pretty much the antithesis to toxic masculinity, in the late 70s/early 80s no less. Before him male leads tended to be seedy like ANH Han, and after came the 80s, super buff, ultra-masculine action hero; then between them we have Luke, this adventurous and somewhat whiny but naive, sweet, proto anime boy looking kid who literally goes on to save his evil father with the power of love and compassion. For all that’s said about the Hero’s Journey and all that, Luke is pretty unique as far as western pop culture icons go. He isn’t even _that_ strong at the end of his journey, but his heart can melt ice. And I love him for it. I’m a social work major and Luke actually reminds me a lot of the ideal social worker. And this might seem slightly off topic, but I remember when Undertale first became popular for its sparing mechanic among others; I think the effect Luke had may have been similar.
First time I have seen this, fantastically put together video. Thank you
Luke was my first hero, too. I'm also proud of that. Great video. Thank you and take care.
I truly believe luke is one of the best, if not, THE BEST hero ever written
The Last Jedi's fundamental flaw is that it failed to understand who Luke was as a character and what his journey in the Original Trilogy represented.
Because Luke's arc in those films isn't just a journey, it is THE journey, a journey that we all must experience in life at some point where we are tested and asked who we really want to be. Luke is a hero who was forged, forged into a better man and into a better Jedi. And the best part is that in our hearts, we all know that if we really try, we can be that Jedi too.
Dude thank you for this video. Luke is my favorite character of Star Wars and I feel that so many people do not understand him, let alone the dichotomy of Star Wars.
"If he can become a Jedi like his father, his father can become a Jedi like him..."
-Another RUclipsr that poetically recounted the brilliance of the narrative
Great video as usual, Okiro. Hope to see you streaming again soon.
Then you are in for a surprise!
What a great video - excellent blend of pathos, insight, and humour. You made me fall back in love with a character I haven’t really done so since the 80s. Now subscribed!! (Others have focused so much on his whiny side that I forgot about his strength, rebelliousness, and kindness)
I've never noticed the artwork on the ceiling in Aunt Beru & Uncle Owen's place before this vid. Huh. Funny how details can still spring out to you after many, many viewings.
13:50 - that whole sequence in the elevator is why Return edges out Empire in my favorite out of the OT. The fact that Luke won, that was the point that he got through to Vader because Vader had no arguments against what he said. It's powerful.
Dude. This is so good. Thanks for sharing.
Luke is my hero even though i watched the prequels first, he still my hero because, everytime i got problems at home, i relate to Luke, because he also had a problems at home, he wanted to get out from the place he hates, he always had his downfall but never gives up, and he always believe in himself. That's why when i do the Star Wars marathon, i never watched the Sequel trilogy, because that's not my Luke
Another amazing video man. Can't wait for the next one!
Awesome explanation! I always loved Luke and this helped me understand why he stands out.
This is the second time I come to listen to this beautiful video. The cracking in his voice at the end gets me tearing up every time
I would love if Mark Hamill could see this video. I just know he would love it.
He’s seen it! He thanked The First Okiro
same thought
Luke was my first hero too. Love this video
Some people criticize Luke's plan at the beginning of the third movie as stupid elaborate, but it really shows how Luke has learned to plan, to be patient and explore peaceful solutions instead of plunging head-strong into crazy bullshit (like in episode 5). And although he chocks the guard like Vader, he also gives his enemies a lot of chances and tries to reason with them like a jedi. He is someone who has power but is restrained, a perfect example of what it's like to be balanced in the Light and Dark side. The power of the Dark Side without principle lead to corruption, but Jedi principles tend to stifle and dogmatize, so in the final scene of episode 6 Luke rejects both schools of thought and upholds his own principles. His kindness, tenacity, and integrity helped Anakin redeem himself and ended the destructive conflict in the galaxy. A true hero.
100% Thanks for the thoughtful, moving take.
@TheFirstOkiro, I dont know if you still keep track of comments. But have you ever considered bringing back the "Hero of Kindness" video? You explained so well how uniquely kind and gentle Luke is there, no other character analysis on RUclips ever came close! I do hope you remake it rerelease it some day, it was so good!
Do you know what, that’ll be the first video I make when the strike is over.
What the idiots at Disney don't understand is that Luke wasn't just a part of Star Wars. He was Star Wars.
Disney: “UM NO, ACTUALLY ITS REY.”
You. Are. The. MAN! Okiro, I doubt there is someone who speaks to me with such passion, such conviction, and supported by such incisive insights into the StarWars universe. Your love for the original trilogy is second to none.
Yes, I said it, and I stand by it, because you HUMBLE me with your expert analysis on everything StarWars. (I can hear it in your voice, too) I love your personal story and connection with this galaxy far, far away, but man! "All telling Luke to do the same thing" is GENIUS!
Luke can easily be seen as a pawn, but that's only in the eyes of those who want him to do what they themselves cannot. Luke is a hero because he did it his way, and he never compromised his integrity. From all the pain he endured, all the loss, all the psychological angst that goes on (when I hear your voice, I have to remind myself that this is a children's fantasy), he does not lose himself, he still stands, and indeed becomes the only source of agency to help his father's redemption arc. Everybody wants the father dead, except the son.
But even the son overcomes the father from the moment he took up his father's lightsaber, the ELEGANT WEAPON of a TRUE JEDI KNIGHT. Even when he upgrades his lightsaber, the green one, it is now HIS; This is his vision and version of JEDI. He has changed from the training of that old lightsaber, of the old ways, and has transcended compassion through and through.
YOU, Okiro, YOU brought me to that realization today. You even made me think about my own five year old son, and how he will someday be Luke, as in my youth, when I related to the son of Skywalker.
Man, I feel like I can talk to you about this ALL DAY. Thank you for pouring your heart in this project - YOU ARE A HERO!
Great break down!!! Especially when you combined Yoda, Ben, and Palpatine as wanting the same outcome, nailed it, (10.0) You just got a new subscriber.
This is the best tribute to Luke Skywalker ever. I loved it.
15:19 "he's too dangerous to be kept alive"
it's like poetry, it rhymes
Thank you for this
i consider myself one of the lucky few that saw star wars 40 years later and i still didn't know the "i'm your father" bit 😂
i remember watching it on my phone in 2020's quarantine and i was like "wait, what?!"
This was a really well made video. I’m happy to see other people talk so passionately about one of cinema’s greatest heroes.
Dude thank you that was wonderful. Subscribed. Thoughtful and fun reflection on stories and characters I’m in.
You know, watching the bit about Luke and Vader in RotJ reminds me a little hypothetical rewrite I had in my head for a scene in TLJ. You know where Luke goes on about the Jedi's failing and Vader's fall, and Rey responds about how Luke saw good in Vader? Here's what I think would have been a more in-character response:
Rey: "And it was a Jedi who saved him [Vader]. Yes, the most hated man in the galaxy, but you saw there was conflict inside of him. You believed that he wasn't gone, that he could be turned."
Luke: "I just wanted my father back."
One can never know the impact of a single act, be it fiction or real. One can never know their own impact until the reality is reflected upon them. He taught us that our journey is one of a million struggles, pains, and loss. But also who we can be is a Hero. We do not see our own triumphs, our own bravery. But it resonates in who we choose to be despite that. Luke, who was so human and flawed taught us we can be more. I don’t know another hero in fiction who so subtly conveys that feeling. A feeling of Hope.
I can't be the only one who left this video crying right...
Please.
The feels you give to your videos...😢
I love this. Leia was always my first hero, but I never saw myself in her. But Luke? Yea, I can resonate with that journey. Always be true to what matters to YOU.
Thank you for making and sharing this with us
“Call to adventure?” lol His aunt and uncle were just murdered! Let’s name it a call to action. Just breaking balls. This is a great analysis.
Luke Skywalker is the Classic Hero, as outlined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero’s Journey. Lucas has said time and again that Luke is the most powerful Jedi - yes, more powerful than Master Yoda. Anakin was a product of the Force, but Luke had the benefit of more refined power.
What i love about an actual Hero’s Journey (as opposed to Mary Sue Rey, whose “arc” is a straight line), is that the journey takes making mistakes into account. They’re built-in. Because everyone (except Rey) makes mistakes.
Luke’s biggest mistake is rushing off to face Vader before he was ready. He paid dearly for doing so, losing his hand and losing innocence (basically) with mature, heavy knowledge about who his father is and how Obi-Wan “”lied”” to him, which we know was to protect him.
Luke takes that hard-earned wisdom and grows, he shows that he’s learned from his mistakes and demonstrates applied knowledge to defeat his demons - and his enemies.
Agree with most of this comment, but just to nitpick, because this is the internet:
Maybe it was a mistake for Luke to run off to face Vader in Episode V. It certainly seemed like it at the time. But if Luke wasn't the kind of person who would run off to save his friends, even knowing that he was putting his life in danger, would he have been the kind of person who could have turned Vader at the end of Episode VI?
@@thatchrisguy188 You agree with most of my comment, but couldn’t be bothered to Like it. Thanks! Thanks for reading it though. Anyway, the end result would’ve been the same, or similar. If Yoda and Obi-Wan had their way, Luke would’ve ignored Vader’s bait. As follows, he would’ve continued his training to completion, resulting in one of the most powerful Jedi “out of the box,” so to speak. (In “”Legends”” his power continues to develop exponentially anyway.) As Yoda explained, Luke would’ve been immune to Vader being his father (by controlling his emotions), and would’ve been able to defeat the Emperor. So the end result would’ve been similar. That wasn’t Luke’s character though. He has always represented hope. Even in The Force Awakens, he still represents hope to the Resistance and Leia - before being undercut and destroyed in TLJ.
@@Adarkane325xi Have your like, then :P
But yeah, I see where you're coming from. Still not sure I agree entirely though. Luke could maybe have beaten Vader and Palpatine if he'd completed his training, so same outcome there, but would he have been able to redeem Vader the way he did in Episode VI? I'm not sure. Still the same outcome for the galaxy, I guess, but maybe one fewer force ghost in the closing scene :(