Ep VIII THE LAST JEDI: What's in a name?

Tone! Star Wars titles reflect tone more than they explain plot.

A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith, and The Force Awakens are the best examples of that.

The Empire didn't really Strike much, they flushed out a hidden base, cut off an arm, and safely froze a guy. But the title did set up the darker tone of that film. While A New Hope was the one where the worst things actually happened, they blew up a planet, killed a major character, it is over all a more optimistic film.

The Force awoke within one individual, but the title really reflects the tone of a rebirth of and reunion with the Star Wars saga.

The Last Jedi, especially in the red lettering suggests desperation to me.

Of course, it could also be a misdirect like Attack of The Clones.

 

Red doesn't just signify Sith. It's also the colour of blood. (Unless you're Yoda!) That could mean a blood tie, or bloodshed. Perhaps one Jedi dies and one remains?

 

I hope and would not be surprised that they create a new group of Force Users that are not light Jedi. That would really distinguish this timeline from the older time periods in galactic history. I think it would really help to have a get Bendu like perspective in the Force, and I think that is really the true protagonist of Star Wars.

 

bet

I guess it may be something like that.
I was starting to think that the title may refer just to one line/quote of the movie.
If so, Luke may tell them (and it would be a reference to "I'm a Jedi, like my father before me") or another character may tell them to:
1- to Rey: But maybe she won't be fully trained at the end of the movie. Same as Luke, who became a true Jedi at the end of ep. VI. Still the title may refer to her if Luke dies. But why red? Becouse she will turn? Seams too much in a movie...
2- to Luke: I can totally see Kylo or Snok saying those words, especially if they finally find him. I can see them saying them while being... full of anger and hate. I can see them saying those words... in red.

So, if I have to bet, I'll say that the title refers to the F.O.'s obsession to find and kill Luke, the last (full trained) Jedi.

 

Light Side = Jedi
Dark Side = Sith
Dim Side = Rey's Gang!

 

Considering that the methods and beliefs of the Jedi led to their near extinction, and that Luke's attempt to start a new generation failed so spectacularly, it's not unreasonable to think that Luke would decide to do something new and different. Perhaps that's why he's gone back to where it all began - to start fresh following the Force instead of the organization the Jedi had become.

Probably not though.

It's probably just a direct reference to Luke since he was called "The Last Jedi" twice in the previous movie, and Episode 8 by necessity now has to tell the story of where he's at, what he's been doing, and how his return will impact everything that is going on in the galaxy - either directly or through what he teaches Rey.

 

While this singular vs. plural possibility is certainly true, I think using "The Last Jedi" as a title signals the end of what we have come to understand a "Jedi" to be... I mean, it would just be weird to continue making movies about new generations of "Jedi" after you have described someone, or a small group (Luke, Rey, and perhaps others), as "The Last Jedi." After they are gone no more can there be. And there is a difference between Yoda and even Snoke and Kylo calling Luke the last Jedi... because that meant he was the last one that existed at that time. However, putting it in a title has much greater big picture implications... at least to me. Once this trilogy is over, they certainly can't go forward in the timeline and use "Jedi" in a title again to describe someone else, can they? And by the same token, others in the future who are not presently "The" or "Part Of" THE LAST JEDI cannot really be called "Jedi" anymore, can they?

I agree with all of you that for the reasons I describe above, this new title means that if the "Skywalker Saga" (meaning numbered episodes about Skywalkers) is to continue, we will be getting some new incarnation of light side Force users who will no longer be called "Jedi."

But it raises a serious question of whether or not this means the end of the Skywalker Saga at Episode IX. I hope not, but I agree with others that have made the point that "Jedi" is too well an established "trademark" to be ditched (EDIT: You, @bigbayblue, actually!) ... whereas, I have no problem with Snoke and Kylo Ren not being "Sith" since that term wasn't even used in the OT.

You may be right, but what does it mean for the involvement of "Jedi" in the Skywalker Saga going forward? I have my reservations...

 

I actually think this could be much closer to the truth of Luke than you give yourself credit for.

The Jedi code of old historically lead, in various ways, to rigid regimentation, isolationism, and ultimately fragmentation and failure as its limitations lead its "masters" away from the more organic and free-form Living Force Qui-Gon Jinn revered and reminded others to heed (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Living_Force).

Perhaps the animated Rebels series, through the (currently Canon) introduction of Bendu, "the one in the middle" (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bendu), provides a hint of where this leads next.

It might be that Luke Skywalker could be compelled (or, by circumstances, required by the sheer Will of the Force) to pursue the (currently "Legends") ancient teachings of the Order of Dai Bendu (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Order_of_Dai_Bendu) or something comparable as a sort of Star Wars version of the Buddhistic "Middle Way" (https://buddhists.org/a-monks-life/the-middle-way/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Way)

Something that (to paraphrase) "transcends the extremes of Jedi and Sith." Not necessarily the "grey Jedi" often mentioned in such discussions, as one should still know right from wrong and not remain morally gray/relativistic, but rather someone who, Force sensitive or otherwise, understood there was more to the Force -- and to life, the universe, and everything beyond -- than Dark vs. Light.

That is, to move beyond "a certain point of view" and to go beyond the "visible light spectrum" of the Force to recognize there are more aspects and subtleties to the Force than the Jedi or the Sith appreciated, studied, or could even access based on their ideological predispositions to the Force.

Having sought the first Jedi temple, Luke's seeking of the Jedi origins could point to this pre-Jedi direction and be expanded upon to offer dramatic new interpretations and applications (and potential misuse) of the Force well into the future of the Star Wars galaxy.

Perhaps The Last Jedi could then go on to become the first of a new generation of Bendu.

 

I could see this -- Skywalker is the last Jedi, and his dying words to Rey are "You're the last Jedi now..." even though she's not far along enough in her training and doesn't feel like one.

But it would be interesting if Skywalker represents the last of the old order, and Rey represents something new that goes by a name different than Jedi.

 

Call me crazy, but I think The Last Jedi refers to Luke, Rey and Kylo Ren.

• Luke of course is the Jedi Master and the last known Jedi (according to Snoke).
• Kylo Ren has Jedi abilities because of his uncle's training and because he's not technically a Sith Lord, the title could mainly revolve around him (especially because of the red font), but I still see Luke being a major part of that title and Rey being thrown into the bunch.
• I think it's safe to assume that Luke will in fact train Rey and she will eventually become a Jedi. And I also believe that she is either a Skywalker (Luke's daughter; IMO, I also believe that she's a Kenobi, a "Skynobi" ) or a Solo (Han/Leia's daughter and Kylo Ren's sister) so either way, she has a biological connection with Luke and Kylo.

 

The thing about the titles of Star Wars films is that they are all based on similar old movie titles, especially B horror films and Flash Gordon episodes. We have ones like a New Hope and the Force Awakens which I'm fairly certain there aren't any films with titles like that though I like to be wrong. Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, The Phantom Menace, The Empire Strikes back, Return of the Jedi those are your generic movie titles from the old days and "The Last Jedi" seems to follow in that idea. We know these titles aren't just randomly put there, they to have some semblance of tone to the story of each episode.

The Last Jedi could very well mean Luke, he is the wise old sage that Obi Wan was and no longer the hero. So he plays the part of being the final hope for the new hero Rey, just like when he went to seek the final hope to fight Vader which was Yoda. I don't believe the title needs to have a hidden or deeper meaning cos that's not what Star Wars is. It's simple yet engaging, easy to understand but makes room for endless discussions.

 

Here's all direct the references to Jedi in the TFA script:

 

Yes please, sign me up!!!

 

This is what I also think. As the sith are gone to give rise to the Ren, so might the Jedi be gone and another class of force users might take over!

 

I don't know why, but the first thing that popped into my head was the rumour about Luke being very wary in training rey. Almost like he thinks it's a bad idea.

I think the title could have strong implications for the training montage on Ahch-to. Luke could be a very reluctant teacher in VIII.

 

That's what I'm thinking as well. And it could be a big part of his self-imposed exile. After his attempt at training a new generation of force users became a disaster, and the turning of Ben, he may have just given up completely and decided that he must be the last Jedi. Perhaps he assumed it was best to just fly off to some far away space rock and die, feeling responsible and plagued with guilt for his hand in creating Kylo Ren. He would of course be more than just reluctant in training Rey, and may initially tell her to leave Ahch-To and not come back. Could be a great scene to have a force ghost (Yoda?) convince him otherwise. Something about Luke not giving in to fear?

 

Last can also mean "previous" alternatively. Not just final.

Like, "The Previous Jedi".

 

I believe that it means that Luke will indeed be the last Jedi and he will expand it to be more than what the Jedi was and will make it better and Rey will start something new a refreshing.

 

Could you explain those last two, please? I haven't heard either, and there's a lot there...

 

Indeed good sir, indeed.