Failure: The theme of The Last Jedi ...

Yeah they should totally just keep winning. That makes it interesting and compelling when they keep winning and never lose.

 

It was not a mistake. Its different, its human. I loved it.

 

The theme of The Last Jedi is that people fail and that's fine. Really, it's fine.

And you why it's fine? Because they learn from their failures and at the end of the story they're better people than at the beginning. That's what Yoda meant from his talk with Luke - failure is a lesson, first and foremost.

 

You can't have Star Wars without a war.

 

Rey didn't failed, she can't fail.

Porgs didn't failed.
If I understand correctly, they nested in Millenium Falcon, and started to spread their cute species over the galaxy .

 

The theme of failure is so perfectly represented in TLJ :

_a couple of "secondary" characters fail at parking ? This directly lead the death Luke Skywalker, and the near eradication of the Resistance.

_ our "oh-so-perfect" heroine fail at remembering how Han died 2 days ago ? Well, she ends up provoking the Big Bad's demise by mistake.

Isn't this a great story ?

 

one example of how failure can lead to good would be Poe. If he didnt realize his failures, he would not grow into a leader. He would be the same pilot that TFA and TLJ showed. Not a leader of the resistance. His character would not grow, and would be boring

 

Hush, she is ready to forgive Kylo for killing Han, because she is nobody so she knows how is to have failed parents (and uncle), ....and he is the monster who knows is a monster., ....and if this does not look plausible remember there is that powerful connection between her and Ben ..Because it mysterious connection, that is powerfull.And bonds them.. because its connection.That connects them, making sexual tension, since its powerfull.
And mysterious.

You'l see they know what they are doing.

 

I think failure is one of the core theme of the saga (1 to 6). But in that case, GL took his time to develope the characters arcs.
Imo, in one movie - VIII - it's too much.

 

That has nothing to do with wether or not she forgives him (that's certainly hard to swallow, but not the main problem here).

Han was already trying to redeem Ben, and he was his father. Rey saw the result fist hand : it simply does not work. Yet, she tries again, even though the only connection she has with him is ... a bondage session, a fight in the snow, and 3 skype calls.

 

Spoiler

I am making joking, yes its garbage scenario writing , only way to save this shame in the face of hystory and make it work restrospectively is to make Rey another Skywalker in ep IX

 

Why do

Why do you think it a mistake when people sometimes fail at what they do?

Have you never failed at anything in your life?....I did, I learned from it.
If everything was perfect all the time, there wouldn't be much of a story to tell now would it?!

Star Wars only needed one movie if that was the case.

(Good guys beat bad guys, and they all live happily ever after.)

 

I don't really agree, Im not a fan of the movie, but the themes of the film that Rian Johnson was trying to convey where really intresting. Other then the one the OP mentioned, the main two from my point of view been 'Let the past die'("kill it if you have too") and "This isn't going to go the way you think" though their where others.

My issues with the film was that having great themes, metaphors..... isn't enough, you have to build a cohesive plot that fits into the world around them and what has gone before. for me too often in these areas the writing was lack lustre.

But the themes where excellent, no complaints there at all.

 

Theme I: The heroes you meet might not be the heroes you imagined. Once you'll accept their humanity, you'll understand why they are the heroes you imagined and more

Theme II: Direct confrontation, brashness, is not always the right option.

Theme III: The past is a part of you. Killing it cuts the past away, but you'll also cut yourself in the process.

I don't think failure is the theme, but it is certainly a theme or more properly said a thematic element. Some of our heroes are confronted by failure. But what matters is how they learn from their failures. Through failure, Rey now knows Kylo cannot be turned, that her past is a part of her (she cannot kill it), and that Luke's lessons contain the ultimate truth about the Force and the Jedi. Finn has learned from Rose that fighting what you hate makes you the same as your enemy. Poe has learned, through Holdo and Leia, that good command comes with patience and that the direct confrontation is not always the best one. Luke has learned that there is a middle way between the ultimates of "throwing away the sabre" and "saving your friends", namely that through self- sacrifice and the legacy of his example, he can do both.

So the thematic function of failure is not so much there to show that they all fail, but what they learn from failure. That's why it works. Just listen to what Yoda says in relation to the didactic purpose of failure:

"We are what they grow beyond"
or
Theme IV

 

The heroes failing in the second film of trilogy is nothing new. In fact, it's to be expected.

The OT failed in ESB.

Luke left his training. Got his hand cut off and lost his lightsaber. The Falcon didn't get away from the Empire. They were waiting for them on Bespin. Han was captured.

 

SHHHHHH

 

Poe's last act on leading the resistance out, was him learning from his mistake at the beginning of the film.

Rather than Force talk with Kylo again, Rey literally closes the door on him because she's done trying to give him a chance. She realizes that trying to turn Kylo isn't the only hope for the galaxy but she herself is.

Finn realizes that fighting for just one person wont work. but to fight for a better galaxy or else you get more guys like DJ.

Luke realizes to let go of his past mistakes because he didn't measure up to "the legend of Luke Skywalker." That he is human just like everyone else. And that he should teach the next generation not to make the mistakes he did, so they can grow beyond him.

Every main character learns from their mistakes within the film except Kylo.
However, he realized his mistake at the end when the resistance escaped and Rey closed the metaphorical door on him.

 

Yoda failed with Dooku
Obi Wan failed with Anakin
Luke failed with Ben

Failure is a red string in Star Wars.

(Qiu Gon being the exception.)