After distinguishing himself as the hero of the Rebellion, and pulling Darth Vader back to the light, Luke Skywalker was the brightest possible future for the Jedi in the Star Wars universe. Of course, The Last Jedi changed all that, dragging Luke from glory into ruin. But considering how Rise of Skywalker was received, Disney probably wishes they hadn’t secretly revealed who was really to blame for Luke’s downfall.
Emperor Palpatine Tempted Luke With Visions of His Exile
Revealed in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker #1 (Marvel Comics)
To say it simply, there are many ways in which Star Wars: The Last Jedi altered Luke’s character, or at least his projected journey. And less than two years after the movie was released, Lucasfilm and Marvel released a line of comics expanding on characters and storylines from the original trilogy’s “age of rebellion.” And it’s the book focused on Luke Skywalker that offered fans a new insight into Luke’s exile, and the potential influences that took it from a daydream into a reality.
While the action is set during one of Luke’s missions as a fully-fldged member of the Rebellion, it’s the story’s link to The Last Jedi that is most important. Frustrated with Vader’s lack of progress, Emperor Palpatine decides to reach out for this new Skywalker himself. Able to connect with Luke surprisingly easily, Palpatine wastes no time in detecting his frustrations and weaknesses, and applying pressure. And asking Luke one question: in the face of so much pressure, how nice would it be to simply walk away from the galaxy completely?
Claiming that he can’t actually transmit or conjure up a new image within a mind (which seems oddly limited?), Palpatine pulls Luke’s own daydream to the surface. A vision in which Luke departs the Rebels, finds an isolated planet, sinks his X-wing into the sea, and tosses his helmet and lightsaber away. Giving up his dual passions of flying and becoming a Jedi, Luke finds peace in exile. Luke resists the urge and completes his mission… but readers know the true meaning of this visual, even if Luke can not.
Emperor Palpatine’s Master Plan Included Luke, Not Just Ben Solo
Removing Luke Was Always Planned, It Just Took Decades To Happen
The story itself may not draw an explicit connection between Palpatine’s heightened vision and the actions taken by Luke prior to The Force Awakens, but make no mistake: these similarities are no accident. This comic was released after Luke’s exile on Ahch-To was fully revealed, including his X-wing literally sunk offshore exactly as it is in the vision. So regardless of how this issue concludes, the reveal of Luke’s inner desires must be viewed through the lens of his own future.
Palpatine was able to find this weakness and apply pressure in his very first time connecting to Skywalker. So even if the atempt to push him out of the fight failed, there is no reason to think Palpatine would not continue this attack strategy. Or, that Palpatine would cease the efforts after Luke defeated him (but failed to destroy him, simply moving Palpatine to the next stage of his master plan).
Once Star Wars fans accept Emperor Palpatine remained active, both physically and through the Force following Return of the Jedi, perspectives change. The plan involved the seduction of Ben Solo through his family pressures, and the corruption of Luke through his fears and insecurity. Palpatine succeeded in breaking Ben Solo… so can it be assumed he also succeeded in forcing Luke to falter, and fail enough to finally leave into exile (a vision increasingly present in his mind)?
It’s hard to say if Emperor Palpatine employing a hands-on attack to move Luke off the board can do much to redeem Luke’s abandonment of his friends and family. But for Star Wars fans who would prefer to accept Luke was manipulated and tempted from his path, this insight into canon is more than enough evidence to make a compelling, even convincing case.
- Release Date
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December 13, 2017
- Runtime
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152 minutes
