48 years after Luke Skywalker was first introduced in the original Star Wars movie, the franchise has forgotten what made audiences fall in love with the character in the first place. So many separate elements in the first Star Wars movie, later reтιтled A New Hope, contributed to the success of George Lucas’ Western, fantasy, and Japanese cinema-inspired space opera. The world-building, Darth Vader’s character design, the narrative, and the core concept of light vs. dark, Jedi vs. Sith, Rebellion vs. Empire, provided audiences with a hopeful, aspirational, and awe-inspiring experience.

A story is nothing without its characters, however. Larger-than-life personalities like Leia Organa, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and most importantly, Luke Skywalker, gave us people to root for. Luke’s development in A New Hope is all about becoming who you were always meant to be; it’s a classic hero’s journey, one that proves that magical abilities and proficiency with a blade aren’t the only things that allow a hero to do some good in the world (or galaxy) – and it feels like Star Wars has forgotten that.

Luke Skywalker Was A Hero Even Without His Jedi Abilities

Luke Skywalker was a hero long before Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda taught him how to wield a lightsaber. Luke barely holds a lightsaber in A New Hope, and he only actively accesses the Force at the end when Obi-Wan encourages him. No, we admire Luke in that first all-important film because he decided to rescue Princess Leia and help the Rebellion even without all that extra power.

Despite his sheltered upbringing, Luke involved himself in the galaxy’s turmoil because he knew it was the right thing to do. He wasn’t afraid of a challenge, the darkness, or even the possibility of death. He swooped in because he understood right from wrong, and in the process, his sincerity, his beliefs, and above all, his hope, inspired others to follow him into battle, too. Would Han Solo have joined the Rebellion without meeting and befriending Luke? I don’t think so.

Star Wars stories like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Andor are widely beloved, I believe, for the same reason. Much like Luke in A New Hope, the characters in these Rebellion-era narratives fight against the galaxy’s oppression simply because it’s the right thing to do. They don’t have Jedi powers either, but they still sacrifice a part of themselves to make a difference. It’s relatable and inspiring. Luke’s character, however, has since been mythologized to the point of no return.

Luke Didn’t Need The Fame Of The Skywalker Legacy To Be A Hero

Characters in long-running stories and franchises inevitably grow and change – it’s what makes a story worth following. However, since the events of Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker has become a kind of prophet, a being of mystical and unimaginable power. This has, in my opinion, pushed him too far away from what audiences loved about him in A New Hope and even The Empire Strikes Back.

Back then, we didn’t understand the significance of the Skywalker name, or the family’s legacy and impact on the galaxy’s wider history. Darth Vader being Luke and Leia’s father was a brilliant twist. It worked because we didn’t know Anakin Skywalker’s true story yet.

Now, though, we know about the “Chosen One” prophecy, we know about the tragedy of Anakin’s life and his doomed relationship with Padmé Amidala, we know about how intricately Vader was intertwined with Palpatine’s nefarious, power-grabbing schemes, and we know just how special and powerful Luke is supposed to be. Luke is still undeniably a hero, but he’s now practically untouchable, a Jedi with nearly God-like powers. He represents hope for the entire galaxy, not just the Rebellion. That makes him a lot less relatable.

Star Wars Has To Get Back To The Core Of Luke Skywalker’s Character

In his appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker can do no wrong. He easily blasts his way through countless battle droids and saves Grogu and his friends from certain death; Ahsoka Tano sees the best sides of her old Master in Luke, and he’s working to bring back the Jedi, a noble – if somewhat misguided – goal. Characters in Star Wars and the audience are forced to see Luke as a symbol, not a person.

Say what you will about Rian Johnson’s arc for Luke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but, for a moment, at least, the story remembered that Luke is human. He’s fallible, he makes mistakes, but in the end, he’ll still do what’s right and even die for it. I understand why that story was so divisive, but it gave us one last glimpse of who Luke used to be before his ultimate sacrifice.

Luke is a hero not because he’s a Jedi, not because he’s proficient with a lightsaber, or because he can Force-project himself halfway across the galaxy. He’s a hero because his limits never stopped him from fighting for the light. Becoming a Jedi and being the only Jedi understandably changed Luke Skywalker and how he moved through Star Wars’ storytelling, but sometimes, I miss the simple heroic farm boy he used to be.

Luke Skywalker

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

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Mark Hamill, Grant Feely

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Died

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Alliance

Jedi

Race

Human

Movies

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker

TV Shows

The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi

Franchise

Star Wars

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