Across the entirety of the Star Wars saga, Luke Skywalker only once referred to Kylo Ren as his nephew, proving just how far the Jedi had fallen. Of course, Kylo Ren only appeared in the final three chronological Star Wars movies, meaning Luke of the original trilogy was not going to refer to a child that had not been born yet. Where the sequel trilogy is concerned though, the familial connection between Luke and Kylo, or Ben Solo, as part of Star Wars’ Skywalker family tree was not as big a focus as many ᴀssumed it would be.
The part of Luke’s Star Wars timeline that saw him disappear during Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a big reason for this. Luke and Kylo did not interact in that film, with the focus instead being placed on the father-son bond of Ben and Han Solo. Star Wars: The Last Jedi was Luke’s movie, however, prompting a big final appearance for the Jedi Master before his death. Even in this story, largely considered Star Wars‘ most controversial movie, Luke’s familial bond to Kylo Ren was only outright referenced once, linking to the core themes of the film.
The Last Jedi Subtly Proved Luke Had Forgotten The Importance Of Family
Ben Solo Was Simply Kylo Ren To Luke For A Long Time
Throughout most of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it was clear that Luke had let go of his familial attachments. After all, he moved to the distant planet of Ahch-To to die, allowing the Jedi Order to die with him. To do so, Luke had to forget the importance of his family, something that he did tenfold where Ben Solo was concerned. In the movie, Luke only refers to Ben as his nephew once, otherwise only ᴀssociating him with the dark side and his new First Order moniker, Kylo Ren.
This reference comes as Luke explores Ben Solo’s past. He states, “For many years, there was balance, and then I saw Ben. My nephew… with that mighty Skywalker blood.” This is the only time Luke outright calls Ben his nephew, but its source is Luke’s trauma and shame, rather than familial love. Luke’s arc was about the hubris of the Jedi and the Skywalkers themselves, and how that untamed power the Skywalkers possess caused Luke’s failures.
Luke is referring to Ben as his nephew, but only to convey his point about the inherent power of the Skywalkers and how it is a danger to the galaxy…
At that moment, Luke is tarring Ben with that same brush. Luke is referring to Ben as his nephew, but only to convey his point about the inherent power of the Skywalkers and how they are a danger to the galaxy. This removes any kind of familial love or connection between the two, reinforcing the entire point of Luke’s story arc in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Luke Had Become A True Jedi… But He Was No Longer Luke
As The Last Jedi Explores In Its Finale
This one reference proves that Luke had become a true Jedi. In many ways, Luke had forgotten his familial connections and abandoned his attachments, just like the Jedi Order of old would have taught him to do. However, as Star Wars: The Last Jedi intended to explore, this renders him a different person to Luke Skywalker. Luke of the original trilogy did everything solely for his family, with those connections to Han, Leia, or his father, Anakin, allowing him to save the galaxy.
In The Last Jedi, Luke had forgotten this due to his very human feelings of failure and trauma. By the end of the film, though, he returns as the true Jedi Luke Skywalker was meant to be by confronting his nephew and apologizing, thus saving the Resistance and, in turn, the galaxy once more. In becoming a true Jedi and forgetting his attachments, Luke’s failures were highlighted. It was only when he remembered the importance of family by showing up to confront Kylo and save his sister Leia and his new student Rey that Star Wars: The Last Jedi brought the Luke Skywalker we know and love back.
Star Wars
- Created by
-
George Lucas
- First Film
-
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
-
Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
-
The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
-
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
