Lucasfilm Exec Clarifies Luke’s Intentions With Kylo In Star Wars: The Last Jedi

In the never satiated world that is Twitter, Star Wars fans are known to interact with Lucasfilm Story Group members, usually discussing clarification of the saga’s canon. The most well-known member of the Story Group may just be Pablo Hidalgo, author of multiple Star Wars visual guides and renowned for his knowledge of the franchise across its 42 year history. While Hidalgo (understandably) does not answer ever question fans have, he does make it entertaining when possible.

In his latest knowledge bomb, he replied to a conversation that fans were having regarding the Rashomon scene in The Last Jedi, where Jedi Master Luke Skywalker ignites his green lightsaber, if for but a moment, with the thought of striking down his nephew, Ben Solo.

This pivotal point in the film leads to Ben becoming Kylo Ren, joining the First Order and Luke exiling himself on Ach-To. The scene’s unique in Star Wars as well in that it actually appears three times, all from different points of view. This has led to many varied interpretations among fans, including many who were upset that Luke Skywalker, redeemer of Darth Vader, would try to kill his own nephew.

According to Hidalgo, however, that is not and never was the case. In the film, Luke calls the moment “pure instinct” and describes it as passing “like a fleeing shadow.” This would seem to imply that he never wanted to kill Ben, as Hidalgo points out:

Regardless of Luke’s intention, the action did lead to Ben Solo giving into the darkness rising in him, becoming Kylo Ren and bowing before Supreme Leader Snoke. Luke, in exile, had to live with those consequences, a major theme of both the film and the Sequel Trilogy as a whole.

Nonetheless, Luke “running away” has ruffled more than a feather or two among the detractors of the second movie in the trilogy, even though, according to Hidalgo, the idea predates The Last Jedi and possibly even the Sequel Trilogy as a whole. More importantly, this idea apparently came from George Lucas himself.

But what did you think of this moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Do you agree with Hidalgo? As always, let us know by dropping a comment down below.