WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in theaters now.


While Star Wars: The Last Jedi is already a critical and commercial success, audiences apparently are divided by the storytelling choices of writer/director Rian Johnson, who doesn't play it safe with the blockbuster franchise. Instead, he embarks on a bold, dark narrative, in the process subverting aspects of the lore George Lucas introduced 40 years ago.

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We're left with a lot of unanswered questions, but still, Johnson covers a lot of ground. He deals with the literal war for the galaxy between the First Order and the Resistance, as well as the metaphysical push and pull between the light and dark sides of the Force. By the time the films ends, Kylo Ren has usurped Supreme Leader Snoke, the Resistance is in tatters, and Rey is seemingly left as the last of the Jedi following Luke Skywalker's self-sacrifice.

Seeing our heroes in this state of disarray, and a villain on the rise, evokes the end of The Empire Strikes Back, which left the Galactic Empire (momentarily) triumphant, and Han Solo in the hands of Jabba the Hutt. With that in mind, we consider some of the directions J.J. Abrams could take the trilogy in its finale with Episode IX.

The Resistance Reborn

As the First Order corners the Resistance on Crait, Luke saves the day by projecting himself to the planet to trick Kylo Ren into a fight. That serves as a distraction, and gives General Leia Organa's troops time to escape. However, the Resistance is greatly diminished, to the point that no one responds to its distress signal. That leaves the audience to wonder whether there's anyone left alive no hear it. Clearly, the Resistance needs to rebuild.

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Poe Dameron is the perfect leader for that task, which would help to explain the absence of Leia from Episode IX following the death last year of Carrie Fisher. Poe is a hothead, but he matured a lot over the course of The Last Jedi, learning diplomacy from Leia and Vice Admiral Holdo. Couple this with his extensive field experience and you've got that extra edge needed to inspire people from all corners of space to join the fight against the First Order dramatically while changing the Resistance's tactics.

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A New Jedi Order

When Rey leaves Ahch-To in hopes of redeeming Kylo, she secretly steals the sacred Jedi texts, because she doesn't share Luke's cynical thoughts about the order. She still believes in the light, something Luke has to be reminded of by Yoda, as a Force ghost.

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With Luke gone, Rey is now poised to carry on the legacy of the Jedi. Maybe she can use those texts to uncover other temples, archives and secrets that can help her to succeed where Luke failed. Rey may be inexperienced, but these books can help her to become even more versed in the Force. If anything, they'll give her more knowledge, which could mean more power.

They can also guide her in recruiting new Force-users to train: at the eAd of the film, we saw a stable boy in the casino city Canto Bight using the Force with a broom. That means there are others like him out there, both young and old, waiting for a leader to harness their power for the greater good. Rey has a chance to restore the Jedi Orde, fulfilling Luke's dream before it was shattered by Kylo.

An Empire of One

Kylo Ren in Star Wars

Usually, Star Wars deals with the Rule of Two: a Sith philosophy where there must be a mentor and an apprentice. We saw that with Palpatine and his proteges Darth Maul, Count Dooku and Darth Vader. Snoke and Kylo, while not being officially Sith, follow a similar path. But that's broken when Kylo turns on Snoke and kills him. He makes it clear he wants to rule the galaxy, and offers Rey a spot at his side, just as Vader did with Luke in The Empire Strikes Back.

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That paints Kylo as the new Vader. But in his case, he doesn't have to answer to anyone. A product of both the Light and the Dark, Kylo can be used by Abrams to lead the vision that Vader wanted without Palpatine. Kylo could set out to forge a new Empire -- enslaving the galaxy, hunting the Resistance and snuffing out the last traces of the Jedi -- like Vader once wanted to do.

But whether it's adopting a more ruthless attitude like his grandfather or bringing back the Knights of Ren as assassins, Kylo has to do things differently. With no one like Luke or Snoke to hold him back, Kylo is finally master of his own destiny and free to unlock his full potential. That would certainly set up an enticing rematch with Rey.


Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi stars Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Benicio Del Toro as ‘DJ’, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, and the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. The film is in theaters worldwide.