Overhated & Underrated: This Divisive Star Wars Still Gets Too Much Hate

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Thinking about this year’s celebration made me realize how much the franchise has changed during my life. As an adult, I can appreciate both the best and worst parts, and it’s clear the fanbase can still be really divided – especially when it comes to Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.

I’ll admit, when Rian Johnson’s Star Wars film came out, it really shook things up – it wasn’t what I expected, and while it didn’t end up being my personal favorite, I could definitely see his vision and appreciate what he was aiming for. Honestly, though, what’s bothered me more than the film itself is the incredibly harsh reaction it’s gotten. I think the negativity has spiraled out of control, and it’s become way more disliked than it deserves to be.

The Last Jedi Had a Tough Act to Follow and Stumbled as a Result

The story remains a low point for the franchise, though it’s possible future installments could improve how it’s viewed, similar to what happened with the prequels. For now, The Force Awakens‘ success is clear, and it was largely fueled by nostalgia. It wasn’t necessarily a mistake for J.J. Abrams to heavily reference the original trilogy when launching a new one, but it did create an expectation that audiences would want to see more of what they already loved.

When The Last Jedi came out, it was immediately apparent it faced a tough challenge. The film signaled its intention to move beyond previous stories with the iconic moment of Luke discarding his lightsaber. However, this bold move also upset many fans, as there’s a difference between avoiding simple nostalgia and actively dismissing what people loved about the originals.

Despite the success of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi faced challenges from the beginning. The Force Awakens intentionally mirrored A New Hope, so the filmmakers seemed to want The Last Jedi to follow in the footsteps of The Empire Strikes Back. It included similar elements – Rey training with Luke like Yoda, a cave setting, and a planet like Hoth with Crait. However, the film wasn’t aiming to be a direct copy, and in trying to recreate the feel of previous installments, The Last Jedi struggled to establish its own unique identity like The Force Awakens did.

The Last Jedi is Star Wars at Its Most Daring

Before I explain why I think The Last Jedi gets too much criticism, I want to admit it wasn’t perfect. Luke’s decision to almost kill Ben felt out of character for him, and some of his actions didn’t ring true. The lightsaber fight also wasn’t a highlight – it didn’t feel like a classic Star Wars duel. Finally, the movie didn’t give Finn, who had been a central and likable character, enough to do.

Okay, so this movie definitely had its slow parts, and honestly, I think those are a big reason why people ended up disliking it more than they should have – though what they did with Luke’s character was a real misstep. But you know what I actually did appreciate? Both Luke and even Kylo Ren, in their own ways, pushed the idea that Star Wars isn’t just about the Jedi and Sith, and that’s something I found really interesting.

For years, the story struggled with simple ‘good versus evil’ characters, but they never felt fully realized. The lines between good and evil are fluid, as seen by how the Empire evolved into the Resistance. Luke’s belief in this change, and Kylo Ren’s challenge to the themes George Lucas established, hinted at a potentially compelling direction for the story to take.

Kylo Ren fully becoming a villain diminishes the progress Anakin Skywalker made, while Rey forging her own destiny, guided by Luke’s lessons, moves beyond the Jedi’s imperfect principles. The Last Jedi also briefly offered fresh perspectives on villains like General Hux and Captain Phasma, hinting at a more complex development for Hux and establishing a lasting rivalry for Finn.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I always felt The Last Jedi wasn’t aiming to just give us another familiar story. It felt like it was genuinely trying to shake things up after decades of the franchise playing it safe and revisiting old ground. Honestly, I didn’t mind the nostalgia, but I knew it couldn’t continue forever – things need to evolve. Ultimately, I think that makes it the most courageous Star Wars film, and why I appreciate it so much. It wasn’t just trying to be a Star Wars movie; it was striving for something more, something different.

The Last Jedi Deserves More Credit For What it Tried to Do

It’s not about whether The Last Jedi was actually good or not – that’s a debate that will likely never be settled. What’s important is that the film genuinely tried something new. It wasn’t trying to be deliberately shocking, but rather to push boundaries and offer a fresh take on the familiar story.

The movie isn’t perfect – it has some issues I’ve pointed out before, and certain plot points feel a bit out of place, like the DJ character or the way Poe’s story line was handled. However, the film generally had a clear vision, and its biggest weakness was struggling to balance different viewpoints.

Rian Johnson should have been allowed to fully realize his creative vision for Star Wars and show where he wanted to take the story, while also addressing elements that didn’t quite work. For instance, Luke’s disappointment could have been portrayed without him trying to harm Ben. However, we can’t change what’s already happened; we can only focus on what we have now.

Many people seem to think The Last Jedi was intended to be the end of Star Wars, but that wasn’t the goal. The film was designed to evolve the series, and this misunderstanding has led to a lot of unfair criticism. While it’s good to critique any movie, The Last Jedi ultimately aimed to preserve the core spirit of Star Wars – as shown by the final scene of the young boy with the Rebellion symbol – and that’s something that’s difficult to truly dislike.

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2026-05-07 19:12