‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is a Rebel Yell For Fans of Rebel Scum

I walked into the theatre ready to like The Last Jedi if for no other reason than Carrie Fisher’s appearance in it. I admit my bias and my sentimentality. For me, the latest installments in the Star Wars saga have been about women, about what I will always believe was the sexism and patriarchy of the 1970s keeping a fascinating character, Leia, in a supporting role, about a princess re-emerging as a General, about an orphaned girl fighting and holding her own against a trained Sith apprentice. Since this and the prominence of PoCs were what I wanted, The Last Jedi satisfied. This installment continues the examination of inner conflict that The Force Awakens began. Rey is kneeling at the foot of a reluctant and reclusive Luke Skywalker. Patricidal Kylo Ren is rent in two by what should have been his definitive turn to the dark side. General Organa is continuing her lifelong mission of subverting oppressive regimes while wrestling with the idea that her son has turned. Finn is still a First Order deserter who has to battle his me-first-and-f*ck-all-y’all-I’m-saving-myself instinct. Luke is still out here battling the same demons he’s been battling since the first installment: himself and all of his big, huge feelings. Poe Dameron, too, is battling his impulses to achieve his goals.

What the movie does well is link each of these individual journeys to the larger over-arching narrative. The cogs fit well. By the end of the movie, most of these characters reach new personal miles…