I think that sort of highlights the problem with the Jedi and their flaws. I don’t blame them, though, Vader committed mass genocide. I don’t think OW and Yoda were bad or anything, but it just goes to show how Luke was different, he was the only one who could break through to his father. A better kind of Jedi. (Kinda precisely the reason why I disliked his portrayal in TLJ)
Very interesting discussion. But why is it taking place in this thread?
In TESB and ROTJ he is young and idealistic. That does tend to make one the best. In TLJ he is old and jaded and that is a valid look at the same character. I liked how pieces of his earlier portrayal in ANH and TESB peeked through.
I understand it makes sense in the real world that people change, but narratively it has to be conveyed and developed better. Luke had a very strong character arc in which he grew as a person and as a Jedi. In the world of story, seeing his defining character trait and moment (him sparing Vader in hopes of redeeming him) cast aside and forgotten this easily is wrong. Specially considering that he’s this way since before the start of the movie. We don’t see a transition into this version of Luke that we can get behind, the flashbacks just show him already being different (deeming Ben gone and ATTEMPTING MURDER). Therefore, it feels like a betrayal to his character. IMO.
Why are we going by Kylo Ren’s version here? We are presented with 3 version and Rey makes Luke tell her the true one. In that, he acts on instinct to the evil growing in his nephew, draws and ignites his saber, but does nothing further. But Ben wakes and defends. Luke was always quick to action and even in ROTJ, took a moment to do the right thing. So I don’t see any problem with the way he told it to Rey the second time. It fits his personality. But because it wasn’t the first version we hear, it seems to be the last considered. Luke never tried to kill him, only drew and ignited his saber at the danger he sensed. And his first lesson with Kenobi was to act on instinct. And then when Kylo Ren destroys the new school and kills all the students (or do some follow him to the dark side?), Luke is crushed. Crushed that his student did this. That his nephew did this. That he triggered his nephew to do this. So he leaves and ends up in self-exile on Ach-to. This all fits with the Luke I grew up with in the OT. It shows an amazing understanding of human frailty in the face of unspeakable tragedy. That he loses that stable Jedi veneer and reverts back to his whiny farm boy traits is epic in its ties to mythology and the fallen older hero as well as realistic human reactions. Sure some don’t like to see their hero come to this, but he is not the hero of the ST. He is a side character there to aid the success of the main characters.