Luke Skywalker's Last Jedi Death Was More Like Obi-Wan's Than I Realized

Luke Skywalker’s death in Star Wars: The Last Jedi was certainly controversial, but it really had an incredible connection to one other key Star Wars death—that of his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The sequel trilogy was a complex addition to Star Wars movies and TV shows. Although it thrillingly brought back the original trilogy’s heroes, many viewers were displeased with how this was done. In fact, although there were admittedly a number of issues with the sequel trilogy, the handling of Luke Skywalker’s character, his death included, was one of the most prominent grievances.

In truth, I agree there were disappointing aspects of Luke Skywalker’s character in the sequels. Like many, I had expected that this brand-new era of the canon Star Wars timeline would reveal Luke Skywalker in his prime as a Jedi Master running a newfound Jedi Order. Nevertheless, there was more to Luke Skywalker’s death than originally met the eye, and it’s all to do with his connection to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Darth Vader Didn’t Actually Kill Obi-Wan In A New Hope

As is well-known, Darth Vader didn’t really kill Obi-Wan Kenobi. In A New Hope, Obi-Wan and Darth Vader had one final showdown, which only became even more monumental with the added context of the prequel trilogy and newer Star Wars shows. In fact, not only did Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith prove that this fight in A New Hope was far from Vader and Obi-Wan’s first, but also, Obi-Wan Kenobi revealed that they had yet another battle (of equal skill and magnitude) after that.

Yet, in A New Hope, even with the two powerful Force-users engaged in one final lightsaber battle, it wasn’t a strike from Darth Vader that brought down Obi-Wan Kenobi. Rather, when Darth Vader struck Obi-Wan, all his lightsaber came in contact with was Obi-Wan’s robe as it fell to the ground; Obi-Wan had already disappeared into the Force. In fact, Obi-Wan hadn’t been killed at all.

Luke Disappeared Into The Force In The Same Way As Obi-Wan

Fascinatingly, Luke Skywalker’s death in The Last Jedi was nearly identical. At the end of The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren and Luke finally had the confrontation that the story had been building toward. However, all was not as it seemed, as Luke wasn’t really there in person at all. Instead, Luke was using one of the most incredible Force abilities in Star Wars: astral projection.

Astral projection gave Luke the power to appear before Kylo Ren on Crait, although he was really still on Ahch-To. Luckily for the Resistance, Kylo Ren fell for this ruse long enough that the remaining Resistance fighters were able to escape. Ultimately, though, the sheer physical demand of this act led to Luke Skywalker’s death, as, just like Obi-Wan, Luke simply slipped into the Force and disappeared when he died.

While many bristled at this end for the Star Wars hero, I find the connection between Obi-Wan’s death and Luke’s to be incredibly meaningful. For one, it reveals what a unique bond Luke and Obi-Wan had with the Force, as surely not just any Jedi was able to become one with the Force in this way. For another, this is a wonderful ‘rhyme’ between Luke and Obi-Wan. While Luke Skywalker’s death in Star Wars: The Last Jedi was nevertheless sad, this connection to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s death softens the blow somewhat by giving it even more meaning.