This 'Last Jedi' Deleted Scene Shows Luke's True Personality
One of the greatest things to learn about the Jedi Order is the different relationships between master and apprentice. In the original trilogy, we saw the beautiful yet tough relationship between Luke and Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Years later in the prequels, we got to see the father-son relationship Obi-Wan has with is Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and the brotherly relationship Obi-Wan has with his padawan Anakin Skywalker.
In the sequel trilogy, we got to see a more antagonistic relationship between master and apprentice when we saw Luke and Rey in The Last Jedi. Although these two carry a lot of tension toward each other throughout the film, there is a deleted scene that shows a lighter side to their master and padawan relationship.
In the deleted scene, Rey sees a village that appears to be under attack. Luke tells her to do nothing. Rey heads to help the village, and when she arrives, she sees that it is nothing more than a party. Rey goes back to her master and finds out that it is nothing more than a joke.
Rey finds Luke’s humor to be extremely rude, as she reminds him that while he’s playing jokes, the galaxy is suffering at the hands of the First Order. This scene shows that Luke has no care or concern for what is happening in the galaxy, or that he has completely given up and lost all hope in the Jedi.
If this scene had been included in the final cut of The Last Jedi, it would have added to the conflicted relationship between Rey and Luke. This would have helped to show more of Luke’s careless feelings toward Rey, the Jedi, and the Resistance’s mission.
Although Luke remains an arrogant mentor for much of the film, he is given a lesson by Master Yoda that changes his arrogant ways. Yoda shows Luke that no matter how old you are, or the rank you hold, you can always learn something new. The scene between Yoda and Luke shows us how Luke is still a young teenager to Yoda’s eyes, that no matter how old he is, he’s still a youngling to Master Yoda, and he could use one more lesson.
Although Rey and Luke have a rough start, Luke ends up being that father figure that Rey always wanted. Rey means so much to Luke and Leia that they allow her to take their family’s last name, the legendary last name, Skywalker. Rey taking the Skywalker last name is not only a sign of honor to her mentors, but also shows Luke and Leia adopting Rey into their family.
Luke goes through a very questionable character arc in The Last Jedi, but at the end, he gives his very last breath to save those he loves, giving the Resistance a way to escape, and also giving them a chance to live and fight another day.
If the deleted scene remained in the released cut of The Last Jedi, it would have also added that extra touch that would have shown us that Luke had give up so much, but was still willing to make jokes. It would have further fleshed out his sarcastic sense of humor in this era.
Our beloved Jedi Master has such a hard journey in the sequel trilogy, especially in The Last Jedi. Although we did not get to see a lot between Rey and Luke, what we have shows us that Luke cares for her, and believes in her more than he believes in himself.
Source(s): CBR