Intergalactic Comics: Theories and Details: A Closer Look at The Last Jedi Trailer

Friday, April 14, 2017

Theories and Details: A Closer Look at The Last Jedi Trailer

By: Haylee Fisher (@haylee_fisher)

Now that we’ve had the chance to get the reactionary squeals of delight out of the way, let’s get down to the details in the teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Released today at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, this first trailer gives us a peek at the next chapter of Star Wars, continuing with Rey, Poe, and Finn’s journey, but also featuring glimpses of beloved characters like Luke and Leia. Below are minute-by-minute tidbits to look out for, but before diving in, let’s watch the trailer one more time, shall we?

Rey

The last time we saw Rey, she had journeyed to Ahch-To to find Luke. The trailer picks up pretty much where The Force Awakens left off, though at the end of that movie, she had completed her quest and reached Luke. Here, she’s gasping for air. Is it a flashback to her trip up the mountain, or is Luke training her to the point of exhaustion, as Yoda did him?

The Voiceover

The voiceover throughout the trailer perhaps indicates the latter and that Luke is training her and the two shall become the last Jedi. He tells her to breathe, to calm herself and clear her mind – again, as Yoda taught him to do – and asks her what she sees. She responds, “Light. Darkness. The balance.” Clearly the war between good and evil still wages on and Luke is helping her tap into the Force to attune herself to its power to help her in the fight ahead.

Floating Rocks

They’re only shown for three seconds, but it appears Luke is teaching Rey to use the Force to move objects, starting small with rocks. But if she’s able to move so many during what is presumably early in her training, maybe she’s even more Force-sensitive than initially thought.

Leia

There’s an even shorter look at Leia, but even in that small glimpse, it’s obvious she’s still a general badass and a General badass. Rumor has it her role will be larger and more significant than it was in The Force Awakens, plus it has already been confirmed she will appear in Episode 9.

That Helmet!

Whose helmet is that, burnt and in pieces on the ground? Yes, Vader’s breathing plays over it, but could it in fact be Kylo Ren’s helmet? Maybe The Last Jedi will start his redemption journey and this signifies his remorse for killing his father? However, the former is probably more accurate and he just had another temper tantrum and destroyed his grandfather’s helmet.

Books in a Tree?

I like to pride myself on my Star Wars knowledge, but this one is stumping me. Seen in the middle of the trailer are what appear to be books hidden in a tree. Why were they hidden there? Whose are they? And whose hand is caressing one at the end of the shot? Are they looking at a map? So many questions! Leave a comment with your theories as to what they could be!

Lightsaber Training

Though seen from far away, it doesn’t take much to notice Rey wielding a lightsaber while Luke looks on. She demonstrated her unquestionably inherent abilities with a lightsaber in The Force Awakens, but it will be so exciting to see what she can do with one when properly trained.

Black Squadron?

Is that Poe’s Black Squadron zooming away to fight AT-ATs in the distance? And why does one crash to the ground? Could an unskilled pilot (Finn?) be driving?

Finn

Speaking of Finn, our only glimpse of him shows him to still be in a coma. Yes, his condition was a cliffhanger at the end of The Force Awakens, but it’s obvious he’s going to pull through. Star Wars wouldn’t do that again after sidelining Han Solo in carbonite earlier in the franchise. I would have liked to see him kicking butt alongside Rey and Poe, though.

Poe

It’s always good to see Poe, but he’s not in a good situation in the trailer. He and BB-8 are running scared down a hallway and looking to escape on Poe’s jet, which is then promptly blown up. Who is attacking their base?

Millennium Falcon

Yes, the Millennium Falcon is in on the action! With Han Solo no longer at the helm (sniffle), who could be piloting? Rey? Chewie? Whoever it is, I can’t wait to find out!

Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren

Kylo Ren is clearly mad about something in this trailer (but when is he not?) and it appears he and the Knights of Ren are out to destroy more property (but when are they not?). Hopefully their origins will be explored – one theory is that they are Luke’s former Padawans gone bad – and through this film, audiences will get to learn more about the background of this evil group.

R2-D2

Though his companion C-3PO isn’t seen, R2-D2 gets a moment in the spotlight, and what a moment it is. The droid and a hooded figure (Luke?) look on as a building (the Jedi temple?) burns to the ground. Will we get to learn the story of Luke’s failed training and subsequent self-imposed exile? All signs point to yes!