The recently-published novelization of Star Wars: The Last Jedi contains several reveals that enhance our understanding of the film. Released late last year, Episode VIII proved to be one of the most divisive entries in the franchise, unpacking a dense and loaded narrative that fundamentally changed the course of the saga while broadening the mythology and lore. It's a film people will continue to debate for a long time - at least until Episode IX his theaters and wraps up the sequel trilogy. Arguably, only then will audiences be able to properly evaluate The Last Jedi's contributions to the saga.Given how polarizing The Last Jedi was, there was hope the book would be able to improve upon its more controversial aspects and sway the naysayers back to the light side. Lucasfilm actually billed Jason Fry's adaptation as an "Expanded Edition" of the movie, as it goes into greater detail than possible in the film medium. With the novel now hitting shelves, we're taking a look at the biggest revelations within its pages and what it means for canon.The Skywalker Twins' Tragic Lives (This Page)
Luke Skywalker's Dream
The book begins with a prologue, depicting Luke dreaming of an alternate life he could have lived if he chose a different path. In this hypothetical reality, he never left Tatooine, giving the droids up to the Empire so he could stay on the Lars family homestead and be a moisture farmer. Luke grew old on the desert world with his wife Camie (a character from A New Hope's deleted scenes) by his side, but sometimes wonders how things would have turned out if he took Princess Leia's pleading message to heart and answered the call. As it stands, the Empire still reigns over the galaxy, having eliminated the Rebellion long ago. When Luke wakes from his sleep on Ahch-To, he realizes this was the Force's doing and isn't sure how to interpret it.
A key part of Luke's arc in the sequel trilogy is the regret he feels over how things turned out, so it isn't surprising to see him imagining a more peaceful existence where he never learned the harrowing truth about his family, became a Jedi, or failed his own nephew in training. In his youth, Luke was eager to leave Tatooine behind and go on daring adventures, but as an elderly man, his mindset is much different. That he would dream of this adds layers to his character and makes his fall even more depressing.
The Reason for Luke's Costume Change
At the end of The Force Awakens, Rey finds Luke standing atop a cliff on Ahch-To in white Jedi robes, but immediately after rejecting the lightsaber, he goes back to his hut to change into a different outfit. This sudden shift in attire seemed odd, but there's an in-universe explanation behind it. The robes from Force Awakens are ceremonial Jedi robes that appear to be connected to the ritual of burning down the library with the original Jedi texts. It's for this reason Luke is back in his Force Awakens clothes during the scene with Yoda.
Related: Luke Skywalker Didn't Change for The Last Jedi
The book mentions Luke had gone to destroy the library multiple times before, but could never bring himself to do it. In fact, when Rey finds him in Episode VII, Skywalker is brooding after another failed attempt. Despite his feelings that it was time for the Jedi to end, Luke was still sentimental about the Order. This isn't entirely surprising, seeing that he spent decades on missions with R2-D2 collecting various Jedi artifacts around the galaxy. To burn the library would be burning his life's work. Yoda, of course, had no such qualms.
Luke Was Going To Go Back With Rey
For much of The Last Jedi, Rey fruitlessly tries to convince Luke to rejoin the Resistance and help in the fight against Kylo Ren. But Luke is convinced the galaxy is a better place without him and repeatedly refuses to get involved. In the movie, Skywalker's change of heart is spurred by Yoda's final lesson, but in the novel it takes place a little earlier. Luke originally intended to physically leave the island with Rey.
This scene in the book happens shortly after Luke reawakens the Force inside him, and he realizes Rey was right all along. Knowing Leia and the rest of his friends are in grave danger, Luke recognizes the galaxy's need for a spark of hope and is willing to go back. However, he changes his mind when he sees Rey communicating with Kylo Ren in her hut and the two have their fight. Luke knows what Rey did not. Ben Solo was forever lost, and Rey had to learn things were not going to the way she thought on her own. One has to wonder how Luke's last stand on Crait would have played out if he left Ahch-To, but that's something we'll never know for sure.
A Funeral for Han
Audiences bid a tearful farewell to Han Solo in The Forces Awakens. While Last Jedi didn't have much time to harp on the loss, the novel includes an additional scene where the Resistance holds a memorial service for the late hero. Leia, of course, says some kind words, remarking how Han "hated bullies and injustice" all throughout his life - from his youth on Corellia to his final moments on Starkiller Base. It's possible this passage contains clues about Han's characterization in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Related: The Last Jedi Didn't Have Time For Han's Funeral
It's becoming more apparent that Han's tough, roguish exterior was nothing more than a facade. In Solo, he's far more of an idealist than we're accustomed to seeing and is out to prove himself in the galactic underworld. He wants to be one of the leading criminal figures, but has too big a heart to fully go down that path. Leia hinted as much in her speech saying, "Han fancied himself a scoundrel. But he wasn't." It'll be interesting to see how Alden Ehrenreich's version is portrayed.
Leia's Medical Condition
The Last Jedi made waves by introducing several new Force powers, and other than Luke's astral projection, the most notorious was "Leia Poppins." By now, the image of Leia floating through space is well-known, as the General channeled her Force abilities in a last-ditch effort to stay alive. She stayed in a coma recovering for a good stretch of the film, but viewers didn't learn much about her condition. The book, however, reveals a little more.
When Poe Dameron goes to check on Leia, C-3PO mentions things about ebullism (formation of gas bubbles in bodily fluids due to reduced environmental pressure), hypoxia (insufficient oxygen reaching tissues), and solar radiation exposure to the pilot. As we know, Leia awoke from her coma and survived the film's third act, but it will be interesting to see if these effects have anything to do with the character's absence in Episode IX. Leia was originally meant to be at the forefront of the sequel trilogy finale, but following Carrie Fisher's passing, those plans changed and J.J. Abrams will have to explain what happened to Leia.
Leia's Moment With Chewie
In perhaps the book's most emotional scene, Leia has a private moment with Chewbacca in the Millennium Falcon cockpit. She tells the Wookiee Luke sacrificed himself so the Resistance can live. As Chewie mourns the death of another friend, the grief Leia has been holding inside becomes to much for her to bear. Embracing Chewbacca, Leia finally allows herself a chance to weep for all she's lost over the years, including Han, Luke, and her son. She would never allow herself to be seen in such a way in front of the Resistance members she's supposed to lead, but in the company of an old friend, things are different.
The death of Fisher makes this passage much more tragic in our world. Leia's final words to Chewie are, "It's just us now, but we'll find a way." Of course, Chewie will sadly have to soldier on all on his own, as his trio of faithful companions will all be gone by the time Episode IX picks up. It's true the lovable Wookiee is close with Rey and knows Finn (plus, Artoo and Treepio will always be there), but there's no denying it just isn't the same. In the original trilogy, Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie became a family, and now there's only one left.
Supreme Leader Snoke's Backstory
Many fans were perturbed (to say the least) after Rian Johnson made the decision to kill Snoke in The Last Jedi. The character who spawned a million theories and was positioned as an all-powerful antagonist had been brought down in an instant, with very little of his origins revealed onscreen. This was a conscious choice on Johnson's part, as he felt such things would bog his story down. Where Snoke came from was irrelevant to the larger picture; the Supreme Leader was a red herring to serve Kylo Ren's personal arc and now has no more part in the story.
Related: When Will We Learn Snoke's Backstory?
But Lucasfilm did craft a backstory for the character, and some of it is revealed in Fry's book. As hinted at in the Aftermath trilogy, the First Order rose from Emperor Palpatine's Contingency plan, which he organized for decades. The old Empire set up shipyards, labs, and storehouses in the Unknown Regions in preparation of a possible collapse. Refugees who traveled there after the Battle of Jakku were ill-suited to deal with the horrors they faced, but it was Snoke's knowledge that saved them. Much like Darth Sidious, Snoke knew of the truths of the Force that existed in the Unknown Regions and used them for his own advantage. His ultimate goal is to reclaim what the Empire lost and build upon their rebuilt foundation.
The book also notes Snoke's manipulation and exploitation of Ben Solo was what spurred Luke to create a new Jedi Order - the one Ben ultimately destroyed. Originally, Luke was content to search the galaxy for old Jedi artifacts and lore, but the potential power (and danger) of his nephew led him to open the Temple and teach others the ways of the Force.
The Role of the Supremacy
From the opening sequence of A New Hope, Star Wars villains have always had massive ships, but most everything they've had is quite small compared to the Supremacy. That's because the vehicle isn't just a new Star Destroyer. It's a mobile capital for the First Order where everything from soldier armor to ships are constructed. At this point in time, the First Order does not have a singular home base planet of operations (think: the Resistance and D'Qar), but it will be interesting to see how things change now that Kylo Ren is in charge.
Of course, the Supremacy was destroyed thanks to Admiral Holdo's daring maneuver, but it doesn't seem like it will be too big a setback for the villains. In the aftermath of the ship's destruction, General Hux doesn't seem overtly concerned about the loss, knowing the First Order remains well-resourced. The book frequently hints they could even have more superweapons under construction, so the Resistance remains the underdog.
Knights of Ren
Ever since their namedrop in The Force Awakens, fans have wanted to learn more about the Knights of Ren. Kylo is said to be their master, but they've had virtually nothing to do in the sequel trilogy. The Knights were briefly seen in Rey's Force vision from Episode VII, and Luke mentions Kylo ran off with a handful of his students after destroying the Temple. Johnson explained they're not in Star Wars 8 because there frankly wasn't room for them in the movie. But the benefit of the book is that it can flesh out aspects the film necessarily can't.
Related: Star Wars 9 Needs To Include Knights of Ren
The Knights of Ren have a minuscule presence in the book, but it does not sound like they're aligned with Snoke. An early passage remarks Snoke and Kylo are the only two Force users in the First Order. Snoke also seems fairly unimpressed by the whole "Ren" thing, brushing off the identity as nothing more than a lost Ben seeking wish fulfillment. With Kylo the new Supreme Leader, however, it's possible he calls on his old allies to serve a role similar to that of the praetorian guards. It would be a wasted opportunity if Episode IX ignored the Knights completely.
More Insight Into General Hux
Hux admittedly does not have the biggest part in the new films, acting as a secondary villain who constantly bickers with Kylo Ren. The Last Jedi used him mainly for comic relief, but Fry is given an opportunity to flesh the character out a bit to make him more well-rounded. Hux does not consider Snoke or Kylo Ren to be the ruler the First Order needs to thrive and fancies himself as a prospective Supreme Leader. Hux's sentiments about Snoke were shared by others, who felt Gallius Rax, Rae Sloane, or even Hux's father Brendol would have been a preferred option at the top.
Speaking of Brendol, he's partially the reason Kylo keeps Hux so close during the battle on Crait. Hux gained notoriety for removing anyone who stood in his way, including his own father (sound familiar, Kylo?). Kylo is afraid of being betrayed by Hux on Crait, so he's not letting the general out of his sight. Kylo also sees Crait as an opportunity to remind his subordinates who's in charge.
Additionally, Hux's stormtrooper training program is described as a combination of the old Jedi Order and Republic Clone Trooper methods, plucking precarious youngsters from birth and training them for battle. He views his army as the Jedi's lasting legacy, which makes him smile.
Kylo Ren Backstory Details
Not much is known about Ben Solo's youth, but the Last Jedi novelization provides more clues concerning his turn to the dark side. There's a section where Kylo recalls overhearing conversations Han and Leia had about their son's burgeoning power, speaking of him as if he was a monster and not their child. Because they were scared of his potential, they shipped him away with Luke, and things were never the same again.
Through the flashbacks, The Last Jedi went a long way in shaping Kylo as a sympathetic antagonist. Based on the information presented in the film and book, it's easy to see why Ben would turn. Luke, his uncle and teacher, betrayed him (if only for a fleeting moment) and his parents were too "weak" to deal with the situation. He really had no choice but to find a different path to follow. Kylo says to Rey in the novelization he didn't hate his parents, but it's clear he was disappointed in them. It makes sense he would want to let the past die.
Kylo and Leia's Force Connection
One of the standout moments in the film is a part where Kylo and Leia connect through the Force, as Kylo targets the Resistance flagship. The former Ben Solo cannot bring himself to kill his mother, and he takes his hand off the trigger. In the movie, it's clear the two are sensing each other's feelings, and the book elaborates on this scene. The text reveals Kylo sees Leia is worried for him and desperately wants him to come back to her. This is why he couldn't go through with the action of ending her life. After another First Order pilot fires at the Raddus, Fry writes, "If he [Kylo] had known, he could have stopped the torpedo," suggesting he would have tried to save Leia. This is very different from his experience with Han and his pure hatred for Luke.
Related: Kylo Ren Cannot Be Redeemed
Unfortunately, this is the closest to an interaction between Kylo and Leia we'll see onscreen. It will be interesting to see how Ben reacts to the loss of his mother in Episode IX, but it will no doubt make him quite emotional. Murdering Han split his spirit to the bone, after all. If Lucasfilm uses solar radiation poisoning as Leia's cause of death, Kylo could even feel responsible for what happened.
Reylo Hints
In the age of fans 'shipping their favorite pop culture characters, one notable pairing to gain traction is "Reylo," which imagines a romantic relationship between Rey and Kylo. The Last Jedi largely eschewed a love story element, but it does toy with the notion of something being there. The duo's Force Skype talks are laced with sexual tension, particularly towards the end when they touch hands. Since the book can provide further insight into the characters' minds, people were on the search for Reylo clues.
After Rey's incident in the Ahch-To cave, she feels immense relief when she sees Kylo and can confide in him about what happened. Later, during their ride to Snoke's throne room, Rey senses Kylo's "churning emotions" are about her, and Kylo silently pleads with Snoke to stop torturing Rey. Lastly, when Kylo awakes after the fight with the guards and realizes Rey left him alive, he notes it was "almost as if she cared for him." The book never gets more explicit than that, but it does indicate there might have been some romantic feelings.
Related: The Last Jedi Novelization Explains How Rey Learned the Jedi Mind Trick
Any interest has likely passed by the end of The Last Jedi. Kylo swears to Luke he will destroy Rey (saying her name "like it was poison"), and Rey breaks the connection they had when she closes the Falcon ramp. In that moment, Kylo notices Rey's eyes aren't filled with hatred, but don't have compassion either.
Rey Contemplated Killing Kylo Ren
Rey had a chance to kill her enemy in The Force Awakens, and apparently another one presented itself in The Last Jedi. While waiting for Chewie after escaping the throne room, Rey thinks over her decision to not murder the unconscious Kylo Ren before leaving. She opted not to do it because the future is a "range of possibilities" and she did not want to repeat the same mistakes Luke made. As part of her training, Rey learned the Force is so much bigger than she thought, and people like her and Kylo are its instruments - not the other way around. Since "the Force wasn't finished" with Kylo, she chose to let the will of the Force play out.
With Episode IX positioned not just as the end of the sequel trilogy, but the entire Skywalker saga, the conflict between Rey and Kylo will have to be resolved some way. Many are expecting the two to have another duel, though Last Jedi broke tradition and did not have a typical lightsaber battle. Perhaps J.J. Abrams has some tricks up his sleeve and he'll find a more creative way to end this thread, since it sounds like Rey isn't too keen on killing Kylo herself. Things could change between now and Star Wars 9, however.
Rose's Romance With Finn
After spending most of Force Awakens with Rey, Finn got a new friend in Rose during Last Jedi as they go on a secret mission for Poe. Though they meet under less than ideal circumstances (with Finn attempting to run away), they grow close over the course of their adventure. Finn and Rose shared a small kiss on Crait, and the book hints at the full scope of Rose's feelings for the former stormtrooper.
One line in the novel notes Rose thinks Finn is "handsome," but is turned off by the "weird traitor thing." Considering Finn's past as a First Order deserter, Rose is quite fascinated with him and views him as a galactic hero. It's also mentioned throughout the book Rose is tired of hearing Finn wax on about Rey, perhaps harboring some feelings of jealousy towards the scavenger. Unfortunately for Rose, if John Boyega had his way, Finn would end up with Rey, but it's all going to depend on what Abrams wants to do.
More Details On Maz Kanata
Outside of Captain Phasma, it's difficult to find a worse character in the sequel trilogy than Maz Kanata. This is not an indictment on actress Lupita Nyong'o, but a commentary on how the filmmakers have implemented her. It doesn't help matters Maz is at the forefront of a clunky second act in The Force Awakens, and her hologram scene is one of the worst in Last Jedi by far. Abrams and Johnson seem to be at a loss of what to do with her, and it's unknown if she'll be back for Episode IX. Fortunately, non-movie canon is here to add a little more to Maz.
Prior to her conversation with Finn, Poe, and Rose, the novel mentions Maz has endured 67 injuries, 22 of which were considered life-threatening. She has gone through a plethora of treatments and remains on her feet after a millennium of life. Author Fry doesn't expand beyond that, but it certainly fleshes Maz out more than her cinematic appearances have, and may actually make fans more interested in her endeavors. Her various exploits would be ideal for a comic series or another novel. It would be a great way to salvage what could have been a very interesting character.
R2-D2's Secret Relationship With The Falcon
For many Star Wars fans, the Millennium Falcon is as much a character as Darth Vader or Han Solo. The ship has been front and center during some of the saga's biggest moments and is one of the most popular images in all of pop culture. Dating back to The Empire Strikes Back, Lucasfilm has given the Falcon some personality, with Threepio noting its peculiar dialect. But Fry takes things one step further in his book.
Towards the end while R2-D2 is scanning the Crait surface for the surviving Resistance members, the text details his relationship with the "cantankerous" Falcon. In a surprising revelation, it's revealed the ship has a taste for "romantic gossip and dirty jokes," which Artoo is happy to provide. It's for that reason he gets along with the Falcon, but the prim and proper Threepio does not. This is something to keep in mind next time you watch Artoo fix the ship's hyperdrive in Empire.
With the Falcon having specific traits like this, it's caused some fans to wonder if L3-37, Lando Calrissian's droid companion in Solo, actually is the Falcon, uploading her consciousness to the ship's mainframe. If that turns out true, that would only make the Falcon's possible destruction in Episode IX more harrowing.
Rebel Alliance Secrets
Crait plays a key role in The Last Jedi and is a very important planet in Star Wars canon. As revealed in Claudia Gray's Leia novel, it was the home of an old Rebellion base, which is why the Resistance seeks shelter there while on the run from the First Order. Of course, the Alliance had to keep their presence there a secret, and even after the fall of the Empire, their leaders found that old habits died hard.
Related: How Leia Got Involved With The Rebellion
Following the Galactic Civil War, the Rebels turned over their military secrets to the New Republic, but key figures like Leia and Admiral Ackbar decided to keep a few things close to the chest. This was a necessary measure in the case of future disaster. The Alliance veterans stashed files in navicomputers that contained hyperspace routes and the location of Rebel safeworlds, like Crait.
A Caretaker's Life
Fry gives The Last Jedi an epilogue set on Ahch-To, told from the perspective of a Caretaker. It fleshes out the nun-like aliens, revealing it is their responsibility to aid visitors in any way they can, such as cooking meals and cleaning clothes. There is always a head matron to take care of these tasks, and eventually the matron passes the title down to their daughter. Luke was a different kind of visitor to Ahch-To, arriving with artifacts presumably taken from the planet long ago. Skywalker insisted on doing everything himself and had a nice relationship with the Caretakers. He learned their language and their traditions, taking part in the Festival of Return each month during his exile.
Of course, by the end of The Last Jedi, Ahch-To has no more outside guests. Rey left on the Falcon with Chewie and Artoo, while Luke became one with the Force. The Caretakers gathered Luke's belongings and stored them in a repository with other objects they've amassed over generations. The book mentions other visitors on Ahch-To either leapt to their death into the water or allowed the Force to take them.
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As you can see, the Last Jedi novelization is much more than just a basic retelling of the film. For fans of the movie, it's certainly worth picking up and makes for a great companion piece.
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