The Star Wars Experience

A long time ago, we discovered a galaxy far, far away...

In a universe that spans seven movies and thirty-eight years, everyone has a different story with how they were introduced to Star Wars. Here are ours.

Isaac B. (20s)

I watched Star Wars for the first time when I was in 4th grade. We had been flipping through the cable channels, and there was a documentary about it. Everything in it caught my attention, from the hairy Chewbacca to Han in Carbonite. Even the lightsabers were so foreign to me, I was both interested and freaked out. Nonetheless, when my parents saw the documentary, they thought it was about time to introduce me and my younger siblings to the saga.

They picked up all three of the original trilogy from the video rental store, ordered a couple pizzas, and our watching experience began. As my dad began reading the scrolling text (for the sake of my younger siblings), I knew that this was different than anything I had watched before. Indeed, all the strangeness of what I'd seen in the documentary came to life to a new level. Odd creatures, ships, and even entire planets seemed to appear out of nowhere and draw my attention, and just as I felt I could wrap my mind around one oddity, another would be in front of me. It was only months later that I began to realize each oddity had a name: Tauntaun, Blockade Runner, Nien Numb. I think it was ultimately this initial intrigue coupled with the extensive world building and history of the Star Wars universe that has made me such a fan.

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My first experiences watching it were only expanded upon by the "research" I could do on StarWars.com and Wookiepedia, not to mention that each new movie I saw added an entirely new dimension to the world. I think this is also why my experiences with the prequels often seem so much stronger in my memory, for I had already seen and learned so much, and yet there was more! Hallelujah, there was more! It's really entertaining to go back and watch the movies again (as of course, I have countless times in my childhood, adolescence, and now early adulthood), for I can still clearly remember the novelty of it all. These movies never die or grow old for me, just like the best of fandoms.

Kaylee F. (20s)

I was born in '92, so I missed the original trilogy. But they were my dad's favorite movies, and because he was a doctor, he was never home. On the rare occasion he was home, he just wanted to chill, so he'd throw on Star Wars. I'd climb up next to him on the couch so that I could actually get time in with my dad, so I fell in love with Star Wars too.

When Episode I came out, I was in first grade, floating on air because I was seeing this movie, in theaters, with my dad, and it was our favorite. I was completely enchanted with and terrified by Episode I. It was the most lifelike CGI I had ever seen. I was obsessed and began reading in the Extended Universe (which is now wiped clean).

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And Episode II and III just felt like a massive disappointment. I was able to engage myself with some of Episode II because of repeated characters, like Boba Fett. But the story line stopped making sense. Episode III was extremely boring for me, as well as dark. I didn't, at the time, understand why things had to end on so dark a note. Nothing was scary or sinister the way Darth Maul had been, so it was more dark because it was murdering children, a pregnant woman, and all the heroes. Because I was so engaged with the books, I understood what was happening later on, but when I watched them in theaters, I didn't get it, and I was old enough to get it—I had read The Iliad and The Odyssey. I was capable of understanding Star Wars. It was terrible writing and directing, and it needed explanation.

The great thing about the original trilogies is that they were simple. You knew who was bad, you knew who was good... a four-year-old could follow along. Not so the later trilogy. Too much watery dialogue, too many extra characters that operated as their own person instead of a nameless pawn...

But Star Wars is still the greatest concept in the entire world.

Bennett D. (20s)

My first experience with Star Wars came at the very young age of 5 years old when my parents were watching TV one night and came across the first movie (I refuse to call it A New Hope). I only saw maybe five minutes of it, but I was hooked. As my parents said, in one night I went from Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine to obsessing about Star Wars. ALL the Star Wars, ALL the time. Drawing, gathering nuggets of info from library books, wanting the toys, begging to see the movies.... I was completely hooked.

A few years later I was finally allowed to watch the Original Trilogy, which only made me even more of a fan. Every time one of the episodes was on TV, I'd try and watch it. (This is back in the VHS and Laserdisc days, mind you. What are those? Ask your parents...) Around this time is when the Prequels came out, which meant a new array of toys and information to gather. I eventually saw Episodes I and II on TV and VHS after their respective theatrical runs and enjoyed them but not as much the older ones.

When Revenge of the Sith landed in theaters in 2005, I was 13 and finally able to see one of the installments in the cinema. I went, I saw, and I enjoyed... though upon further reflection afterwards, I realized it wasn't as awesome as the initial "cinema experience" had led me to believe. I had heard about how poorly the Prequels were and agreed they were not as good as the Originals, but it was only after Episode III had come and gone along with re-watches of the OT that I realized how lackluster the new trilogy had been. While containing interesting ideas, Lucas's writing and directing dragged otherwise good possibilities into the mire of overly reliant CGI spectacles with little of the emotional resonance of the Original Trilogy. Or the acting prowess for that matter....

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As for the Expanded Universe and its plethora of books, games, comics and toys... I never got into it. Friends of mine did and would tell me about the continuing adventures of Luke, Leia, Han and the rest of the gang, but the entire EU never interested me enough to check it out. I pretty well stuck with the viewpoint of everything mentioned in the OT was canon and that was that... except for my own musings and made-up adventures for the characters after Return of the Jedi.

Even though I'm not as huge of a Star Wars geek as I was in my younger days, I still remain a lifelong fan of the original trilogy and the amazing films George Lucas and Co. created in the late 70's and early 80's. As for The Force Awakens, I remain excited and cautiously optimistic that Abrams and team have been able to concoct a worthy continuation to Star Wars.

Anna Catherine (16)

My parents were my official introduction to nerddom in every way, shape, and form. I remember snuggling up on the couch with my dad while watching the original Star Wars trilogy over and over. After we got the Lord of the Rings movies, we stopped watching Star Wars so often. I remember asking if we could watch "those space movies" again. I'm excited to relive my childhood watching the new film with my dad!

Eli C. (20s/30s)

I can't remember the first time I saw the original trilogy. They were among the catalog of films that made up my childhood from my earliest memories. But I remember finally getting through Empire Strikes Back in one sitting and understanding what actually happened, particularly in the middle, and the story of the trilogy made me so much happier seeing the full arc of everyone's stories.

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Shirley T. (81)

Jaime Heller's grandma

What I remember about the 1977 Star Wars movie. First of all, it was Star Wars...didn't know there would be sequels and prequels. Mark Hamill starred as Luke Skywalker. Never heard of Harrison Ford as Han Solo but liked him. He, Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2D2 stole the show. Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi: I knew as long time British actor. Knew Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia because her dad, Eddie Fisher, was popular in 'my day.' Dumb part of movie was the shooting scenes where the 'enemy' in white armor suits went down by the dozens but the 'heroes' were unscathed. The bar scene with all the strange looking outer space people was different. Darth Vader is fuzzy in my memory due to the scenes in later movies.

Overall, the movie was exciting.

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Cheryl L. (40s)

Erinn Leach's mom

1977, I was 10 years old and I remember seeing commercials for this new exciting movie that was coming soon to a theater near us. This was not like anything we've seen before, and we were going crazy! I remember me and my friends running all over the neighborhood collecting pop bottles to deposit, mowing lawns, doing whatever it took to get the money to see this movie.

The day it opened, we walked two blocks over to the Weslin theater in Massillon, stood in a long line for our tickets, then went inside to get our popcorn and Sugar Babies. We sat in the balcony and watched what I consider one of the greatest sci-fi films in history. Everything about it, from the music to the special effects and characters, had us glued to our seats.

I immediately fell in love with the dashing and witty Han Solo and his furry co-pilot Chewy. Princess Leia, for her brashness and not being a typical "Damsel in distress" was a great role model for us girls growing up in the '70's. Luke Skywalker's journey with guidance from Obi Wan as a Jedi. The duo of C3PO and R2D2, and of course the villain we all loved ...Darth Vader.

I have a confession...we hid in the theater to watch the second showing.

Michael T. (50s)

Jaime Heller's uncle

I also remember the launch of the 1977 Star Wars. I'm not sure if I saw it opening day in Ohio or not, but I remember that not many high school kids knew anything about it when it came out. I knew because I read Time Magazine and the Star Wars was already named as the Movie of the Year (see this article minus the really cool pictures here). The article was on 30 May and the opening was on 25 May somewhere, but I think that I read the article first. I remember the article talking about the amazing effects due to a computerized 'flying' camera -- and I loved anything computer at that time. I recall that article comparing to the 'previous' big sci-fi movie "2001" and "Whereas Kubrick had only about 35 different effects, Lucas has 363 special effects." I remember seeing the "text crawl" and thinking this is strange, but then the big ship (Star Cruiser) flew over and WOW!!! And Han shot first!!!

Oh, and I also remember that nearly everyone involved with the Movie and Special Effects were under 40 years old -- most closer to 30... and I thought that was cool! Doesn't seem as cool to me now!

Jaime Heller (20s)

For me, Star Wars has always kind of just been there. I don't remember the first time I watched it or heard about it. I've got glimpses of memories involving watching storm troopers doing something on the TV while at a relative's house. But for me, it's always been a part of my life. My dad and brother were huge fans, always raving about it. I watched the originals over and over growing up. I was five when Episode I was released. I know I must have gone to see it in theaters. I remember people discussing it, and my brother's friends talking about taking lightsabers to one of the older theaters to "lightsaber fight" in the balcony during it (though I bet they were lying).

I remember the Star Wars merchandise crowding our house from shoes and shirts to dishware to even markers and crayons. I had tons of Star Wars coloring books, which I would color for days on end (usually picking my favorites to color over ad over again). Everything was Star Wars. I remember seeing Episode II in theaters; people cheered when Yoda arrived to fight Count Dooku. I remember my brother watching the trailer for Episode III over and over again in order to analyze every detail. I remember seeing the moment when Anakin turns evil and feeling so sad.

For me, Star Wars was one of my earliest fandoms before I even knew what a fandom was. I read most of the kids books like the Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest series. I liked Ani, but I grew to love Obi-Wan. I liked Luke but I also loved Han. If asked who I would want to be when I grew up, I would undoubtedly say, 'Darth Vader.' (My sister wanted to be Leia, so I, of course, couldn't be. I was happy to be the masked dark lord though.) I played Star Wars with the neighbor boys. I had a collection of actions figures, which entertained me for hours. We played Lego Star Wars, and I would watch my brother play every Star Wars video game.

Star Wars has always been a part of my life, and it still is. Sure, for the past ten years I've discovered other fandoms while Star Wars kind of slid to the back of my thoughts. But with The Force Awakens, my love the adventure of it all has, well, re-awakened. And I'm ready to return to the Jedi, to the Millennium Falcon, to the galaxy... a long, long time ago.

Izzy Stevenson (20s)

I first saw the original Star Wars trilogy when I was a very little girl when my parents played their VHS tapes of them for me. I wasn’t old enough to understand all of it, but it left a bigger impression on me than I knew at the time. After going back and watching them again this year, I was surprised at how many scenes had inspired parts of my novels. They apparently left a pretty huge mark on my subconscious.

When I was growing up, the big thing was the prequels. I remember feeling the anticipation in the air when people started talking about a new Star Wars movie coming to theaters. Because I was so young, my parents had to sit me down and explain to me why this was such a big deal – especially the fact that it was a prequel. They reminded me that Darth Vader used to be a good man, and that the movie would most likely show him at that point and document how he went bad in the first place. They told me the movie would show what happened before Luke and Leia were even born.

I watched as all my friends’ and family’s time became consumed by slowly searching for spoilers on their sluggish 90’s dial-up internet. I remember being in awe when I saw my first leaked screenshot from the film, which showed a very mysterious woman who apparently would one day become Luke and Leia’s mother. But most of all, I was shocked when I eventually found out that, not only did the new Star Wars movie have a character who was my age (!!!),  he was said to be the child who would grow up to become Darth Vader himself! Star Wars was everywhere; it had taken over every conversation, every advertisement, and every fast food restaurant and toy store was carrying new merchandise. There was a puzzle being sold in Toys R Us where the finished picture showed a little blond boy walking in the desert, his shadow looking ominously like Darth Vader.

I must have stared at that picture a full ten minutes. I couldn’t understand how someone my age would be chosen to play a character who had been an iconic villain since long before I was born. I was thrilled and also jealous, even though I was a girl and couldn’t have played a young Darth Vader anyway.

When I saw The Phantom Menace, I was too young to notice the flaws, so all I saw was magic. It was the first movie I went to see in theaters twice. I even liked Jar Jar Binks (at the time). R2D2 had been my favorite character in the original trilogy, so I was thrilled I got to see his backstory. CGI was still very new to audiences as that time, and the visual worlds alone were enough to enrapture everyone. I wanted more than anything to visit that world. My friends and I would play Star Wars constantly, memorizing lines and acting out scenes. The political parts made absolutely no sense to us, so those were our favorites to act out. We couldn’t believe how grown up we sounded talking about such serious matters. You can imagine the expression on our parents’ faces as they watched us stand around, nine years old, blankets wrapped around us to look like capes or hoods, talking about the senate and trade disputes. My childhood best friend was obsessed with Queen Amidala and became famous to everyone we knew for her perfect imitation of her.

I liked the second movie even more when it came out. I was obsessed with the Kaminoans.

And I wanted to BE Zam Wesell. I was very upset she had such a short part in the movie, as well as the fact that I didn’t have the means to make a cosplay of her.

I was older and not as much into Star Wars by the time the third movie came out. But I enjoyed seeing Anakin finally turn evil, the birth of Luke and Leia, and I became a big fan of Ian McDiarmid after his performance as Palpatine.

A recent rewatch of the prequels proved that I don’t like them nearly as much as I did as a kid now that I’m old enough to see their (many) flaws. However, I recently rewatched the original trilogy and fell in *love* with it. It’s become one of my top fandoms. And I can’t wait for The Force Awakens to come out so I can experience the next stage of my personal Star Wars experience.

Steve W. (40s)

Sky Destrian's dad

What was life like before Star Wars? Well, let's see... first, the earth cooled, and then...

Seriously, I don't think even I truly realize how much movies change our lives. I could walk up in front of any audience in America practically, belt out, "Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya..." and get most of them to threaten my life en masse. When I was a kid, I remember the excitement of this "space movie" that had come out and that my folks were taking us to go see it. Everyone was excited, but my folks were still expecting to see rockets hung on wires and a plot that was tissue thin, a la Flash Gordon. They were totally surprised. and I can still remember the audience cheering as the Death Star exploded and Luke and Han (sorry Chewie, co-pilots don't count) got their medals and a kiss from the beautiful princess.

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It was a "Local farm boy makes good in the space military and saves the day" kind of story. It was Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader. That's how we played it on the playground with my first grade elementary class. Everyone wanted to be Luke, too, or Leia if you were a girl. I had the most fun as Darth Vader every day at recess. I couldn't concentrate on my first grade assignments (heavy duty stuff, mind you) because I was plotting all the time how to trap Luke Skywalker and make him pay for his wanton destruction of my beautiful Death Star. I didn't force choke anyone. I didn't need to. I compelled them through my theatrical presence! Well, impressed the kindergarteners. A few of them. Okay, one or two of them cried when I told them I was going to get them with my lightsaber. But I was great!

There was no Empire Strikes Back for four years! No Yoda, which was one weird experience explaining to our mothers buying the action figures that this imp-like creature really was a good guy, even with the snakes in his figure's kit. No Boba Fett or bounty hunters. No creepy Billy Dee Williams trying to steal Leia or betray Han. No Obi-Wan awkwardly explaining his "lie" to Luke about Vader betraying and murdering Luke's father, which was Lucas retconning for a more interesting plotline. Star Wars was Star Wars, and having an X-wing or a Tie Fighter under the tree at Christmas was nearly every boy's hope in the closing years of the 70s.

The title's Episode IV moniker was confusing. Nobody knew what "Episode IV" meant. "Did we miss the first three, or were they not that good?" some people wondered. Nobody knew even when Return (Revenge) of the Jedi came out that it was anything more than a three-act story arc with some badly dressed killer teddy bears at the end. At the premier of VI, the joke was floated that Lucas wanted to do nine in total, but that would have taken forever. At least a decade or two.

Whatever happens with the new films, I honestly hope that Luke is true to his nature set in the first three, that Han and Leia are not merely token pieces from the originals to make us feel better, and that the story is much better than Jar-Jar's Basic. By the way, Han really did shoot first, and he really was a rogue who changed for the better because of Luke, Obi-Wan, and Leia. I'd bet my lost X-wing on it.

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Sky Destrian (19)

I was nine when my dad showed me Star Wars. It was a lazy afternoon, and I was wearing my favorite pink sweater with dogs on it. (I don't know why that detail is important, but apparently it is.) I believe the first movie I watched was Attack of the Clones, and I was immediately drawn into the world of fast-paced starship chases and the story of a guy (Anakin) who really loved a girl (Padme). (Yes, their love story became weirder to me as time went on, but I digress.) I loved the dynamics and banter between the older Obi-Wan and his slightly-rebellious padawan, Anakin. I was particularly enamored with Jar-Jar Binks (yes, I will admit it) and the battle droids (roger, roger). Also, the arena fight in Episode II was my favorite thing ever. I often reenacted it with my brother and friends, and I was always Padme, whom I looked up to a lot.

Though I also saw The Phantom Menace, for some reason Attack of the Clones was always my very favorite. I rewatched it a year or two ago, and while some of the magic has faded, childhood nostalgia will always remain. I remember playing a pod-racer game on our old Nintendo 64. My brother and I still play Star Wars Battlefront, and many of my evenings have been spent watching my dad (who's also featured in this article--hi Dad!) play Lego Star Wars.

But even though most of my life revolved around the prequels because they were coming out during my childhood, I can't forget the original films. They are what started it all, paving the way for the prequels and now The Force Awakens. I remember wanting to ride in the Millenium Falcon. The ewoks were particularly memorable to me, and I remember loving Han, Luke, and Leia's outfits on Endor. (It's a weird thing to remember, but hey.) I also really loved the scene where they were about to get squished in the trash compacter because I was so genuinely afraid for our heroes' lives. So many scenes stick out in my mind as my favorites--Han and Luke pretending to be Storm Troopers, Lando Calrissian's introduction, Boba Fett's death... it's all so legendary.

That's what Star Wars is: legendary. I've never considered it one of my fandoms, but I've realized that's because it was part of my life. I lived it. Star Wars is also resolute. Even as I grow up and become an adult, Star Wars remains the same, as well as my feelings on it. I still mourn Qui-Gon Jin's death. Darth Maul still scares me. I wish I could visit a space pub wearing a Jedi robe. I still want to ride in the Millenium Falcon. And I still want to see the stars.

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What's your Star Wars experience? Share with us in the comments!

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Typing and Sorting the Star Wars Characters

As part of the Star Wars week celebrations, I’ll be sorting and typing the major characters of the original trilogy!

For those of you unfamiliar with Hogwarts House sorting, people are sorted into four different categories, labeled Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Gryffindor is for people who are bold, brave, and adventurous but also sometimes hot-headed, hasty, show-offy, and prone to black and white thinking. Hufflepuff is for the quiet, patient folks who may not be as powerful-looking as the other houses, but they are also known for their loyalty and hard work, and they are excellent finders. Ravenclaw is for the intelligent, the witty, the unique out-of-the box thinkers, and the well-read; but it is also known for its pedantry, self-absorption, and competition between housemates. Slytherin is known for its villains, schemers, and people who believe the ends excuse the means, but it is also famous for ambition, resourcefulness, power, and loyalty between housemates.

For those of you unfamiliar with MBTI personality typing, people are typed based on where they fit on their preference of the letters (I or E, S or N, F or T, P or J), as well as which cognitive functions they use most (Se, Si, Ne, Ni, Te, Ti, Fe, and Fi), and in what ways they use these functions in terms of what’s known as “the cognitive stack” (primary, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior positions). With the letters, I/E refers to introversion or extroversion, S/N refers to relying more on senses and established conventions vs. personal intuition and analysis, F/T refers to viewing the world emotionally and spiritually vs. technically and practically, and P/J refers to a preference for freedom and spontaneity vs. structure and organization. With the cognitive functions, Se = a focus on strength and physical senses, Si = a devotion to tradition and established rules, Ne = an analytical function focused on expansion and possibilities, Ni = a deep subconscious connection to the universe around us, Te = a tendency toward taking charge and directing others, Ti = a devotion to objective facts and logic, Fe = a desire to please or protect others, and Fi = a devotion to ideals and subjective feelings. With the cognitive stack, the dominant and auxiliary functions are the ones the person uses most (like the pilot and co-pilot of the brain), the tertiary function is a function a person will often use as a tool but not to the same extent as the dom/aux functions, and the inferior function is the person’s Achilles heel – a function the person uses, but not particularly well. All of these aspects come together to determine which of the sixteen types a person is.

Let the typing and sorting begin!

Luke Skywalker

ENFJ • Gryffindor

Luke Skywalker is an ENFJ, which means his two main functions are Fe and Ni. Fe drives everything he does, from his journey to save the universe to his desire to save his father. The Force is portrayed in the Star Wars films as a very Ni-ish supernatural ability, so Luke’s ease in learning to master the force is testament to his strong Ni. His tertiary function is Se, demonstrated by his good fighting skills, as well as his tendency to judge some people prematurely based on how they look – such as his assumptions that Yoda was too weak to be a Jedi master, that R2D2 was too small to escape, that Han couldn’t be trusted, and that Leia, a stranger to him, was worth risking his life for simply because she was attractive to him. Luke’s inferior function is Ti. This is demonstrated by the fact that, on one hand, he has a strong interest in technical activities like studying and piloting ships; while, on the other hand, objective facts and logic are a weakness for him, as he often comes to incorrect conclusions about many situations. Because he’s an extrovert, Luke grows restless living in the lonely desert of Tatooine. And as a J, as Yoda points out, his mind is always looking toward the future, never where he is now. I have sorted Luke into Gryffindor based on his love of adventure, his occasional recklessness, and his yearning to prove himself a hero.

Obi Wan Kenobi

INFJ • Ravenclaw

Like Luke, Obi-Wan’s two main functions are Ni and Fe, giving him a strong grasp of the force and desire to help other people. But unlike the extroverted Luke who can’t stand the isolated life on Tatooine, Obi-Wan’s introversion allows him to live as a hermit with no trouble at all, making him an INFJ. Because his main focus is on wisdom and serving as a mentor, passing down knowledge to others, I have sorted him into Ravenclaw.

Leia Organa 

ESTJ • Hufflepuff

As an ESTJ, Leia’s two main functions are Te, the directing function, and Si, the traditional function. She is a very no-nonsense person who knows exactly what needs to be done and will ensure the people around her get it done. She is extremely loyal to her friends and the people of her home planet. And as a politician, she works hard and patiently to ensure the universe will one day be safe from the rule of the empire. Therefore, I have sorted her into Hufflepuff.

Han Solo

 ISTP • Gryffindor

As an ISTP, Han Solo’s primary function is Ti. He doesn’t like to believe in anything without proof, which is why he’s a great skeptic of the Force. His secondary Se gives him the charisma to create his charming rogue persona. And his tertiary Ni allows him to almost magically know things by instinct – which is how he had the foresight to *ahem* shoot Greedo first. Since Fe is his inferior function, it takes some time and soul-searching to realize just how much he cares for other people. Han Solo places great emphasis on his own abilities as a hero when he wants to be one, which is why I’ve sorted him into Gryffindor.

Lando Calrissian

 ESTP • Gryffindor

Lando is very similar to his old friend Han in cognitive functions. But as an extrovert, he places a lot more emphasis on his looks and charisma to charm people into liking him and doing as he wishes. Because he, like Han, places emphasis on his abilities, I’ve sorted him into Gryffindor.

Chewbacca

ENFP • Gryffindor

Because of his primary Ne, Chewie is optimistic and open to new experiences. Because of his auxiliary Fi, he will sometimes put his own feelings before others, such as when he scares the droids into letting him win the game of dejarik. I’ve sorted him into Gryffindor due to his adventurous spirit.

C-3PO 

INTP • Ravenclaw

His two main functions being Ti and Ne, C-3PO is very analytical and values objective facts above all else. Because his inferior function is Fe, he doesn’t always understand how to deal with people, or recognize the appropriate way to express his own emotion toward others. His value of facts and intelligence led me to sort him into Ravenclaw.

R2-D2

INFP • Gryffindor

Being an INFP, R2-D2’s primary function is Fi. Being so connected with his inner self, it is very easy for others to tell what he is feeling, even though he can only communicate through beeps. He is very concerned about what others think of him – worrying that Luke doesn’t like him anymore after he didn’t play Leia’s message and often taking C-3PO’s criticisms very personally. With his auxiliary Ne, R2-D2 is sharply aware of possibilities, often noticing opportunities that others miss. And while his Te motivates him to take advantage of these opportunities, being his inferior function, it can also lead him into getting in over his head – getting swallowed, electrocuted, or otherwise placed in danger. I’ve sorted him into Gryffindor because, as C-3PO says, “Why did you have to be so brave?”

Yoda 

INFP • Ravenclaw

Yoda was the most difficult to type because, at first glance, his most frequently used functions appear to be Ni, Fi, and Si – three functions that never all appear together in the same primary stack. Ultimately, I decided to go with INFP, as his devotion to ideals trumps his desire to save other people, handing the victory to Fi. And despite his talent in using the force after years of practice, he seems to prefer Ne over Ni, keeping the future open to possibilities rather than pinning it down to what is most likely. Because of his tertiary Si, he places great importance on honoring Jedi codes. Even his way of speaking, it’s been said in interviews with cast and crew behind the scenes, stems from his attachment to tradition. Due to his focus on knowledge, wisdom, and self reflection, I have sorted him into Ravenclaw.

Darth Vader

INTJ • Gryffindor

Darth Vader is one of the most powerful Force-users in existence – which makes sense considering he’s been blessed with both Ni and Fi. With a natural connection to the universe around him as well as his own feelings, mastering the Force would be like second nature to him. As an introvert, he prefers to spend most of his time alone. But as a strong Te-user, he will still take it upon himself to venture out to ensure all plans are running smoothly. Vader has all the trademarks of a Gryffindor gone bad. His black and white thinking leads him to kill anyone who disappoints him in the slightest. His heroism is what originally led him to the dark side. It is also what eventually leads him back to the light.

The Emperor

INTJ • Slytherin

As an INTJ just like Vader, the Emperor has a natural mastery of the Force, a penchant for solitude, and a talent for overseeing plans. But unlike his more idealistic Gryffindor student, the Emperor takes pride in both his position and his clever schemes, always thirsting for more and more power. That is why I have placed him in Slytherin.

What Houses and MBTI Types do you think the characters are? Let us know in the comments!

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A Review of Star Wars: Battlefront

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By Jacob Gross

This November, EA DICE released their first installment in the new Star Wars: Battlefront series. Although there have been a few additions to the Battlefront series over the years on PSP and DS, the previous major release Star Wars: Battlefront II (for console and PC) was released by Pandemic Studios back in 2005.

Having the last game made almost a decade ago, EA DICE had to deal with quite a lot of criticism and pressure while designing this installment. Now, EA is definitely the most popular or loved gaming company in the world, but so many were sure that the project was doomed to fail from the moment they announced it. The final quality of the game, however, depends on who you ask.

Star Wars: Battlefront features nine different multiplayer game modes across four different planets and twelve different maps. Last week, EA released a free DLC for the game including the planet Jakku and a new game mode called Turning Point made exclusively for the new Jakku map.

(One such planet is Endor, including the bunker power station seen here.)

My favorite game mode would have to be Cargo. If you played Battlefront II, you should remember the Capture the Flag game mode. In this version, two teams must try and capture the other team's cargo and bring it back to their base, while defending their own cargo. The team who has the most cargo at the end of the round wins.

Battlefront features six hero characters, which in most game modes are activated by collecting a hero power up during a match. The six heroes include: Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, Han Solo, Emperor Palpatine, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader. Each hero has three unique abilities at their disposal that have to cool down after each use.

The game itself looks and sounds fantastic. The landscape is breathtaking, and the blaster fire has an authentic Star Wars feel to it.

(Who knew Tattoine could be so beautiful?)

That said, there are a few flaws I found in the game both with graphics and voices from the game.

(Hey, Leia... you okay over there?)

For example: the voices for all but one of the six heroes in the game are just not quite... right. They don't sound like their movie counterpoints, except for Boba Fett who is voiced by Temuera Morrison--the actor who played Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones. And then there are the visual flaws regarding the heroes. This mostly applies to Luke Skywalker, who neither looks or sounds like Mark Hamill's Luke. The other heroes look very similar to their movie counter parts, but their voices just don't match.

(Derpy Luke being extra derpy.)

Although, Battlefront lacks a story-driven, single-player campaign, it does have three basic single-player and co-op game modes. Training missions teach you the core mechanics of the game, battles let you fight as a soldier or a hero against computer players or a friend in co-op mode, and survival challenges you to fight off fifteen waves of enemy troops while collecting drop pods containing power ups.

(Oh, look. The Emperor has an invisibility cloak?!)

All together, this game is fun, despite its flaws and minor bugs. I've put over thirty-five hours into the game, and I have loved nearly every moment of it. We can look forward to sequels, as EA (who has a ten year contract with Disney for Star Wars games) has already talked about making at least one more Battlefront game. Thanks for reading, and may the force be with you. Always.

What do you think of Star Wars: Battlefront? What is your favorite Star Wars video game?

About Jacob

When I was ten years old, I discovered Star Wars and reintroduced it to my family. Years later, I accidentally discovered Doctor Who while browsing Netflix, and then I proceeded to turn my entire immediate family, and some of my extended family, into Whovians.

My fandoms include Doctor Who, Star Wars, Arrow, The Flash, Batman, Gotham, Marvel, and many more. I wait patiently for new episodes of Arrow and The Flash to air every week, while I usually put off watching the everything else and inevitably have to marathon episodes so that I can catch up.

I really enjoy playing video games, whether on PC or PS4. I grew up playing Lego Star Wars and Star Wars: Battlefront II, and since then, I have expanded my horizons to include different genres and styles. However, my favorite video game as of now would have to be EA's Star Wars Battlefront. You can add me on Steam and PSN if you want, my name is ShiboGama.

Age: 17
Location: Ohio
Favorite Superhero: Batman
Favorite book: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Want to submit a guest post? Found out how here.

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Our Theories and Hopes for The Force Awakens

In just a few days, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will premiere in theaters. In anticipation, we've gathered to share our theories, thoughts, predictions, and hopes for the movie.

Jaime Heller

(source)

Since Rica shared her marvelous theory about The Force Awakens, I don't have much else to theorize about at this point. However, I do have some thoughts of the identity of Rey. There isn't much known about her, yet. Sure, she's on the planet Jukka, she's a scavenger, and she purposely doesn't have a last name. Plus, in one of the various trailers, she mentions she's waiting for her family. Now, I know theories about her identity are being thrown around the internet faster than you can say "May the force be with you." Someone else has similar theories as me, I'm sure.

I think there's no possible way Rey isn't related to the Skywalker family. Not very surprising, right? No, of course not. This is Star Wars after all. If there's one continuing thing in Star Wars, it's that the story follows the (dysfunctional) Skywalker family. But the question comes down to, which Skywalker is her parent?

Some people are thinking Luke, which is valid. They attribute his voice over about the Force in the teaser to her, which would be weird for him to say "my sister has it" instead of "your mother has it." Also, the first glimpse of her in the trailer shows her walking on a desert planet in clothing similar to two other Skywalkers who grew up on a desert planet: Anakin and Luke.

However, there are other factors to consider. For one, I can't help but think she's the daughter of Han Solo (which in turn, I hope, would mean the daughter of Leia). The way he talks to her in the trailer, the various magazine photo shoot covers, something about it points to her being awfully connected to Han.

So my dilemma doesn't come with whether she is related to the Skywalker family (Come on, she has to be!). It's how. Plus, if you consider the thought of Kylo Ren being her twin brother (as some theorists think based on the poster), we've got a perfect match for the Solo twins. Or could they, this time, be the Skywalker twins?

Disney, Abrams, whoever else, you've got some explaining to do! (Especially if there's no nod to Mara Jade, and Rey is Luke's daughter.)

Sky Destrian

Even though I don't have any theories (beyond what Jaime, Rica, and Izzy have already said), I do have a list of things I'm looking forward to seeing.

• Oscar Isaac. He's apparently a fighter pilot of some sort, but the trailers have been surprisingly quiet about who he is or what role he'll play in the movie. 
• Lupita Nyong'o. She is also in this movie, but her role is undisclosed at the moment. I'm looking forward to see what part she plays in this movie.
• Andy Serkis. This man has been in Lord of the Rings, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and now Star Wars. He's simply a franchise master. I look forward to seeing how he adds his unique flavor to the Star Wars universe.
• Finn (aka John Boyega). I'm 99% sure he's an ex-storm trooper, which makes me so excited. I'd love to see a possible redemption arc with him. He seems to be the one I know the most about (which isn't very much at all), and he does seem to have a ton of potential for character growth.
• Rey (aka Daisy Ridley). I can't wait to see what her actual identity is revealed to be.
• Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher's daughter. No one knows what role she'll play, but that makes it all the more exciting.
• Things from the original trilogy, like the Millenium Falcon, Chewbacca, and maybe even C-3PO.
• Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. I mean... need I say more?

Izzy Stevenson

My Hopes for Luke in The Force Awakens:

(Possible spoilers ahead)

There’s lots of speculation floating around about The Force Awakens. And me being the obvious Luke fan in the room, I think you know what I’m about to speculate on. I mean, just look at Luke. How could he turn to the dark side? How could he not turn to the dark side? To be honest, I can ask either of these opposite questions with equal fervor. And that’s what I love about it. There’s a surprising amount of potential for moral ambiguity in neutral good characters. And when such characters do go bad, it usually places them in that super fun and interesting anti-hero/anti-villain category.

So do I want Luke to be evil in the new Star Wars movie? Well, that’s a complicated question. I don’t like the Jedis. I don’t think they deserve to have him on their side. So, it would be one thing if he was going out to stop some of their influence somehow. For example, if the Jedis decided to sacrifice someone he cares about for the “greater good” and he joined the dark side to stop them. I think I would be very interested that because I could still be on his side. Because I would do the same thing if I was him. But if Luke goes to the dark side in the new movie, I don’t think that’s how it will go down. I don’t think J.J. Abrams would go that route. I think if Luke went evil in the new movie, he would become evil in an out-of-character way, losing everything that made him the good person we know, and instead being consumed with evil simply because “going to the dark side runs in his blood”. I think they would make him genuinely bad, and that he would hurt innocent people. And then not only could I not root for him anymore, he wouldn’t even be Luke anymore. Even if it would make for a psychologically interesting story, there are some characters that aren’t supposed to go bad because they just so firmly represent something good. I think Luke is one of those characters. Plus, it would basically invalidate the entire point of the original trilogy, which was literally about his journey to become a Jedi and avoid going to the dark side.

But as nervous as I am about Luke possibly becoming evil, oddly I’m actually more concerned about him being a hermit. All of the different rumors center around him being a hermit, choosing of his own free will to never be around other people, similar to what Obi-Wan and Yoda did. It might sound trivial, but the first thing we learn about Luke in the original trilogy is that he’s an extrovert who becomes very miserable and restless when isolated from friends or people he can socialize with. That’s why he hated living on that farm in the middle of the desert and was desperate to leave. It makes me worry that maybe J.J. Abrams doesn’t know Luke’s character as well as he should, and is just turning Luke into a hermit because it fits some “Jedis are supposed to be isolated and mysterious” stereotype, or just for the sake of having him follow in the footsteps of his mentors. But Luke isn’t an introvert like Obi-Wan and Yoda were. HE. CAN’T. STAND. BEING. ALONE. Especially not for extremely long periods of time. Especially decades as they‘re hinting. So why on earth would he choose of his own free will to live as a hermit? Instead of trying to turn Luke into Obi-Wan, or turn him into Yoda, why don’t they just let Luke be…Luke? Seriously, he’s an amazing character just the way he is. They don’t need to turn him into someone else just for the sake of a parallel. Now that these movies are being written by someone other than the original creator of the character, I don’t want Luke’s character to suddenly have a different personality. I want Luke to be Luke.

Besides the “Luke went to the dark side and is now a villain” theory, I’ve heard a lot of other conflicting rumors and theories about Luke. I heard one that says Luke is just fine. That he’s hiding out, studying the force, becoming the most powerful Jedi in existence, and that he’s not in the trailer much simply because he doesn’t appear until the end of the movie. I saw a rumor that Luke is guarding some ancient tomb or artifact from the enemy, and is being tormented by evil spirits. But there was one rumor that especially stood out to me. And according to that rumor, Luke became more and more powerful in the force until his abilities were too big for him to control, and he’s become accidentally dangerous. And because he’s so worried about hurting other people, he chooses to go far away to an isolated place where he can no longer be a danger to anyone. And the seclusion, along with the overly-strong connection to the Force messing with his mind, leads him to go insane. Not evil. Just insane.

Even though it sounds weirdly like Elsa on Frozen, I like this idea so much. Because I just recognize Luke so much in that. It’s like finally seeing his face among a bunch of pictures of other people. Yes. That is Luke. That is his Fe. That is his unstoppable desire to protect other people all the time. And the fact that he’s protecting people from himself just makes it so much more interesting and complex. It’s one thing to constantly protect people from danger. But if he is the danger? I am firmly convinced that is the only thing that would ever motivate the extroverted Luke Skywalker into years of seclusion. And the fact that the seclusion leads him to go a bit crazy also fits his extroverted nature. Also, this allows SO many possibilities. It allows Luke to be a wildcard and to be unstable in his decisions without being actually evil, while also staying completely in character. It could also explain so many things about other people’s backstories. Maybe one of the new characters in the upcoming movie is Luke’s son or daughter. Maybe he had a wife he killed by accident with his out-of-control powers, or just hurt or scared her, and that’s how his son/daughter became estranged from him. Maybe that was the last straw that made him go into hiding. Maybe he’ll have to deal with the grief from that. Ahh, there's so many cool things they can do with this. J.J. Abrams, please do this. Please, please do this.

Although, I hope he doesn’t stay insane and unstable forever and eventually finds some peace. Hopefully his arc will be about just that, about the journey to that point. It would be really awful if his ultimate fate was some tragic ending with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Also, at some point in the new Star Wars trilogy, one of two things has to happen. I won’t settle for anything less. Either 1.) Rey or Finn has to be the daughter/son of Luke, and he tells them kindly and gently “I am your father.” Or 2.) Kylo Ren is Luke’s son, and Luke tries to seduce him to the light side of the force. Something has to echo his relationship with Vader in the original trilogy, but in an opposite way.

So, overall, really looking forward to The Force Awakens. But also very nervous. The prequels being a disappointment were one thing, because they didn’t really have any of my favorite characters in them. But The Force Awakens will have not only my favorite Star Wars character in it, but one of my absolute favorite fictional characters ever. If they do it wrong…ugh. But. If his characterization is done well and in-character, and his story is interesting at ALL on any level? I’m just so here for it, and I can’t wait to find out what direction they take his character when Star Wars: The Force Awakens finally arrives in theaters on December 18th.

What do you think will happen in The Force Awakens? What are you most excited to see?

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Six Reasons Why I Love Luke Skywalker

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is coming to theaters in just a few days. And what’s especially exciting about the return of the franchise this time around is that we’ll also get to see the return of the characters from the original trilogy. Of course, fans of the charming mercenary have been buzzing about Han Solo coming back to the big screen, and fans of strong, developed female characters have been eagerly anticipating Leia Organa’s return. But, although there has been some excitement and controversy surrounding what role Luke will play in the film, I haven’t seen too many Luke fans come out the woodwork to say how excited they are to see Luke again just for his own sake. I’m here to remedy that. While I know tons of Han and Leia fans, I don’t get to meet too many people like me who name Luke as their favorite Star Wars character. So I’m here to represent the hero of the original trilogy and give you six reasons why Luke Skywalker is an amazing character.

1. His Personality

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for the sweet, innocent and naïve cinnamon roll characters. And that’s exactly what Luke is. In fact, Luke is the perfect example of a personality type often compared to cinnamon rolls too good for this world – ENFJs. I’ve always been particularly fond of ENFJs. They’re independent, adventurous, ambitious, often bossy, but ultimately driven by an overload of Fe – a cognitive function in MBTI personality types that gives people a constant need to be helpful or protect or save someone. Their Fe is like motivational insanity that can make them disregard all else. “Someone I love is in trouble? LET’S GO. What do you mean I’ll be in danger if I go? I don’t know what danger is. MUST RESCUE RESCUE RESCUE.” It’s very like them to jump blindly into crazy, dangerous situations to save someone else, with barely any thought about themselves or if this is even a good idea – and then win. And then, after they’ve won, to not even really notice that they’ve won, or realize the insane odds they just beat. “JUST AS LONG AS LOVED ONE IS SAFE.”

In fact, Luke is one of the most Fe-ish characters I’ve ever seen. He’s basically the ultimate burning emblem of Fe, unashamedly driven and consumed by it. I mean, there are characters out there who appear more Fe-ish. Characters who are more outwardly warm and parental and whatnot. But no one else is so ultimately defined by their Fe, with their identity and motivations so rooted in Fe, as Luke is. Whether he’s going off on a crazy mission to please his new mentor Obi-Wan and honor the memory of his father, disobeying Yoda’s instructions to go rescue his friends, temporarily risking going to the dark side out of a desire to protect his sister, or choosing not to fight in order to redeem his father, everything he does is ultimately motivated by his desire to please or protect someone else.

(Source: skywalkcrs.tumblr.com)

I’ve seen Luke accused of being all sorts of things from “whiny” to “clueless.” And while I think I know where such accusations are coming from, I’ve gotten a slightly different impression of such things. What’s more, they are very in line with what one would expect from someone of his age in his circumstances. Luke is very young, and he’s never known life outside the chores and everyday drudge of work on a farm. He’s an extrovert growing restless after being forced his whole life to cope with the very solitary life out in the desert.

(Source: luciusmafoy.tumblr.com)

The only social life he’s known are the few people he’s run into at Tosche Station, most of whom (as we’re shown in a deleted scene) aren’t very interested in talking to him. He doesn’t understand people yet. He’s spent his entire life extremely sheltered by his aunt and uncle. And his lack of experience causes him to be very naïve, often treading into “endearingly stupid” territory. Luke is still trying to fully understand the world he’s been placed in when tragedy suddenly throws him into a new one.

(Source: winchestheart.tumblr.com)

(Source: ianmckllen.tumblr.com)

He doesn’t face this new world with snark and narcissistic overconfidence as the case is with many protagonists these days (e.g. Iron Man, Captain Jack Sparrow, Star Lord, etc.), but he also doesn’t just wander around helplessly, wide-eyed and wonder struck. He shows initiative, though often in all the wrong ways. He has a very Gryffindor-like zeal, wanting to help, but instead being bossy; wanting to prove himself, but instead rushing head-first into situations he doesn’t understand yet. He grows and learns in a very hands-on way, making mistakes along the way.

(Source: Tumblr)

The amazing thing about Luke is, despite all his naïveté and inexperience, he still manages to win just with sheer determination. From Han and Luke winging their way through their rescue of Leia, to finding a tiny weakness that can blow up the entire death star, to ewoks destroying the empire’s AT-STs, a common theme in the Star Wars movies are big, powerful things being defeated in the humblest of ways. And Luke embodies that theme so much, which I love. As one of my favorite Tumblr quotes about Luke says, “God, he’s so young. Like this impossible creature of wisdom and naïvete. Luke is just so much: fierce and over-earnest and full of zeal. Drawling smirking mercenaries are easier to love; Luke is something else.”

(Source: godyoutalkpretty.tumblr.com)

2. His Unique Character Arc

All fictional characters fit into some kind of classic trope. Some character follow the pattern of that trope to the letter, while others find a way to break that pattern and add something unique to the mix. Either of these can be done well. For example, Han Solo fits the “charming rogue who secretly has a heart of gold” trope. It’s a very successful trope in fiction, and Han Solo becomes a good character by following its pattern pretty much to the letter. There’s not really anything unique about his arc, per se. It pretty much feels like the same thing as always. It’s “the same thing as always” done particularly well, but still the same thing as always. So, there’s definitely nothing wrong with following the pattern of a trope. Having said that, I find it much more interesting when a story finds a way to be surprising and throws in something unexpected.

Luke belongs to the “young everyman who gets caught up in a hero’s journey” trope. But his character arc goes against this trope’s pattern in many ways, becoming something very unique. Besides some unique elements about his character arc that I will discuss later in the article, examples include the following:

• While most adventurer MCs are reckless because they are always living in the present moment, never looking ahead or considering consequences, Yoda says Luke is reckless for the exact opposite reasons – because he is always looking ahead instead of paying attention to the moment at hand.

(Source: leialuke-archive.tumblr.com)

• Even though most main male characters “get the girl” at the end, the girl he loved ended up being his sister and fell in love with someone else while he remained single until the end of the films.

(Source: daisyrildey.tumblr.com)

• Even though he’s an action hero, he wins by choosing not to fight, and instead chooses to save the villain so that the villain will send his own evil empire crumbling down.

(Source: skywalkcrs.tumblr.com)

Not only is his story done well, it goes in places you don’t expect.

3. His Complex Motivational Arc

Luke has one of the most tumultuous motivational arcs I’ve seen in an action/fantasy franchise. His Fe (and, along with it, his life purpose) is constantly being forcefully shifted without any way for him to stop or control it. Hardly any time passes before it ends up shifting yet AGAIN. For example:

• Life Purpose: Please his aunt and uncle.
• They die.

• Life Purpose: Please new mentor, Obi Wan.
• He dies.

• Life Purpose: Honor the great legacy of his father by becoming a Jedi.
• It turns out his father’s legacy was a lie. His father is actually evil and trying to kill his new friends.

• Life Purpose: Save new friends.
• It turns out trying to save new friends just makes things worse, and they are all about to die and there’s no way he can stop it.

• Life Purpose: Redeem father who has turned evil.
• Success? Yes!!! What to have as a Life Purpose now? …Ah! I know!

• Life Purpose: Protect newly redeemed father.
(Seriously, Luke will stay on board a ship he knows is about to be destroyed just to stay by his father’s side.)

…And he dies.

Characters are so often defined by their goals in stories, it’s interesting to see someone whose goals constantly change. Instead of knowing Luke by what he’s trying to do, we get to know him simply as a person and take the journey with him as he navigates his own ever-shifting agenda.

4. His Mystery and Morally Ambiguous Virtue

Previous readers of this blog might have guessed during my Star Wars Commentary that I’m not a huge fan of the Jedis or their philosophies. I’ve already talked a lot about how they deny vital parts of humanity and how they have displayed hypocrisy, impatience, and unfair judgment. But while I’m not personally fond of how this whole religion about the Force works, it does serve to make Luke’s story really unique. What it ends up doing is making Luke a morally ambiguous character, despite the fact that he doesn’t make morally ambiguous choices. Even though he’s good, he isn’t what the other good characters want him to be. And there’s such a question mark over whether he’ll ultimately be on the light or dark side. When I try to envision Luke’s morality or potential path before he’s tested by the Emperor, it’s like looking at Schrodinger’s Cat. But instead of shifting between good and evil, it feels more like it’s shifting between absolute good and good/evil. The possibility of evil in him is so small and yet so present. And the good in him is so solid, so indestructible, that if he did turn evil, I know it would be his desire for good that would lead him there and the purpose of his evil actions would be to bring about some good.

Most characters become morally ambiguous because of their questionable ethics – acting selfish, lacking empathy, employing trickery, or sacrificing other people for the “greater good”. But Luke isn’t any of those things. His main drive is selflessness and empathy, he’s honest and open, and his main “fault” in the second film was that he wouldn't sacrifice others for the greater good. And that’s what I find so interesting: Luke is morally ambiguous not because of how his own morality is set up but because of how the morality of this world is set up – their religion and the nature of the Force. And according to that religion, Luke’s ideals are gray in what is otherwise a very black and white world. And even though it’s a good gray, just the fact that it’s not what this world considers “white” puts him at risk for becoming what this world considers “black”.

(Source: twinklingbucky.tumblr.com)

Since this world’s version of morality is built on the idea that some virtues (calm temperament, clarity of mind, a strong connection the universe around us) are good while other virtues (passion, love, loyalty to friends, a sense of adventure) are bad and places ideals above people, the rightness of this world’s morality is at least subjective. We have to remember that just because a “wise” character on the movie says something is right or wrong, that doesn’t mean we, the viewer, have to take their word for it. Their right might actually be wrong, and Luke’s right could be correct instead. Or they might both be wrong. Or a mixture.

Because Luke has been made into a gray character who can easily tilt into white or black territory, this makes him something of a wildcard. You don’t know what side he’ll ultimately be on or even what side you really want him to be on. Personally, I want him to always just be on his own side. The dark side of the force is obviously evil. But the light side, I think, is pretty misguided. Whereas, I believe in Luke’s grayness.

5. His Neutral Good Alignment

One thing that makes Luke’s story so interesting is it’s one of the few I‘ve seen that actually explores the complex nature of the Neutral Good alignment. Neutral Good people have their own code of virtues (usually rooted in Fe – justice, mercy, and helping other people) and their own personal goals based on that code. Unlike, say, Chaotic Good people, they do their best to reach their goals while still working within the law or within the moral framework of the people and culture around them. But at the end of the day, if that law or that framework stops them from reaching their goals, they won’t hesitate to step completely outside those boundaries and do what they believe needs doing. While they greatly respect other people’s morality and will honor it if they can, their own code ultimately takes precedence over other people’s.

Neutral Good is very interesting because it’s very independent and somewhat rebellious but never too morally questionable. And that’s not an alignment I see portrayed well too often in media. Usually the characters I see in mainstream media are one of three extreme things. Either they’re a very righteous Lawful Good hero who stands up for always following the law to the letter and respecting/obeying people in charge of you and believing 100% in the ideals your betters teach you; or they’re a standard Evil villain who crushes all goodness while pursuing their own evil desires; or they’re some really extreme Chaotic Good/Chaotic Neutral character, dripping with rebellion and snark, breaking every rule they can while still being vaguely on the side of good (or at least having a lot of redeemable qualities). Neutral Good, on the other hand, is this calm, quietly rebellious alignment situated right between the Lawful Good and vaguely good Chaotic ones. It’s not, in any way, an extreme. And I think that’s why most filmmakers either don’t think about it or just aren’t interested in it. Since it’s not an extreme, they think people won’t take to it. But it is far more real and complex than the extreme alignments in my opinion, and way more interesting than people give it credit for.

Like most Neutral Good people, Luke isn’t really driven by loyalty to any side or by any ideology. He’s driven solely by his personal moral code, his desire to help/save people, his Fe. It drowns out all the issues for him that most other characters in this universe think about, such as politics and war and loyalty to certain philosophies. In fact, one really important thing about Luke that a lot of people don’t realize is just how apolitical he is. I’ve read/watched a lot of interviews about the creation of Luke’s character. And one thing that was apparently really important to the cast and crew to drive home is how little allegiance he has to any particular side. Unfortunately, a lot of the scenes they made to drive this home to viewers had to be cut due to time constraints. But one scene even showed Luke considering joining with the Empire because he had a friend who had done so. He didn’t care or stop to think about the philosophical implications of joining the Empire or helping them do what they do. All he knew was that he cared about his friend and wanted to join up with him.

And ultimately, it’s the same with his joining up with the rebellion and the Jedis too. He doesn’t have any particular passion for their cause or beliefs. In fact, all he knows of them is what Obi-Wan told him in one short conversation he was barely paying attention to. All he knows is he cares about Obi Wan and wants to follow him, and he cares about his father (or what he believed his father to be at the time) and wants to do something that would have made him proud. Luke isn’t about politics or ideologies or taking sides in anything. He’s willing to join up with a side, but deep down, his heart isn’t loyal to that side. And the only reason he joins up with a side in the first place is because someone he loves has done so and he wants to follow them so he can be around them or help/protect them.

I think the scene where the Emperor tries to turn Luke to the dark side but Luke resists the temptation and helps redeem his father instead is one you really have to watch in light of all that. A lot of people don’t, and I think that leads them to misunderstand the scene. A lot of people think, “Luke is a good guy but also kind of reckless and didn’t always listen to Yoda when he should. He makes mistakes, such as the time he was supposed to stay and train and instead went off to save his friends. But when tempted by the Emperor, Luke ultimately resists. Instead, he chooses to embrace the teachings Yoda taught him and accepts the way of the Jedis, helping redeem his father in the process.” While some of that’s true, it’s also much more complicated than that. While Luke does become a Jedi, I think he still has not fully embraced their philosophies the way Yoda would have wanted and instead still relies on his own moral code. In fact, in this regard, I don’t think Luke is particularly changed by the end of the movies. For example, if he was again presented with the choice to stay for more training as Yoda wishes or go save his friends, I believe he would once again choose to save his friends. He still has the same mindset and priorities he’s always had.

When given the choice between saving someone or doing “the right thing,” Luke will choose to save someone. Because, to him, saving someone is the right thing. Always. Even when others disagree and believe sacrificing others is necessary for the greater good. Because what’s the point of doing what others see as good if it means letting people die or failing people who count solely on you? What’s the point of living as a “good person” if you have to live without the people you love? Sure, the idea of going to the dark side scares him, makes him hesitate. Which is what we see him do when he sees his father’s hand and realizes he might be following Vader’s path.

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He definitely doesn’t want to be evil, and the possibility of turning evil is definitely making him cautious. But if the choice here was genuinely between going to the dark side while saving someone, or staying on the light side while letting people die, I think it would only be a matter of time before he went to the dark side (though I don’t think he would do so on the Emperor’s terms or view the Emperor as his master).

As I’ve said before, everything he does is completely dictated by his Fe. When the Emperor’s plan starts to work a little and they finally get Luke fighting Vader, it’s because Luke’s Fe kicks in and he’ll do anything to protect Leia. When Luke decides not to fight anymore, it isn’t because he’s conquered his Fe and realizes that “doing the right thing” is more important than saving Leia. Only by stepping back for a second and transferring his Fe to his desire to save his father does he stop himself from going to the dark side. But what would have happened if the person he was fighting wasn’t his father? What if it was someone he had no desire to save? I think there’s a very good chance he might have turned in such a case.

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The reason he doesn’t go to the dark side is not because he’s ~so devoted~ to the light side of the force. I think, even to the end, he has that subconscious lack of allegiance to anything other than individuals he cares for. Rather, his resistance to being turned is because, in this particular case, going to the dark side would require him to give up trying to redeem his father, fight his father, and kill him. And he wants to save his father. That’s the point. It will never be about what side he’s on. It will always be about saving someone. Everything else – his morality and allegiances – will always be a question mark because it all depends on what he has to do in each situation to save whoever he wants to save.

6. His Determination To Love Others

In many ways, Luke remaining on the good side is due to luck and circumstances. But I also think it’s more than that. When something – even bad choices – is done out of love, it’s really hard to corrupt. Even Vader, who was turned to the dark side through his love for Padme, is not as firmly on the dark side as people think. He expressed a wish for the Emperor to be defeated in the second film, Luke senses strong goodness in him, and his love for his son (as well as his son’s love for him) ultimately turns him back to the good side again.

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Love is such an inherently good thing that, even though it can be used to make people do bad things or even align with the bad side, sustaining that badness is very difficult because it was born out of a natural desire to do good. And I think that, while there is definitely a lot of risk involved with it, the way Luke’s morality is built is just so rooted in love that it gives him a sort of protection that others might not have. In fact, in many ways I think who he is – including the parts Yoda disapproved of – makes him more resistant to evil than what Yoda wanted him to become.

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Lawful-aligned characters like Yoda definitely give an appearance of absolute righteousness and responsibility. But because his philosophies place ideals over caring for other people, that makes his focus ultimately inward on himself instead of outward. It’s all about his own growth, his own beliefs, his own feelings. When Yoda does something good he either does it out of duty, because he believes he’s “supposed” to, or he does it for himself because he wants to be a good person and wants to be on the good side of the force. Whereas, what’s very interesting about Luke is that the times he’s the most good is not when he’s trying to be good. It’s not when he’s mentally fighting the Emperor, trying to hold onto everything the Jedis have taught him. It’s not when he’s focused on himself, trying to control his emotions. The times he’s the most good is when he’s not trying at all, when he’s not even thinking about it, when his mind switches from himself and his morals to instead thinking about his father, wanting his father to be redeemed.

Luke’s goodness is built on taking his mind off himself and putting it on other people. And that’s why I prefer it. It’s about empathy and love. He’s not good because he wants to be; he doesn’t do good because he feels it’s his “duty.” It’s just natural. There’s such a genuine purity about it. And I think that’s why, no matter what sides (good or bad) he’d  join up with in his efforts to save people, he will always end up on the good side in the end. I think that’s why, more than just because of luck, he ended up on the good side in these films. His redeeming Fe doesn’t just save his father. It saves him too.

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