The title for Episode VIII has been revealed. Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters this December, but what exactly does the name mean?

Let us start by saying that the new title “The Last Jedi” for Star Wars Episode VIII has taken the internet by storm. Pretty much anything that can be said about it already has by many many people. Therefore, we’ll reference a bunch of them but will certainly miss who said it first. Nevertheless, we will give our opinions on the many theories out there about what the name means.

The Last Jedi

Those three words have basically been repeated several times throughout the saga. In Return of the Jedi, Yoda says to Luke

“When I’m gone, the last of the Jedi you will be”

In the opening crawl of The Force Awakens even ends its first paragraph with this point:

Then in film itself, Snoke echoes those words:

“The droid will soon be delivered to the Resistance, leading them to the last Jedi. if Skywalker returns, the new Jedi will rise.”

Maz: So this implies that the movie is heavily focused on Luke which I think we all kind of expected. I believe that it will have more than one meaning also. But the simple and direct meaning as Mark Hamill called it means its focused on Luke and him being the last Jedi alive.

Dave: Yeah, you’re right. With all these uses of these three words in the saga, they seem to always refer to Luke. That certainly suggests at first glance that the title is about Luke.

Singular or Plural?

The word Jedi is both singular and plural. So what does it mean in the title? Could it mean that it is plural, and Rey is included in this plural Jedi? In fact, Daisy Ridley was asked this very question, and wouldn’t answer.

I invited #daisyridley to my trailer under false pretenses. #NotARehearsal #IWantTheTruth #TheLastJedi A video posted by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Jan 25, 2017 at 1:46am PST

Dave: Of course, we can’t conclude anything by Daisy’s silence on the issue. One thing is clear, the answer to the question of whether the title is singular or plural isn’t something that Disney doesn’t want out. Daisy’s silence suggests it’s a secret. In fact, it may not even be answered in the film.

Maz:I believe that it is referring to Luke only. Rey is learning to become a Jedi or maybe Luke is teaching her to be something else. Something that heralds back to what the original Jedi were. Bendu maybe? Jedi Bendu? We have seen the Bendu in Rebels but we don’t know if its a sect or a species or maybe even just a representation of the Force like we saw in the Mortis arc and like the convorees. However IF Luke is to be the last of the Jedi then Bendu would be next logical step in my mind. I’m crazy in this idea other fans have thought of it including Jeremy over at FuriousFanboys. There are a too many theories and fan mentions of Rey becoming something else but I suspect it maybe true… check below for why.

A sentence?

I’ve heard this idea from Jason Ward on the NTIP podcast make this point, and I’ve seen it around the web, that the titles for Episode VII and VIII could comprise a sentence.

The Force Awakens The Last Jedi…

Dave: Somehow I doubt this one. It’s possible though. Given the quote from Snoke above, I would say that Episode IX will be titled “The New Jedi Rise” or “Rise of the New Jedi” or something like that if this theory is true. Assuming the good guys win…

Maz: I doubt this one also and the next line would greatly depend on what happens next. That being said I think it was first noticed and in jest people made a few comments. Now fans being fans have run with it…

Red Lettering

A lot of people have pointed out the red lettering. Podcast 2187 titled their latest episode about this point. As people have pointed out, only Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi have used red lettering. Red is the color of the Sith lightsabers. It’s kind of a ominous color, kind of aggressive. Could it portend a dark theme in this movie? Of course, the second act of the trilogy usually puts our characters in a dark and dismal position. Could this be true of Episode VIII as well?

Maz: For about three minutes I was convinced that the color meant something. Then I remembered that RotJ and RotS used red. So I can’t take anything regarding theme from it however its the middle act so I expect that it will be darker and our heroes will be in a bad situation once it is over. Will say this BOTH RotJ and RotS effectively ended one group’s domination of the force. In RotS the Sith wipe out the Jedi and remove them from the galaxy and in RotJ Luke the last Jedi wipes out the Sith with a helping hand from his father that goes back to the lightside/Jedi at the last minute. Luke is the last jedi so perhaps he is teaching Rey to be something new and the JEdi will be no more and that is why the title is red.

Dave: Given that RotJ ends on a positive note, red lettering isn’t always ominous. Somehow, I’m hoping that Episode IX will be blue to round out the primary colors. Nevertheless, I expect that this one will finish with our heroes in a tight spot, and I hope it explores more mystical themes like seen in ESB.

brought to you by @davestrrr and @mazlow01. Stay tuned to spoiledbluemilk.com for updates!