#Carrie Fisher Forever in Our Hearts <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[escapingrealityforamoment]

Unspoken Desires

Chapter 3: Surrendering to Love

Days turned into weeks, and our bond only grew stronger. Conrad and I spent endless hours together, exploring the hidden corners of Cousins Beach and creating new memories. Each touch, each stolen kiss, deepened our connection, igniting a flame that burned brightly within us. But as summer waned, so did the sense of blissful ignorance. The realities of life began to creep into our idyllic bubble. Conrad's family obligations, my own uncertain future, and the impending end of summer loomed over us like a storm cloud. One evening, as we sat on the beach, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Conrad turned to me, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "Y/N, we both know summer can't last forever," he said softly. "But that doesn't mean we have to let go of what we've found." Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the truth in his words. Our time together was limited, but the love we shared was undeniable. I nodded, my heart aching at the thought of our impending separation. "Conrad, I don't want to let go," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "I want to hold onto this, whatever it may be, for as long as we can." A bittersweet smile tugged at Conrad's lips as he reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers. "Then let's make every moment count," he said, his voice filled with determination. "No matter what the future holds, I want to cherish this summer and our connection." And so, we embarked on a journey of love, fueled by passion and the desire to savor every remaining day. We laughed under the sun, danced beneath the starlit sky, and shared whispered promises in the quiet of the night. But as the final days of summer approached, an air of melancholy settled upon us. The reality of our impending separation weighed heavily on our hearts. We found solace in each other's arms, seeking comfort in the knowledge that our love would forever be etched in the sands of Cousins Beach. On that last day, as the sun dipped below the horizon for the final time, Conrad and I stood near the water's edge, tears glistening in our eyes. The ocean's waves crashed against the shore, echoing the bittersweet symphony of our emotions. "Y/N, this summer has been the most beautiful chapter of my life," Conrad whispered, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and gratitude. "You've shown me the true meaning of love and the courage to hold onto it, even when the world tries to pull us apart." I leaned into his embrace, the warmth of his touch soothing the ache in my heart. "Conrad, you've awakened a part of me that I never knew existed," I replied, my voice trembling. "No matter where life takes us, you'll always have a piece of my heart." With one final lingering kiss, we silently vowed to carry the memories of that summer forever. The waves crashed against the shore, carrying away our whispered promises and unspoken desires, but leaving behind a love that would endure, even as time carried us to different shores. As I looked back on that unforgettable summer, Conrad Fisher remained etched in my heart, forever the one who showed me the power of love and the courage to embrace it. And in the depths of my soul, I knew that no matter where life took us, our connection would forever be intertwined, an eternal reminder of the summer we turned pretty and found a love that defied the constraints of time.

THE END..

[gaylo-ben]

mama leia and bb-ben -  Be careful, Young one #SCARGATE

Ben has been through a series of face scrapes in his life. We can tell in the trailer for The Last Jedi that the cut he got at the end of The Force Awakens must have ~healed fully~. And the new scar must be from falling in the shower-- like his grandfather before him  #ForgiveRianJohnson #scargate

//part V of a small collection of  Leia & BB-Ben doodle tributes for 🌹Princess Carrie Fisher🌹 i love you to alderaan and back. we treasure your memory and miss you so deeply! force clap if you believe <3 the stars twinkle in your name.

I pre-forgive Rian Johnson for everything except for crashing the line at Star Wars Celebration 2017.  After hours of echoing lightsaber battle crashes had died down...you had to come try and be the last jedi just as we had finally fallen asleep. XD

[kajaono]

Hey if you have the time, what are some of your current fav ships and what are your fav things about them (their dynamic or a scene in canon or whatever) and some headcanons? I know this is might take some time to answer and I'm not sure you want to, but if you do thanks a lot. Im just curious. And yeah, just have a great day (:

Thank you for asking. I am allways happy to make extra long posts ;)

I had a hard time deciding how to start that post but decided to go with:

Cherik - X men

There are multiple reasons why this ship means the world to me and will be allways close to my heart.

First, at all I grew up with the xmen movies. Cuddled up with my best friend, in her bed, watching the old x men movies (xm1 to 3) until 2 o’clock in the night. It is a feeling like coming home. And the underlying queer theme allways attracted me.

Second: I am a sucker for the enemies to lover trope. It is this amazing thing that no matter how much they “hate” each other, or how long they have not seen eachother, or how deeply they hurted eachother if one one of them is in danger the other one will allways run and save the other one. This is love imo

Also they are as canon as they could be in Hollywood. My headcanon for young!Cherik is similar to the one Michael Fassbender has for them. They are married, doing a fishing trip around the whole world, to come back at the end to Genosha raising, teaching and carrying for a new generation of mutant kids.

For old Cherik: They are happily living together in the school, due to the utopia Wolverine created in Days of future past. Magneto is probably teaching the kids mechanics

And there are allready rumors that Marvel wants to recast them. If they will touch our happy Cherik ending with their rotten hands i will riot!

Stormpilot - Star Wars

Yeah i still use that name. Because i am on this boat since the beginning. It is a little bit damaged but still sailing so this is my happy ship.

I was never a big Star Wars fan but these two dudes made me fall in love with Star Wats because even before i realized i was queer i knew this ship was special and make history, in one way or another. And we did, didn’t we? We are now taken seriously. Shipping is not a “ugly” fangirl thing anymore but people start to realize taht it is also a scream for representation. But we still have to go a long way

I love that this kind of a “love at the first sight” thing (at least for Poe). And that they have an instead chemistry with eachother. I was sitting in TROS and smiling like an idiot everytime they were on screen and cried buckets when they were both single and together in the end. They treat eschother well and have a deep respect for eachother. There is no macho behavior just pure friendship with a lot of gay tension. Every scene with them in TROS was a blast. And i am sure Finn is now slowly realizing he is love with Poe as well. Poe gives Finn his ring. Finn finds out he is a long lost prince and learns jedi tricks. And then they marry. And adopt a lot of droids children!

They are my hope. And they will be my first tattoo.

Phrack (Phryne x Jack) - MFMM

One of the few straight ships i actively ship. They are so damn well written. There is nothing toxic about their relationship. And the slow burn tension is killing you slowly. How they care for eachother without Jack being Phrynes savior. And how Phyrne allways gets calm perfect Jack irritated is so cute.

Also the moments where Phyrne is teasing Jack or Jack calls Phryne “Phryne” instead of “Miss Fisher” like he normally does.  And that Jack is ready to learn how to accept gay people and working independent women through Phryne is beautiful.

No headcanons here. I just want to watch the upcoming movie “Miss Fisher and the crypt of tears” that explains what happenes directly after the season 3 finale.

Give! Me! That! Movie! Now!

Keyla x Joann - Star Trek Discovery

There is not too much to say about them. I just hope they will be canon. They didn’t had much screentime yet but everytime they are together it feels like they are dating since years. And Keyla is confirmed bisexual. I hope we will see them together in season 3. If not i will just keep on pretending that they got married at the end, adopted a lot of space kitten and live their best lives as speca wIw.

Also the are holding hands in that scene above, fight me!

Michael x Tilly - Star Trek Discovery

Nothing better then space wIw pairings.

I like how they deeply care for eachother and Tilly was ready to accept Michael even though she was an outcast. And Michael was ready to accept Tilly even though she normally can not deal with talkactive people.

Tilly helped Michael a lot to express her feelings  while Michael helped Tilly to fight for her dream as a Captain.

Also they canonly hold hands multiple times. They are so soft around eachother. I am so ready for season 3.

Sherlock x Joan x Marcus - Elementary

I actually ship them in every variation (because above all Johnlock) but here i make an expactation. The deep care they have for eachother. They had a few problems at the start but if someone feels bad now, both are ready to help that person. Joan is constantly checking on Marcus personal live, and lives with Sherlock anyway, while Sherlock constantly looks out for Joan and Marcus and looks that they find happines. And Marcus has thought multiple times about moving in with Sherlock and Joan.

While Sherlock doesn’t really liked to be touched both Joan and Marcus have iconic hug scenes with Sherlock. And after Joan and Sherlock find out that Marcus will move to a new job they both do everything they can so Marcus will be successful, The epsiode ends with Sherlock looking at Marcus for a really long time, smiling like a love sick dork, while he lefts with  “ It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright now, I’m fine with how it all went down “ playing the background.

I haven’t watched season 7 yet but with Marcus risking his career for both Joan and Sherlock i hope he will finally moves in with them.

Honorable mentions to my fav ships forever:

Nomanita - Sense8

The lesbian crime fighting duo every show deserve. They only know pure love and support for eachother.

And i send a flip flop to netflix to see them getting married. Yeah i am that extra sometimes

Johnlock - EVERY univserse

Just because!

And the “i just discovered it”-ship:

Geralt x Jaskier - The witcher

They are so dumb. It is amazing. I hope Jaskier finds a nice boyfriend in the next seasons. Or gets to kiss Geralt. Because he definitly wants to

I hope this list satisfied you. I am allways happy to make more.

Have a great day as well

[starstwinkleplanetsshine]

“No ones ever really gone”

Four years ago today, the galaxy gained its brightest star. 

Thank you, Carrie Fisher, for showing countless generations that girls can be powerful, determined, and passionate heroes, too. 

Without her, there would be no Padme, no Ahsoka, no Jyn, no Rey, and none of the many other incredible, badass, and beautiful women of Star Wars that we all love. She was the first, and for that, we will always be grateful. For that, she will live forever. 

Forever our Princess, our General, our Inspiration, and our Hope. You will always live on in our hearts<3 

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

3 things ask: 1, 6, 9, 12, 15, 19, 23.

1. 3 things you wish for

a ton of money in my savings account, because even now i still worry about the larger picture of my life, and where i’ll go or what i’ll do if/when i’m suddenly on my own one day. i want to be able to travel in my regular life (post-pandemic) and enjoy little vacations like the one i had last year, but i won’t feel safe to do that unless i also have a sizable amount still stashed away for the future...and i know that’s unrealistic given my fixed income but it’s a wish.

democratic control of the house, senate, and presidency in 2021. please for the love of whatever, if you live in the united states and haven’t voted yet, do that and vote blue. the world is literally burning down around my current home, and i’d just like to go a day without wondering if we’ll all survive the next four years.

the end of the pandemic. i’m really lucky, in that i don’t work and can stay safely home a lot of the time--and i’d much rather see as many people survive as possible than complain about how much fun is being taken away from me, so i can live without movie theaters and starbucks days until we’re through this. 

but when i try to list a third wish, too many of them are things i wish for ‘once the pandemic is over,’ so that has to be the larger wish. someday i’d like to date somebody i like, who likes me, even just for casual fun hangouts...but that requires being able to spend time with people. i very much want to have semi regular getaways, where i take my laptop to a hotel for a couple days and just exist alone for a bit, like a mini vacation--but hotels here are closed. i wish for mental stability and physical health and creative productivity, and all of those parts of my life are currently wrecked by the pandemic and its effects here. 

6. 3 characters that inspire you

there are so many that do, in so many ways. these are just the first three that come to mind.

stevie budd (schitts creek), because she turns a broken heart and a listless life into success and joy and family 

parker (leverage), because she has unique abilities she feels totally confident in and she gets better at her weaker areas, like people

sherlock holmes (elementary), because every time he describes his mind i feel seen, and he channels his struggles into healthier outlets and makes amends when he fucks up

9. 3 things you like doing on a rainy day

curling up under a blanket; making sure i’m near a window or under a skylight, so i can hear it; and napping. i used to sometimes like going out in it, because i occasionally miss having grown up in washington...but right now i wouldn’t cuz last year’s immune system crash means i’m wary of inviting a cold or pneumonia into my life (again).

12. 3 apps you use the most

two dots, happy color, and numberzilla on my tablet, because i only use it for games and those are my current favorites. on my phone, i think it’s the clock app (for the alarm), the text messenger, and the news app. i still really only have a phone to stay safe and connected when necessary--i prefer to use the internet and social media on my laptop, so i’m not on my phone much.

15. 3 quotes that have a special place in your life

“stay afraid, but do it anyway.” - carrie fisher   

“i write poetry, toby. that's how i enter the world.” - laura dern, as tabitha fortis on the west wing

“you love me. real or not real?” - mockingjay by suzanne collins

19. 3 animals you’d love to take care of in your house

my literal brain looks at this question and thinks, the taking care of part isn’t a part i ever love--it’s a part i submit to as a requirement for getting to enjoy the company of animals, but i never love it. 

if i try to be less literal, then my three picks are mellie, sebastian, and bailey, aka the three feral cats who come by our house for daily feedings and who are all sweethearts desperate for love who have valid reasons to be wary of indoor human life. i know realistically that we could never house them all, along with kinnie...but it’s still a dream i love, to be surrounded by cats again.

i think a turtle would be a great pet (that was my first pet wish as a kid and it’s never been achieved) but now that i’m such a cat person, i’d rather have a kitten any day than any other kind of animal, even the ones that sound fun.

23. 3 songs you listen to while cleaning

what i listen to while cleaning changes constantly, just like what i listen to in general. but my favorite songs to listen to while cleaning are usually also ones i love singing along to, so here’s three of those from recently: 

always and forever by lily kershaw 

thenineteenseventyfive by push baby (this one gave me my current blog title) 

sine from above by lady gaga & elton john

thank you for sending all these!! 💖💖

3 things asks

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

9th October >> Mass Readings (USA)     Friday, Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

   or 

Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs 

    or 

Saint John Leonardi, Priest.

Friday, Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

  (Liturgical Colour: Green)

       First Reading

Galatians 3:7-14

Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith.

Brothers and sisters: Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, Through you shall all the nations be blessed. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law. And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for the one who is righteous by faith will live. But the law does not depend on faith; rather, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

   Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

 R/ The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart

 in the company and assembly of the just.

Great are the works of the Lord,

 exquisite in all their delights.

R/ The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Majesty and glory are his work,

 and his justice endures forever.

He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;

 gracious and merciful is the Lord.

R/ The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

He has given food to those who fear him;

 he will forever be mindful of his covenant.

He has made known to his people the power of his works,

 giving them the inheritance of the nations.

R/ The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

    Gospel Acclamation

John 12:31b-32

Alleluia, alleluia.

The prince of this world will now be cast out,

and when I am lifted up from the earth

I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel

Luke 11:15-26

If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 ——————————————-

    Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs 

  (Liturgical Colour: Red)

     Readings for the memorial

There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise.

    First Reading

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

As dying and behold we live.

Brothers and sisters: In everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

    Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

 Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion,

 we were like men dreaming.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

 and our tongue with rejoicing.

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Then they said among the nations,

 “The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us;

 we are glad indeed.

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

 like the torrents in the southern desert.

Those who sow in tears

 shall reap rejoicing.

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Although they go forth weeping,

 carrying the seed to be sown,

They shall come back rejoicing,

 carrying their sheaves.

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

    Gospel Acclamation

John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel

Matthew 5:13-16

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

 ——————————————

    Saint John Leonardi, Priest 

  (Liturgical Colour: White)

     Readings for the memorial

There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise.

    First Reading

2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7

We preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters: Since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ.

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

    Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 10

 Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song;

 sing to the Lord, all you lands.

Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

 among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the Lord, you families of nations,

 give to the Lord glory and praise;

 give to the Lord the glory due his name!

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The Lord is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

 he governs the peoples with equity.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

    Gospel Acclamation

Mark 1:17

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come after me, says the Lord,

and I will make you fishers of men.

Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel

Luke 5:1-11

At your command I will lower the nets.

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[mxnofhonour]

* GETTING  TO  KNOW  THE  MUN :

Tagged by- @fullcfterrors

Tagging- @libri-e-amore @serbriennecftarth @a-maimed-man-and-bitter @briennexofxtarth @oathkeeperwench @notwench @dominionovershadows @materxdracones @hefzyisback @lannisqueen

NAME :   Éireann

NICKNAME :   I often get 'Ezz' or variations of that.

FACECLAIM :   mun face? A few people have said young Carrie Fisher so...there.

PRONOUNS :   she / her 

HEIGHT :   5′0

BIRTHDAY :   7th March

AESTHETIC :   honestly this changes daily. Some days, I'm pink glitter everything. Other days my Lannister emerges and I just wanna wear red and gold.

LAST  SONG  YOU  LISTENED  TO :   Till It Happens To You by Lady Gaga according to my Spotify.

FAVORITE  MUSE (S)  YOU’VE  WRITTEN : The first muse I ever properly tackled on here was Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games. I adore her and writing as her will forever hold a special place in my heart.

* GETTING  TO  KNOW  THE  ACCOUNT :

WHAT  INSPIRED  YOU  TO  TAKE  ON  THIS  MUSE : I've wanted to explore the Game of Thrones/ A Song of Ice and Fire world for quite some time now but I was always very apprehensive because it is a HUGE world and a momentous task to set oneself when choosing a muse. However, after the bloodbath that was season 8, I bit the bullet and made a Jaime. Jaime had always been my favourite character from when I started watching the show in season 3. I've always had a weak spot for the...unsavoury characters and after episode one of GOT, Jaime had ticked every box. I find his story fascinating and incredibly complex, especially now that I am au fait with his book counterpart. I love exploring his thoughts and ideas and shaping them to fit with the narratives I've created for him with my partners.

WHAT  ARE  YOUR  FAVORITE  ASPECTS  OF  YOUR  CURRENT  MUSE :  I love how complex he is. Reading the books has shown me just how many conflicting thoughts Jaime has about situations he finds himself in and it is truly fascinating to read. He handles things in his own unique ways, whether it be by taking sword in hand or by using his own wits to verbally get himself out of conflicts. And I'm just going to downright say it- he is an asshole and we stan an asshole. He's a lot of fun to write.

WHAT’S  YOUR  BIGGEST  INSPIRATION  WHEN  IT  COMES  TO  WRITING :  my biggest inspiration is definitely the people I write with. My responses to our threads entirely depend on what the other muse can pull out of Jaime. And I write with a lot of incredible people who inspire me to write just that little bit more, to explore just that little bit deeper into Jaime's character. It really is a privilege writing with the people I write with.

FAVORITE  TYPES  OF  THREADS :   ships. All the ships. I am a huge shipper and Jaime is just trash for anyone.

BIGGEST  STRUGGLE  IN  REGARDS  TO  YOUR  CURRENT  MUSE :   my biggest struggle is my lack of confidence in what I write. I'm always so terrified when I post my replies because I'm mindful that they're not the best and definitely not on par with those of my partners. It stems back to crossing paths with a very arrogant role player within another fandom who basically shut me down because they believed threads should be written THEIR way and no one else's. It got to the point where they actually posted a passive-aggressive post aimed at me talking about how they wont play with people who write a certain way. This was maybe 3 or 4 years ago and obviously I have grown from then, but the message still sticks...am I good enough? Am I writing the way I should be? I know now that roleplaying is a very personal thing but I still struggle with a lot of self doubt.

[clairen45]

I have enjoyed and been very impressed with your thoughtful metas. I was just curious if you had any thoughts on the symbolism of two in Star Wars. I thought about it a bit and I can't unsee it: 1) The binary suns; 2) Luke and Leia being twins; 3) The necessity of a co-pilot to fly the MF; 4) The rule of two; 5) The padowna/jedi master reationship; 6) Even Leia's ring in the ST... do you think there is something there that will inform the resolution of the saga?

Dear anon, wow, thank you so much for these kind words that go straight to my heart. And thank you also for this lovely ask! Sorry it took me so long to get to write and answer to this one! Yes, indeed, two is everywhere. And thank you so much for bringing Leia’s ring to my attention. It was too obvious to notice, I know! Well, I understand so much that you can’t unsee the number two in the saga. Of course, you can’t.

Before I elaborate on the points you make, may I begin by saying that we were literally ushered into the saga by two specific numbers that keep on repeating themselves. In the forms of our famous couple of droids: R2D2 and C3PO. I have two questions on the backburner about R2D2 but let me state and repeat how much this little droid is essential to the series and how much TLC he deserves all the time! So 2 and 3. The magic numbers on which the saga is built. On the one hand, 2 can be viewed as the mostly universal basis for all thought and the way at which we envision and represent the world. Binary, dual, antagonistic, divided: white and black, light and dark, night and day, heaven and earth, good and evil, male and female, me and others, yin and yang, fire and water, life and death, nature and culture… it goes on and on and on and on…2 is a fascinating number because it encompasses both destruction and creation. It is also the number of the duality inherent to every human being: the Janus, the potential everyone has to be either good or evil, the inner conflict. Out of the two comes out conflict, opposition, war. But out of two also comes out life, creation, balance. It takes a man and a woman to have a baby. It takes two to make three. It takes two to make the world go round.

3 on the other hand is a spiritual number, often present in most religions. Think of the Holy Trinity. It is also a temporal number, the one of the cycle: birth, growth, death; past, present, future; infancy, maturity, old age. It is often the number associated with heroe’s journeys and quests: places where they go, foes or friends they meet on the way, number of sons or daughters who are sent on a quest or who have to share a legacy. 3 is also the nuclear family: father, mother, and son. The triangle is a potent mystical symbol, associated with creation and thus also the female genitalia. So, it is funny that in our couple of droids, R2 seems often like the “male” element of the pairing and C3P0 the “female” element. With all the clichés associated though: R2 is active, mostly silent, often rude, loyal, and associated with technical skills. He often uses a little tool that comes out and is akin to a penis. He frequently saves the day. He goes with Luke. Whereas C3P0 is talkative, complains all the time, seems mostly decorative (huge emphasis on his appearance throughout the movies) , often creates issues, and is frequently shut down and physically abused by the others. C3PO goes with Leia. Yep. That sucks. No wonder he was hailed as a God by a primitive tribe who would certainly celebrate female powers (think also how welcoming they are with Leia, but how hostile they are towards the men of the group). 3 is the narrative reference in the series, because it is built as a trilogy, even better as a triptych of 3 trilogies. Think also that the MF is supposed to have 3 brains, of which being L3….

So, dear anon, you bring out fantastic references. Yes, it takes two to fly the LF, yes the rule of two for the Sith Lords, yes the Padawan and the Master, yes the twins, yes the binary suns on Tatooine and on Ahch-To as Luke is fading away… Don’t forget Han’s set of … dice.

The ring, that I had never thought before, is fantastic!

It was given center stage and dramatic flair on the poster representing Leia for the TLJ campaign. Carrie Fisher is credited with insisting on the importance of jewelry in TLJ. She really wanted jewelry for the characters and indeed, on the Visual Dictionary for TLJ, you find tons of info on what the characters wear. Stuff you didn’t necessarily pay attention to, like Poe Dameron’s ring… Anyways… This ring is obviously meaningful. This is something I found on a site called The Adventurine :

As for the meaning of the jewels, there has been speculation that the dramatic ring with two blue lapis-style stones in an Arts and Crafts swirl is her engagement ring from Han Solo. This is unlikely, mainly because she is wearing it on her right hand. She does have a ring with a gem that looks like an opal on her left hand in The Last Jedi. If they still follow the old-fashion rule that, that finger is the finger in space, it certainly could be her engagement ring and a way of holding on to Han’s memory.

Ok, let’s imagine this is an engagement ring and a way of having Solo paid homage to on the posters and throughout the movie. We know that Leia is in mourning. Her hairdo is a mourning braid as they used to wear on Alderaan. The movie did not deliver a Solo funeral as the novelizations did, so the look of Leia is a way of paying tribute to Solo and her love for him. As an engagement ring, it is cool: two stones that are exactly alike and equal, that each have their own space but are nevertheless interwined through a complex swirl of gold. There’s almost an 8 quality to the pattern, the number for infinity and repetition. So it is like a beautiful wedding vow, o equality, unity, and love forever. Now think even more. Couldn’t it evcoke our Reylo couple? Two lonely planets, both equal, that reach out to each other “across the stars”? Because as different and divided Leia and Han were, they never were equals. And when was the very last time we got to see this gorgeous piece of jewelry that is meant to represent an “engagement”, a “promise ring”, possibly even a wedding band?

Right at the end, with an emphasis on the broken saber. It’s not on the saber, but it’s the promise. The promise that “we have everything we need”, that out of division, union may come. And, think of it, even Rey’s scar, the “hands that reach across the galaxy”, is also reminiscent of the pattern on the ring:

There is an interesting parallel in the Solo movie. Qi’ra is “marked” with a tatoo that lets L3 (number 3 again) know that she is “taken”, not free to reciprocate Han’s love and follow him. In the end, not only does he have the tatoo (permanently branded into her skin), she eventually also gets the ring:

But because this is a ring for power and not a ring for love, she does not put it on, but uses it in the device on the ship to conjure up Maul’s appearance.

Another note: there is NO exchange of rings in the secret wedding between Padmé and Anakin. But our trusted droids are there though…and they are the wedding rings. Padmé gives R2 to Anakin and Anakin gives C3PO to Padmé.

[antons-yelchin]

I'm finding it hard to get my head around how sick Anton was his whole life. How did he manage to do such long hours filming, heavy exercise and stunts, and scenes that involved lots of smoke and dust. Did it make him worse? I always saw people say in YouTube comments he looked like he was on drugs. Now I know he was probably on twenty a day just to stay alive

I didn’t know about his battle with Cystic Fibrosis until I looked into it with 3 Anon submissions I got about it. I know how hard it is to live with a terminal illness. I have to have a permanent IV medication going into the main artery of my heart and pills I have to take four times a day (A total of 17 pills a day to keep me alive). It makes me sad that we didn’t learn about this until after his death-which is totally ok-the family and Ant deserve their privacy regarding health issues. I suppose his body type could be due to CF. And no wonder the accident killed him within 90 seconds of impact. If he already had lung issues due to CF...god I hate thinking about it. I just hate thinking that he was panicking and probably so scared and suffocating quickly due to his illness. But alas, Anton will live on forever in our hearts and souls. I think Thoroughbreds is the last piece of posthumous work we’ll see. They’re stopping Troll Hunters at Season 3 because they didn’t feel right recasting him. They’re also writing Chekov out of the new Star Trek because of the same reason. I think that’s very commendable for both brands because they do have such a cult following. I think with ST they’ll do what they’re doing with Carrie Fisher in the next Star Wars movie and use unseen clips they shot in the other two movies to phase Chekov out. Or since ST loves Holodecks and Holograms, they could phase him out that way obviously with his parent’s permission. I still have yet to see Beyond. I have 6 unseen works of his that are still sealed because I know if I watch them all, that’s that. It’s like reading the last book in a series. I mean you have fanfics and stuff but not Canon work to look forward to anymore. Sorry for the novel. I feel bad not replying to you sooner. Like I said, I didn’t know about the CF issue until I revisited my inbox here and looked into it.XOXO

~Anton Forever~

[thembtisquad]

mbti types as reactions to the last jedi

ISTJ: it was the worst one

ISFJ: it was the best one!

INFP: so many stormpilot gifsets

ESFJ: so many reylo gifsets

ENFP: um actually reylo is trash

ENTJ: um actually in the expanded universe

INTP: *buys every new star wars LEGO set*

ESTP: i don't like those movies *is lying*

ESTJ: i don't like those movies *is telling the truth*

ISFP: say what you want about the plot but the cinematography was a cut above

INFJ: 9 Predictions for What's Going to Happen in Star Wars Episode IX

INTJ: 12 Fan Questions Left Unanswered by The Last Jedi

ENFJ: rip carrie fisher :( forever in our hearts

[gaylo-ben]

gary fisher in buns for the perfect angel carriefisher !

 #GaryFisher thank you for being all of our emotional support dog, buddy, we miss your mom more with each passing day <3 she is the sunset and the stars. The moon shines extra bright just for her. Princess, we miss you more than there are words in the entire galaxy. There’s nothing like the sarlaac pit that remains deep in our hearts missing you.

Can’t wait to see you again this year in IX. Thank the Force for that blessing. happy new year, merry Life Day to our dear, beloved princess.

 To live in hearts left behind is not to die, and you are Always with us...

Princess, this is something I’ve planned on doing since your birthday. And, like last year, I left it for you then, I leave it for you now. If only I could give it to you now as a thank you for everything you have done for the galaxy and everything you have shared about you and your life and every piece of wisdom and happiness you have brought us. To Gary. Thank you for protecting our princess like you did and continue to do. We miss your love and your presence and are very grateful for your service, you good, perfect boy. We miss your tongue, and the humor you helped to bring to all of us ...and to such a beautiful woman in need of the most Love. Thank you for the three giant limp tongue kisses on that special day. I owe you one, junior. Thank you Todd Fisher for the beautiful birthday celebration and lightsaber tribute and magic at TCL that night. “Haaaa” will be a birthday song we sing forever. For the special words and endless comforts. Thank you Forest Lawn forever for such a magical place to remember them where their beauty can shine in such a special way. And to Ms Joely Fisher, in these times, thank you for your beautiful song, dance, and art memorial you gave us this year so close to Ms Carrie’s 2nd angelversary. We are all forever in ALL of your debts. Light a Life Day candle, put a lightsaber up for her in the window, hold your loved ones closer and longer, but most importantly remember that no one is ever really gone.

We miss you princess. Feel our love, we have always felt yours. <3  See you at the cantina in the sky. Mwah. <3  Thank you for every moment of joy space mom 💋

The only thing that could humble me more, or complete a Lifetime, or could ever have even hoped for in my galactic loving heart, is to one day maybe make someone as deserving as you happy for one second like you have brought happiness to my entire lifetime. I will always draw gary for you. i promise. 🙏 I grew up drawing you and your adventures every day from the time I was able to add scribbly words to a drawn picture. wont ever stop. Yours are the adventures of love, and love lasts forever. Wish you were here too see how many lovely christmas celebrations there were for you this year. Keep a small tree up year round for Carrie. 👍🌲 We are privileged to have live in a time to have known you. To share a little bit of earth with your space filled magic.

Thank you Gary. Thank you Carrie. #CarrieOnForever 🎵 sail on silver girl. we’re sailing right behind.

we’ll keep on moving, things are bound to be improving one of these days <3

As Carrie Fisher says, “Everything Forever.”

[hopegave]

I’m seeing so many beautiful posts about Carrie Fisher today && I’m not surprised considering today is the anniversary of her death. She left a big hole in our hearts but at least she’s being remembered lovingly by all the people that loved her. I really hope our space mom is happy anywhere she is , and most especially I hope we’re making her justice by fighting against injustices and believing in ourselves. 

My prayers today ESPECIALLY goes to her family. I can only imagine the pain her daughter Billie Lourd is going through. It’s never easy to lose not one, but two loved ones. The only thing I can say it’s that she deserves all the happiness of this world. She’s a beautiful, strong woman and I’m pretty sure her mother and grandmother are very much proud of her.

Other than that, Carrie IS ALIVE becaise she will always be in everyone’s hearts. Her memory will never be forgotten.

The force is with her , she is one with the force.

Forever our brave space princess.  <3

(1956 - ∞)

[misssingingintherain]

The Tragedy of General Leia the Feminist Icon: AKA Leia Organa (and Carrie Fisher) Deserve Better

This is essentially my play-by-play (or rather movie-by-movie) analysis of how Star Wars failed Carrie Fisher/Leia Organa and how it can begin to make things right.

Perhaps the greatest failing of the Original Star Wars Trilogy is its treatment of Leia Organa (and, by extension, Carrie Fisher). Though a feminist icon and one of the great female characters of the Saga, Leia was never given much focus or a defined arc over the first three movies.

A New Hope’s portrayal of Leia is still lauded as revolutionary, and I am inclined to agree. While she does kiss Luke twice and has sexual tension with Han, their relationships are mostly based on friendship and her main goal is always the rebellion, with her being a representation of what Luke aspires to be in the rebellion: wise, courageous, clever, selfless, and a symbol of hope. Many Star Wars story leaders and fans also cite Leia as being the whole reason the saga started, with her being the reason the plans/R2 got to Luke and Obi-Wan. However, despite seeing her planet destroyed in front of her, no time whatsoever is spent on her emotional trauma and instead has her comforting Luke over Obi-Wan’s death and Han’s leaving and she is a relatively passive figure in the climax, not taking part in the planning nor the assault on the Death Star.

Empire Strikes Back is arguably the best of the bunch, though that isn’t saying much. This is the movie in which Leia has the closest thing to an arc, but even then it’s mostly a ‘defrosting ice-queen’ arc, with hints of the typical rom-com arc of “growing to love a man being the most important thing in life.” The Leia/Han romance is also peppered with predatory undertones, as outlined by Pop Culture Detective (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWoP8VpbpYI).

Which brings us to the worst of the worst: Return of the Jedi. I could go on for a millennium about everything wrong with the gold bikini, from how it was used to silence both Carrie and Leia to how it poisoned relations between Star Wars and its female fans for years to come by attempting to brand it a boy’s story. But perhaps the worst part is how, after Luke got focus in Empire and Han got his arc in A New Hope, Return of the Jedi should have been Leia’s movie;. She should have been leading the charge to get Han back, she should have been the General in charge the assault on the shield generator (there are implications in the new Canon that she was essentially a General at this point but this is not shown in the text), and most importantly, she should have had some reaction to Darth Vader being her father, as she arguably has spent more time with him than Luke; @commander-burnham goes into greater detail about it here (http://commander-burnham.tumblr.com/post/136549235712/could-you-please-elaborate-on-how-rotj-should-have).

After the Original Trilogy, there came the period of Retroactive Recognition for Leia. Revenge of the Sith showed that Leia was so strong in the Force, she could remember her mother’s face minutes after being born. They also showed she was more similar to her father than mother personality wise; though Leia is similar to Padme in looks and profession, she obviously gets her rage and sense of justice from her Jedi father. This is an interesting dynamic, as it explains why she may have been more likely to turn to the Dark Side than Luke and also shows how much power she wields.

The Expanded Universe (now Legends) had degrees of this, playing into both feminist and sexist aspects of the Original Trilogy. Leia’s force sensitivity was more fully developed to the point of her and her children becoming fully fledged Jedi Knights, lightsabers and all. However, she also was frequently kidnapped by everyone from Hutts to the Emperor’s imposter son to Han Solo (again, leading to predatory undertones).

This era of Retroactive Recognition has also carried over into the current Disney era, with Forces of Destiny, novels, and comics like Princess Leia and Vader Down expanding on Leia’s off-screen narrative and showing what kind of growth she went through off-screen. Star Wars: Infinities goes so far as to have Leia replace/join Luke as the Chosen One. I especially appreciate the Forces of Destiny as, while action-oriented, it also serves to emphasize Leia’s devotion to diplomacy and justice. Rogue One had this to some degree, putting Leia and her ship in the heart of the battle (though I maintain Leia would have been at the door of the ship, ready to shoot Vader to get those plans if need be).

Leia only one of main trio to appear in Star Wars: Rebels, showing how much she was doing for both the Rebellion and the Galaxy at a very young age. However, even here, she does not act very much like a fourteen year-old girl, but a shorter, younger version of A New Hope’s Leia, therefore negating any chance for an arc.

That brings us to the Sequel Trilogy; in The Force Awakens, Leia is the subject of almost all the deleted scenes, meaning we don’t get to see Leia being a General until the third act. Even then, a good portion of her character is still based around her relationships with men, whether it be a sister trying to bring her brother home, a wife trying to repair her relationship with her husband, or a mother trying to save her son. All worthy pursuits, but also somewhat unsatisfying from a feminist perspective, especially for someone who started out as independent and focused on the fight as A New Hope Leia.

The Last Jedi does have Leia using the Force and being a General, as well as a major symbol of hope for the Resistance, but also has her sidelined (metaphorically and physically) by her more famous brother and then a coma, leaving Admiral Holdo to take her place. While an interesting character, the dynamic between Holdo and Poe may have been somewhat more complicated if it had been Leia he had been questioning and defying. And once again, she is not allowed to deal with the trauma of losing her husband at the hand of her son, but is instead once again helping others through their issues instead.

Episode IX would have supposedly rectified some of these issues, having been set to be Leia-centric as VII was for Han and VIII was for Luke. However, with Carrie Fisher’s death, those plans have since been scrapped and it is unknown how exactly the story will handle the passing of our Princess.

So how can Star Wars / Disney continue to right the wrongs of their treatment of Leia Organa?

I have a few suggestions:

1. A Leia Anthology movie about her early days in the rebellion. Leia, Princess of Alderaan, Rebels, Rogue One, and even the Han Solo movie have already laid the groundwork for this to work. This would be a difficult one, as it almost feels blasphemous to continue Leia’s story after Carrie’s death, since the two are in many ways a “Möbius striptease” as Fisher once said; however, as this would be a prequel exploring Leia before she became the Rebel Princess and General we know and love, it could work as a look into how she found that strength and sense of justice. As an almost political spy thriller reminiscent of Padme Amidala’s episodes in The Clone Wars, it could have Leia struggling with her rebel idealism and the harsh reality of Imperial politics, with a potential cast of side characters like Tarkin, Darth Vader, and (Future Vice Admiral) Amilyn Holdo either helping or hindering her navigation of it. There have already been fan poster of Millie Bobby Brown that are absolutely spectacular and Fisher’s family has expressed a desire for her to remain a vital part of the franchise. This could be that way.

However, if it is deemed too soon, an alternative could also be:

2. A fictional documentary on the life of General Leia Organa, with in-character interviews from the sequel and original movies’ casts. It could serve to tie in more of the Retroactive Recognition found in the comics and novels into the movie canon. If not as a movie, it could work as a Netflix documentary or an exclusive feature on the future Disney streaming service. This could pay tribute to both Carrie and Leia in one fell swoop.

3. Another Star Wars: Infinities comic series, this time for what Episode IX would have been like if Carrie Fisher had lived. Obviously, this would have to come out after Episode IX to avoid spoilers, but that would give writers and artists time to capture Carrie’s witty writing and unique portrayal of the character to the best of their ability.

4. More supplementary material, whether comics, novels, or cartoons, exploring Leia’s Force sensitivity, so the audience may know how powerful she was and/or could have been had she been trained.

5. Tackle issues that Carrie did in life; bring in more women (especially older ones otherwise neglected by Hollywood), tackle issues like mental health, addiction, body image. Do not wait to tell these stories about minorities and incredible, as like Carrie Fisher herself, while their spirits may live on in us and the Force forever, their physical forms may not.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

23rd November >> Mass Reading (USA)

Saturday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time 

or Saint Clement I, Pope, Martyr 

or Saint Columbanus, Abbot and Missionary 

or Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Martyr 

or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

1 Maccabees 6:1-13

On account of the evils I did in Jerusalem, I am dying in bitter grief.

As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces, he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais, famous for its wealth in silver and gold, and that its temple was very rich, containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, son of Philip, king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks. He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city. But he could not do so, because his plan became known to the people of the city who rose up in battle against him. So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there to return to Babylon.

While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight; that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army and been driven back by the children of Israel; that they had grown strong by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions taken from the armies they had destroyed; that they had pulled down the Abomination which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded with high walls both the sanctuary, as it had been before, and his city of Beth-zur.

When the king heard this news, he was struck with fear and very much shaken. Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed. There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die.

So he called in all his Friends and said to them: “Sleep has departed from my eyes, for my heart is sinking with anxiety. I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’ But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19

R/ I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will declare all your wondrous deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, Most High.

R/ I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

Because my enemies are turned back,

overthrown and destroyed before you.

You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;

their name you blotted out forever and ever.

R/ I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;

in the snare they set, their foot is caught.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten,

nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.

R/ I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

cf. 2 Timothy 1:10

Alleluia, alleluia.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death

and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 20:27-40

He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called  ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

———————-

Saint Clement I, Pope, Martyr 

(Liturgical Colour: Red)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading

1 Peter 5:1-4

Tend the flock of God in your midst!

Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing it not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

The favors of the Lord I will sing forever;

through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;

in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to David my servant:

Forever will I confirm your posterity

and establish your throne for all generations.”

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“I have found David, my servant;

with my holy oil I have anointed him,

That my hand may be always with him,

and that my arm may make him strong.”

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,

and through my name shall his horn be exalted.

He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,

my God, the rock, my savior.’”

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Mark 1:17

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come after me, says the Lord,

and I will make you fishers of men.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-19

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

————————-

Saint Columbanus, Abbot and Missionary 

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading

Isaiah 52:7-10

All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,

Announcing peace, bearing good news,

announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,

“Your God is King!”

Hark!  Your sentinels raise a cry,

together they shout for joy,

For they see directly, before their eyes,

the Lord restoring Zion.

Break out together in song,

O ruins of Jerusalem!

For the Lord comforts his people,

he redeems Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm

in the sight of all the nations;

All the ends of the earth will behold

the salvation of our God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all you lands.

Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the Lord, you families of nations,

give to the Lord glory and praise;

give to the Lord the glory due his name!

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The Lord is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

he governs the peoples with equity.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Gospel Acclamation

John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 9:57-62

I will follow you wherever you go.

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” He said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

———————

Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Martyr 

(Liturgical Colour: Red)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading

2 Chronicles 24:18-22

Zechariah was stoned to death in the court of the Lord’s temple.

The princes of Judah forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the Lord, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the Lord’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’” But the people conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord’s temple. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge.”

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety.

You are my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;

you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God.

I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors,

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your kindness.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 5:10

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

John 17:19

Alleluia, alleluia.

I consecrate myself for them,

so that they also may be consecrated in the truth.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

2 Corinthians 1:3b-4a

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement,

who encourages us in our every affliction.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

James 1:12

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation,

for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

1 Peter 4:14

Alleluia, alleluia.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,

for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

see Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia.

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 9:23-26

Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Jesus said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

————————

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

I will put enmity between your offspring and the offspring of the woman.

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me– she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The Lord God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this, you shall be banned

from all the animals

and from all the wild creatures;

On your belly shall you crawl,

and dirt shall you eat

all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

He will strike at your head,

while you strike at his heel.”

The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial Psalm

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the Lord,

my horn is exalted in my God.

I have swallowed up my enemies;

I rejoice in my victory.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The bows of the mighty are broken,

while the tottering gird on strength.

The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,

while the hungry batten on spoil.

The barren wife bears seven sons,

while the mother of many languishes.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The Lord puts to death and gives life;

he casts down to the nether world;

he raises up again.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich,

he humbles, he also exalts.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“He raises the needy from the dust;

from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,

To seat them with nobles

and make a glorious throne their heritage.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Gospel Acclamation

see Luke 1:28

Alleluia, alleluia.

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;

blessed are you among women.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

see Luke 1:45

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

see Luke 2:19

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God

and pondered it in her heart.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Luke 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God

and observe it.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;

from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;

without dying you won the martyr’s crown

beneath the Cross of the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50

Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, here are my mother and my brothers.

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

[iheartbookbran]

Some random thoughts I had while watching The Last Jedi

Can we start all SW movies from now on with Poe completely owning First Order members while they stutter in frustration lmao

Carrie Fisher I love you with all my heart

First 15 minuets of movie and Kyle already had his first tantrum, of course

So Stormpilot

Talented brilliant incredible amazing show stopping spectacular

Srsly this ship is amazing

And Poe and Finn look so good together, and apart (this is a thought I had every time they appeared on screen)

Leia Organa will live on forever, just to remind Kyle how disappointed she is on him

Your fave would never

Don’t get me wrong, I think Rose is adorable and I’m really liking her, but why is Finn in this plot again?

Oh yeah because of the Reyl0 fanfic

You know what I love the most? Salty Luke, proving again he’s the most #relatable character of the franchise

If I had a nephew like Kyle I too would shut myself in an island hoping to die there

Wow... the reyl0s are going to be insufferable after this

Listen on principle I have absolutely nothing against the idea of Luke drinking milk out of a giant elephant-giraffe inbreed’s breast... but i need more of an explanation as to why this scene was included at all other than “yeah our budget it’s great, look at that CGI and also... world expansion I guess?”

So Rian Johnson it’s implying the rebellion it’s just as bad as the First Order? Sounds fake but ok

This Finn, Rose and BB8 side plot is way more interesting, fun and meaningful to the overall spirit of the story than the Reyl0 fanfic and y’all know it

And you know what’s worst? I was expecting that Luke would actually train Rey as a Jedi, but he did none of that really, unless you count like what, 3 lessons? All of them finishing with Luke being all pragmatic

Like at least make her carry you on her back and run through a swamp or something, Luke, you’re better than this

Wow... the Reyl0s are going to be insufferable after this

Lmao Poe while taking on the ship is literally like “not to worry I have a permit” *it says I can do what I want*

And then Leia coming back from the almost death looking SO DONE

Ok Kyle, I get it, your uncle didn’t treat you right, but did you have to kill a bunch of your classmates, join a fascist organization, terrorize the whole galaxy and kill your father just because of that? Did you really?

But listen putting my feelings for Kyle aside, I’m big enough to admit that the way he killed Snoke was awesome

The fight that ensured thereafter of Rey and him against those ninja warriors was... weird?

Srsly why ninjas?

Wow... the Reyl0s are going to be insufferable after this

So does this mean that Kyle is the main villain of the story :)

You know I was cheering all the while Finn was beating Captain Phasma’s ass but now that I’ve had time to reflex on it, is this really all the use they’re giving Gwendoline Christie? I fully support Finn being the one to defeat her, but it could have been done better imo

Awesome kamikaze lady... you are awesome

Am I the only one who was reminded of Rogue One while watching this movie?

Rogue One was better lmfao

Luke and Leia! *gross sobbing*

Seriously I loved that the main reason Luke was pushed to continue on fighting and confront his demons was the love he bore for his sister. He just couldn’t stand the idea of failing her again

And I loved their reunion, I loved that we got the opportunity of watching this scene

*gross sobbing forever*

Also look how much over Kyle and his BS they both are lmao

First Order: we have like 20 AT-AT walkers!, The Resistance: yeah well we have a Luke!

Seriously that whole scene of Luke handing the First Order’s asses back to them, specially Kyle’s, had my whole theater on fire, everyone was clapping and shouting, it was amazing

Also this can’t be the last we see of Luke right? He has to come back to humiliate Kyle at least one more time right?

I cannot wait so see Resistance Leader!Poe next movie, my bae it’s going to shine

So Rey can move a bunch of rocks just like that? That’s what I’m talking about there needing to be more training, but Johnson’s shipper heart won to logic I guess

Aww Finnrey reunion

Why wasn’t Finn in the main plot again?

Right

Also is Johnson implying Finn isn’t also a Jedi?

No that cannot be

Can we have J.J Abrams back please?

This wasn’t my favorite SW movie tbf, not even close

Wow... the Reyl0s are going to be insufferable after this

[dweemeister]

NOTE: The following contains full spoilers and the beginning (not the end) of a moral discourse that could not have been in my review to The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Walt Disney Pictures is about to win the 2017 box office by releasing only nine films (in order): Beauty and the Beast (March), Born in China (April), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (April), the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean (May), Cars 3 (June), Jagga Jasoos (July; a Bollywood film), Thor: Ragnarok (October), Coco (October), and now Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This will be a record low – unimaginable in previous decades where a major studio might release a few movies per month or one per week. As Disney moves to make fewer films every year – this is code for only producing larger-budget franchise blockbusters or live-action remakes of their animated classics and sacrificing Hollywood’s traditional bread-and-butter of low- and mid-budget movies – Star Wars may be the last cinematic experience that might be described as communal. In a fractured media landscape, individual tastes are being catered to, but there is less that unites society. Movies catering to major movie franchise fans and “arthouse/indie” cinephiles (permit me this generalization) are less likely to play in the same theaters, and neither groups are likely to give the movies that the other group likes a smidge of attention. Star Wars, by sheer popularity and its callbacks to classic Hollywood, bridges this divide.

The Last Jedi is the eighth episode in the saga, immediately following the events of The Force Awakens (2015). Rey (Daisy Ridley), along with Chwebacca (Joonas Suotamo; the retired Peter Mayhew served as consultant) and R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee), is on a lush island on Ahch-To (bless you!) hoping to be trained in the ways of the Force by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the First Order’s (a splinter of planetary systems from the dissolved Galactic Empire) decapitation of the New Republic’s government in the last film, the Resistance (distinct from the New Republic’s military; think of the Resistance as a Republic-sponsored insurgency/liberation paramilitary operating in First Order territory... thanks J.J. Abrams) is attempting to evacuate from the First Order fleet. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher in her last screen role; none of her scenes were altered/rewritten in post-production) is in command, and underneath her are Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) and more familiar faces like Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). We are also introduced to a Resistance maintenance worker, Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran). Within the First Order, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is concocting a fiendish scheme as Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) wants Kylo to use Rey to kill Luke.

Other characters that appear are: droid BB-8 (puppeteers Dave Chapman and Brian Herring), protocol droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels, who is now the only actor to have appeared in all Star Wars films with Kenny Baker’s passing), First Order General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), a codebreaker named DJ (Benicio del Toro), Resistance ally Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o), and the First Order’s Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie).

The Last Jedi sometimes recalls the worst impulses of The Force Awakens, which was weakened by too closely adhering to the plot outline of A New Hope (1977). We see uncomfortably close parallels yet again in The Last Jedi: the visual similarities between the Battle of Hoth (The Empire Strikes Back’s opening) with the film’s climax on Crait, thematic callbacks to Return of the Jedi (1983) when Rey is dragged into Snoke’s throne room (dark side students betraying masters; the use of red here made me think I was watching a Vincente Minnelli musical for a moment), and small portions of Rey’s training with Luke (such as another trippy cave filled with dark side vibes; otherwise, the Rey-Luke scenes were fine). But The Last Jedi is more committed than its predecessor to developing its epic themes and attempting to critique/reconfigure Star Wars’ ethos of light and dark, good and evil. Both are honorable pursuits and depicted sufficiently, but terrible editing and a disorganized screenplay from director-writer Rian Johnson (2012′s Looper) takes too much focus away from The Last Jedi’s achievements.

Star Wars’ Manichaeism – outside the underrated Revenge of the Sith (2005) – has never been truly challenged within the cinematic saga. The best writing noting the nuances of morality has appeared in other Star Wars media: the Knights of the Old Republic video game series and, to a lesser extent, Dave Filoni’s animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. For a series whose roots come from two closely-related genres regarded for their moral complexities – samurai movies and American Westerns – this is mystifying.

But for The Last Jedi, there is an attempt to challenge, or at least an expansion of, this duality. It is in Luke that we see this reckoning with what he has unleashed. Years ago while still rebuilding the Jedi Order, the now-reclusive Skywalker detected that the young Kylo Ren – then in training under Luke – had been corrupted by Snoke. Luke contemplated killing his student, his nephew. A tragic misunderstanding ensued, resulting in Kylo Ren’s destruction of the Luke’s Jedi temple and the deaths of numerous Jedi apprentices. Regret has consumed Luke – here, regret is not an emotion associated with the dark side, but it prevents the personal balance and peace that Jedi seek. Luke believes himself culpable in the deaths of his students and that inner turmoil has disconnected him from the galaxy-at-large, severing his ties to others who care and would remind Luke that he can still learn and grow from his failure. Mark Hamill’s criticisms aside (legitimate as they are and as much as I agree with him), this is the most eloquently-written characterization in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Take the third line of the Jedi Code: “There is no passion, there is serenity.” Combined with the first line of the Code (“There is no emotion, there is peace,” – which I interpret not as emotional emptiness, but emotional balance), it is Luke’s unchecked repentance that shackles him, rather than achieving the serenity Jedi seek. Eventually, a veteran of the Clone Wars reminds Luke of these lessons as John Williams’ score recalls that veteran’s motif. As the Clone Wars raged, this veteran expressed concern that his fellow Jedi – through their participation in combat – were losing sight of peace, serenity. That Jedi is Yoda (Frank Oz; the Yoda puppet, reappearing here, is the best actor in the franchise), appearing as a Force ghost to Luke in a moment of catharsis for the latter. “The greatest teacher, failure is,” he intones. Luke’s regret over his failures – even years after the fact – can still be channeled and processed in constructive ways. He takes his old master’s words to heart. By the film’s end, he finds his peace and purpose in nonviolent sacrifice, amid a binary sunset.

As far as we know, the Skywalkers’ role in the Star Wars saga has concluded. It is now in the hands of the younger protagonists, especially Rey. Rey’s parentage has been the topic of cinematic speculation since The Force Awakens debuted. With Kylo Ren intimating that her parents were wasteful nobodies who died in anonymity – he may have been lying, but let’s assuming he wasn’t for now – Rey’s worst nightmare has come true. Not only will she ever reunite with her family, but, worst of all, they abandoned her. Of our next generation of protagonists, Rey remains the most compelling of them all (Daisy Ridley is also the strongest actress among the younger cohort); her strength of character forged in loneliness and hardship. But does The Last Jedi squander a chance to explain and depict the content and any vagaries in her moral character? With Snoke manipulating the Force to connect Rey and Kylo Ren, it is suggested that the latter may still be redeemed from the dark side of the Force. What about Rey? As we see in Luke who probably had only a little more Jedi training than Rey did – considering how The Last Jedi is structured, Luke’s training with Yoda feels like forever compared to Rey’s few days spent with Luke – there are vile strands to his personality. If fewer such elements reside in Rey’s mind and heart, why is that the case? It is through understanding one’s suffering and its sources that allows for goodness. All this should have been addressed in The Last Jedi rather than in the untitled ninth episode or not at all while there is still time to consider Rey’s character for all her resilience and fear (an emotion associated with the dark side of the Force).

Alas, it looks like The Last Jedi has opened up ethical and moral gaps that will have to be filled by other Star Wars media. This probably means terminal employment for the likes of Star Wars novel writers, Dave Filoni, and Electronic Arts – that sound you heard were the screams of distressed gamers and Bob Iger laughing while thinking about all the money he will make.

For all of The Last Jedi’s willingness to tinker with its central philosophical formulae, Rian Johnson, while writing the screenplays, seems almost intent to present things in the clumsiest, least appealing ways possible. Johnson’s screenplay has an A-plot (Rey with Luke, with a little Kylo Ren), a B-plot (Resistance shenanigans with Leia, Poe, and Holdo – for brevity’s sake, I will refrain from writing about the B-plot, but I fear that Poe is about to be appointed military leader of the female-powered Resistance, despite making wrong decision after wrong decision), and a C-plot (Finn and Rose; Boyega and Tran’s performances are fine, but deserved better writing). It is the C-plot, with Rose and Finn’s exploits on Canto Bight – a casino city for the galaxy’s ultrarich - that emphasizes that heroism is not exclusive to those wielding power or part of a given lineage. Rose, arguably the moral center of the film’s starkest political messages, is an unlikely hero who has much to say and much to do against the military-industrial complex that enslaves (whether officially or unofficially), spurring perpetual warfare. Yet considering the setpieces and the confusing nonsense surrounding the codebreaker they are seeking, that message is forgotten due to screenwriting shenanigans.

Expressly political filmmaking is difficult to achieve, and The Last Jedi founders completely here (this is not even mentioning the relationship, if any, between the Resistance and the New Republic). It is one thing to make a movie where I agree with its politics. It is another to present politics I agree with so slovenly –  the Canto Bight scenes are the worst so far in the sequel trilogy, despite featuring the most detailed worldbuilding yet.

On the technical fronts, Star Wars has embraced modern thriller techniques, as seen in Steve Yedlin’s cinematography and Bob Ducsay’s editing (Ducsay’s editing brilliance in the action is offset by his inability to balance and help move the storylines – there is an excellent 90-minute movie in the film’s sometimes-plodding 152 minutes). But for a film of contested dualities, no one’s work on The Last Jedi is as respectful as those thematic angles as composer John Williams. Now at eighty-five years old, it might be easy to criticize Williams’ score as unoriginal, too dependent on the motivic structure that has defined his cinematic composing career. Yes, The Last Jedi has fewer new musical ideas than the previous film. But there are more than enough motivic variations here to rise to the caliber of what is expected in a Star Wars score.

If you have never read a movie review on this blog before, you should know that sometimes I will dive deep into a film’s score. You have been warned.

Williams sets the pace of his scoring early, with the enormous orchestrations in “Main Title and Escape”. An outstanding opening action sequence contains densely layered woodwinds and brass and thrilling string runs (even the shortest string runs will thrill the heart; for example, listen closely to the strings at 4:10-4:11; in a theater, for me, at least, that is more exciting and appealing than a pounding drum line from, say, a Hans Zimmer imitator). The last piece of action, “The Battle of Crait” is as propulsive as any John Williams action composition can be. Dualities will appear and reappear throughout:

“The Supremacy” features Kylo Ren’s blaring horns (1:41) dueling with the Resistance’s militaristic violins (0:49) before both are silenced with Leia’s theme (2:04) in a moment of terror followed by shocking (if a little distracting) uplift. Say what you will about this scene, but when Leia’s theme crescendos to heights it never has before, it works.

In “Ahch-To Island”, “The Jedi Steps” idea from The Force Awakens (0:00)  – reflecting Rey’s journey to learn more about the Force – is countered with two ideas reflecting Luke’s seclusion on Ahch-To (2:55 and 3:33... a “Last Jedi” motif?). Rey’s theme will also conflict with the latter as the movie progresses.

“The Cave” mixes dissonance akin to The Empire Strikes Back’s cave scene before giving way to the most sonorous statement of Rey’s theme (usually consonant) heard yet.

Elsewhere, “Canto Bight” (the best new composition, managing to reference “Aquarela do Brasil” at 0:59... apparently, Williams inserted his title song to 1973′s The Long Goodbye somewhere in the Canto Bight scene – why not add some John Williams meta?) is as much fun as you will ever have with Latin jazz-inspired steel drums in a movie.

“Fun with Finn and Rose” introduces Rose’s theme – a stately woodwind motif that, though underdeveloped for now (although it is given action flourishes in “The Fathiers”) – which will probably be expanded in the last film as we learn more about her. Similarly, Kylo Ren’s theme was underdeveloped in The Force Awakens, as we knew little about his own complexities. In the moments after Luke’s passing, in “Peace and Purpose”, no longer is Kylo Ren’s theme standing by itself, with just a harsh brass line and nothing underlying it. At 1:08, it has become a march, resembling in texture to Anakin Skywalker’s march on the Jedi temple in Revenge of the Sith, and noting that it is not only Luke has found his purpose in the film’s closing minutes. The “Finale” begins with a Harry Potter-reminiscent celesta (imagine a music box if it resembled an upright piano) as we see a young boy Force pulling a broom towards him. Maybe it is a motif to be developed for another time, another character, another trilogy. But after the end credits, sit back, and enjoy the culmination of all John Williams offered to audiences here. So few composers can shift audience emotions with a simple transition like he can. Do not take it for granted, because we are listening to what is likely one of the last works in a remarkable career. May John Williams score the ninth episode.

The Last Jedi concludes without the heroes of the original trilogy going into the ninth episode. Fandom turmoil regarding the totality of The Last Jedi persists for a week-old film and, I suspect, will continue for at least another two years. But this eighth episode, under Rian Johnson’s direction, makes an earnest attempt to deconstruct and reimagine moreso than J.J. Abrams – the persona non grata to many Trekkies, and who will direct the concluding episode of the sequel trilogy – has demonstrated he is capable of. Johnson’s final product is imperfect. However, this is a good film displaying its reverence for the cinematic and the franchise’s past, but making clear its dissensions and departures.

The torch-passing is complete; past idols are gone. In a few years, we will see if Star Wars can plunge further into the unknown in ways not seen since creator George Lucas was last involved in the series. Even in failure, the Skywalker saga held the attention of audiences worldwide – a triumph of creativity for thousands of people whose names scroll past in a darkened theater long after almost the entire audience has left (or, if on unscrupulous television networks, unreadable in a tiny box to begin the next movie or to insert advertising).

I end with a thought that began my write-up to The Force Awakens. It is time for those most responsible for bringing Star Wars back to theaters to become artists first, fans second. I am pessimistic they can for various reasons. I hope to be proven wrong.

My rating: 7/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

Also in this series: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)