#i said i was back on my luke bullsh*t and i meant it :)

[ladyxanatos]

Fate of the Jedi: Outcast

So, Fate of the Jedi: Outcast. Instead of reading the Hand of Thrawn Duology, like I was supposed to, I instead decided to start FOTJ because I am back on my bullsh*t. I had promised myself I wouldn’t start this series until I finished the New Jedi Order, but that’s not happening because again: bullsh*t, back on.

This is going to be more of a FEELINGS post than any kind of proper review, FYI.

And, while we’re here, please: I literally don’t care why you hate Fate of the Jedi (or Legacy of the Force, for that matter). If you’re looking for a post on which to hold forth about why you think FOTJ is garbage, this is not the post you’re looking for. I’m not kidding. I will delete replies, hide reblogs, and block with abandon because, once more, I literally do not care. (This also applies to the Last Jedi, since I discuss it later in my post. I’m here for healthy discussion, even civil disagreement, sure, but any diatribe will result in the same treatment I just laid out)

ANYWAY.

Who made Natasi Daala, of all people, Chief of State?? I really need to reread LOTF because I am fuzzy on how all that went down, but seriously: what the bleep, GFFA. Anyway, it’s cute how she brings up Kyp’s rampage in JAT in this whole anti-Jedi legislation nonsense, but conveniently glosses over that bit where she bombed refugees, or whatever, in the same series. Okay, Daala.

I do like that there *is* political fallout from Jacen Solo’s fall off the Sith end, though. Aggravating though it is, something does need to happen on a large scale in reaction to what Jacen did as Caedus (my original second-generation Organa-Solo trash son, why must you be like this?). It’s also completely in character for Luke Superpower-Is-Love Skywalker to martyr himself on Caedus’ coffin. Resulting Luke and Ben intergalactic exile road trip is also just about The Best Thing Ever, since anything involving Ben Skywalker is The Best Thing Ever. But seriously, though, there are just so many good Dad!Luke moments in this book and MY HEART.

I’m still not a Jag/Jaina shipper, but my blazing dislike for the ship has cooled to an apathetic simmer over the years, so this is fine.

HAN AND LEIA RAISING ALLANA AS THEIR ADOPTIVE DAUGHTER, MY FEEEEELS. Literally everything with Allana is just: T_T. Also, the Looming Giant Dark Presence or whatever that only she seems aware so far is absolutely Totally Fine. Like, great, yes, let’s endanger more children with Force sh*t, this is completely (not) FINE.

Can my girl Tahiri Veila like, CATCH A F**KING BREAK SOMETIME, THOUGH??? Girl needs all the hugs and hot chocolate, rjhtoiweiwjtweijt.

There’s really good, crunchy stuff in this book about redemption and forgiveness in the wake of Jacen’s fall that is super relevant with the release of the Rise of Skywalker looming. I meant to mark some of it so I could reference it later, but then…didn’t. Oh well.

The part with Tahiri about breaking, though, is very, very relevant to the story of Kylo Ren moving forward, and her questioning when Jacen was broken. We don’t yet know when Kylo was broken, but we really need to. It must have been fairly early on for Snoke to get a hold the way he does. DESPERATELY NEED MORE INFO ON THIS.

In closing, when Luke is getting ready to depart Coruscant and so many of the Jedi gather to show him love and see him off, I…got a little choked up, ‘cause yes, this is Luke Skywalker, surrounded by the new Jedi order he built through all the bonds of love and friendships he has forged. He has made plenty of mistakes, but they do not define him or shatter him.

This is not me ragging on the Last Jedi. Y’all know I love that movie. And Rian Johnson did his best with what TFA set up for Luke.

THAT SAID: *This* is Luke Skywalker. This is who he is. Grand Master of the Jedi and farm boy of my heart.