In this episode of Tatooine Sons: A Pop Culture Podcast, we're diving deep into the most controversial film in the Star Wars saga: *The Last Jedi*. Join us as we revisit the movie that launched our podcast and explore why it holds the top spot in our ranking of Star Wars films.

We kick things off with a fun story about a Twitter exchange with Heavy Spoilers, where my ranking of *The Last Jedi* sparked some heated reactions. This film isn't just another Star Wars episode for us; it’s a pivotal part of our journey as fans and podcasters.

We’ll take you back to the period between *The Force Awakens* and *The Last Jedi*, discussing the theories and excitement that built up around the movie’s release. Who is Rey? Is Finn a Jedi? Why is Luke on Ahch-To? We revisit the big questions and the wild speculation, including the famous "Your Snoke Theory Sucks" phenomenon.

The death of Carrie Fisher profoundly impacted the Star Wars community, and we'll reflect on how Rian Johnson handled her passing in the film. We'll also reminisce about the 2017 Star Wars Celebration and the buzz generated by the first trailer for *The Last Jedi*.

As we recount our experiences leading up to the opening night, we’ll discuss the intense marketing campaign and the film’s initial reception. "This is NOT going to go the way you think" became a prophetic line that perfectly captured the movie’s divisive nature.

We’ll share our initial reactions to *The Last Jedi* and delve into why we love it so much, despite the controversy it stirred. Being known as superfans of this film has been a unique experience, and we’ll discuss why we believe it has sparked such strong opinions.

*The Last Jedi* tackled deep themes like failure, identity, and balance. We’ll analyze key moments and quotes from the film, exploring how these themes resonated with us and why they are crucial to the Star Wars narrative.

Finally, we’ll reflect on the evolving perception of *The Last Jedi* over the past seven years. While it remains a challenging film for many fans, there has been a gradual softening of opposition. Only time will tell if it will eventually be as beloved as other entries in the saga.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on *The Last Jedi*, and don’t forget to follow us on Substack for weekly recaps, in-depth explorations, and more. Join us this July as we reexamine the sequel trilogy, starting with *The Last Jedi*.

We've got SO MUCH more to share about the show and everything going on around it. Read it all HERE.

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