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Is Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Last Jedi?

By Buckie Wells

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - OCTOBER 15: Darth Vader speaks onstage during Spike TV's 'SCREAM 2011' awards held at Universal Studios on October 15, 2011 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - OCTOBER 15: Darth Vader speaks onstage during Spike TV's 'SCREAM 2011' awards held at Universal Studios on October 15, 2011 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) /
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Darth Vader’s presence has lorded over movie history since his introduction in 1977, but did the king of Star Wars ever make an appearance in The Last Jedi?

There is no Star Wars live-action feature film in existence that doesn’t include a version of Darth Vader or mention of his name. In each of the eight saga films plus Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Darth Vader always manages a way into the storyline, for better or worse.

Though he died and was ultimately redeemed in Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens quickly makes use of one of the most iconic film villains of all time by creating the ultimate melancholy fanboy known as Kylo Ren, his grandson who wants to finish what he started, and yet, will never be as “strong as Darth Vader.”

(If you’re here, you must not be afraid of spoilers, but I’ll warn you anyway before we continue: mild spoilers ahead!)

By the time we arrive at The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren’s confusion continues to reflect parts of Anakin’s own journey as well. We watch conversations between characters like Luke and Leia, and even Luke and Rey, that remind the audience exactly of who Darth Vader was. And while I question how anyone could forget, Darth Vader’s presence feels weaker and weaker as the movie goes on, because a) again, he was redeemed and b) his motivations were a lot clearer than Kylo Ren’s can ever be.

More importantly, the mention of Darth Vader in The Last Jedi reminds us of what Luke did and how his commitment to the light side (though he also felt a draw to the darkness) and faith in his father overpowered Darth Vader and served as the catalyst to fulfill the prophecy of the Chosen One.

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Unfortunately, the reality is that Kylo Ren’s shortsightedness is what makes him so weak, and why I firmly believe that a kick in the butt from Anakin Skywalker is what he needs to sort himself out.