Since its release,The Last Jedihas been a source of controversy amongStar Warsfans.Rian Johnson’s film bent the established rulesof the galaxy. It introduced new technologies, like hyperspace tracking, and new Force abilities, like Force projecting, into theStar Warscanon. Johnson’s film brought fresh, genuinely exciting ideas to a franchise that’s been playing the hits since 1983.
The Last Jediseems to be a love it or hate it affair. Some say it’s thebestStar Warsfilm sinceThe Empire Strikes Back. Others say that it’s the worst film in the franchise and that it single-handedly ruins everything that makesStar Warsgreat. Johnson’s haters tend towards hyperbole more often than not.
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There are legitimate criticisms to be made ofThe LastJedi. The film fails to deliver quality development to characters like Finn and Poe Dameron. It features the first example of Leia using the Force, but unfortunately, that scene is baffling and somewhat cringe-worthy. However, legitimate criticisms are rarely the sticking point forThe Last Jedi’s detractors. Their main complaint tends to be that the film simply didn’t make the moves they expected. They seemingly wantStar Warsto become nothing more than a nostalgia trap. One of the most controversial (for some people) moments ofThe Last Jedihas been dubbed the “Holdo maneuver.” Angry fans claim that the Holdo maneuver permanently breaksStar Wars. Their complaints are almost laughable.
The Scene
Regardless of one’s stance on its cohesion with establishedStar Warslore, there’s no denying that theHoldo maneuver is the most powerful momentinThe Last Jedi. Here is a brief summary of what went down.
Throughout the film, the First Order shipSupremacyis aggressively pursuing the Resistance cruiserRaddus. The Resistance spends most of the film trying and failing to escape. Eventually, Vice Admiral Holdo finds a solution. Holdo orders her crew to leave theRadduson smaller ships and escape pods. When they’ve left, she pivots theRaddusaround to face its pursuer.
For a moment, all is silent. The film’s score and sound effects fade away as the camera frames the tinyRaddusacross from the immenseSupremacy. Then, Holdo activates her hyperdrive and blasts her ship straight through theSupremacy. It’s a moment so incredible, you really need to see it to properly experience it. Holdo’s sacrifice is one of the most emotionally and visually stunningmoments inStar Warshistory.
The Problem
So why do some people despise the Holdo maneuver? Generally, they have two main issues with the moment. Neither is a satisfying complaint. First, they point to the fact that we’ve never seen anything like theHoldo maneuver inStar Wars. They claim that if the Holdo maneuver is so successful, it would be used constantly. At the very least, they say, there should have been a move like this in a past film. Of course, that assumes previous films have shown everything that’s possible in theStar Warsgalaxy. Wouldn’t that be a sad reality?
The second complaint is that the Holdo maneuver goes against the rulesStar Warshas established for hyperspace travel. Some may be asking, “What rules hasStar Warsestablished?” but they aren’t alone. The films have had very little to say about how and why hyperspace travel works, probably because it’s not that important.
However, hardcore fans know that theStar Warsextended universe has established some senseof how hyperdrives function on ships. The general consensus is that while traveling in hyperspace, a ship is shifted into an alternate dimension, so it doesn’t need to worry about stars, asteroids, and other ships in its path. Now that the Holdo maneuver has shown a collision, that rule is broken, andStar Warsis ruined, right?
The Solution
It’s easy enough to write off those complaints as sad attempts at finding serious problems withThe Last Jedi. Obviously, fans expect new movies, even in an established franchise, tointroduce new concepts. On top of that, a vast majority ofStar Warsviewers aren’t at all familiar with the intricacies of hyperspace travel, and most honestly just don’t care. The Holdo maneuver is cool, leave it be.
However, the complaints don’t need to be written off without considering them. They fall apart easily enough anyway. Why don’t fighters use the Holdo maneuver all the time? Well, most people don’t want to kill themselves to win a fight. How can theRaddushit theSupremacyif hyperdrives put ships into an alternate dimension? For starters, even canon entries in the extended universe are unclear about how hyperspace travel works. If that’s an unsatisfactory answer, try this: Maybe a ship needs to speed up a little before shifting into hyperspace, and theRaddusmade contact with theSupremacyat near-light speed, just a moment before entering true hyperspace. Nothing inThe Last Jedior the wider canon confirms or contradicts that statement.
Despite what haters ofThe Last Jediwant to believe,Star Warsisn’t broken. The Holdo maneuver is as unprecedented as Force lightning inReturn of the Jedi. Future films, shows, or books will deal with its implications one way or another. Despite the rage and debate,Star Warscontinues to exist.
