Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, is the eighth installment in the main Star Wars saga, released in 2017. It picks up where Episode VII - The Force Awakens left off, with the Resistance struggling to survive against the powerful First Order, and Rey seeking Jedi Master Luke Skywalker's guidance.

The film opens with the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, desperately attempting to evacuate their base as the First Order closes in. As the situation becomes dire, heroic pilot Poe Dameron disobeys orders and leads an attack that destroys the enemy's massive Dreadnought, but at a high cost, including the loss of nearly the entire Resistance bomber fleet.

Meanwhile, Rey arrives on the remote planet of Ahch-To and finds a disillusioned Luke Skywalker, who is unwilling to teach her the ways of the Force. Despite his initial resistance, Luke eventually begins to instruct Rey, though he fears the raw power within her, which reminds him of his former apprentice Kylo Ren. Throughout the story, Rey and Kylo Ren unexpectedly form a mysterious connection and communicate through the Force, resulting in complex emotions and growing tension on both sides.

As the Resistance fleet struggles to survive with dwindling resources, Vice Admiral Holdo takes command when Leia is injured. Holdo's secretive plan to escape the First Order's pursuit leads to friction with Poe and other members of the Resistance. Desperate to find a way to save the fleet, Poe, Finn, and Rose Tico embark on a risky mission to disable the enemy's tracking device.

Their mission takes them to the casino city of Canto Bight, where they enlist the help of a hacker named DJ. They infiltrate the First Order's flagship, but are betrayed by DJ and captured. Meanwhile, Rey, seeking answers about her true parentage and her connection to Kylo Ren, leaves Ahch-To to confront him directly.

Rey's confrontation with Kylo Ren culminates in a showdown before Supreme Leader Snoke, who reveals that he orchestrated the connection between the two. Snoke tortures Rey and commands Kylo Ren to kill her, but he ultimately betrays and kills Snoke instead. Rey and Kylo Ren briefly fight against the Praetorian Guard together, but their alliance is short-lived. Rey refuses Kylo's offer to join him in ruling the galaxy, and they both escape as the First Order's flagship is destroyed.

The surviving members of the Resistance gather on the salt-covered planet of Crait, where they are pursued by the relentless First Order forces. The situation seems hopeless, but Luke appears to confront Kylo Ren and buys time for the remaining Resistance fighters to escape aboard the Millennium Falcon. It is revealed that Luke was projecting an image of himself through the Force, and he peacefully passes away on Ahch-To, finally embracing the Force entirely.

The Last Jedi ends with the Resistance greatly diminished, but not defeated, and the battle for the galaxy far from resolved. Viewers are left with lingering questions about the future of the Jedi Order and the struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force.