Let's start with a bang, shall we? In this post, we're going to take a look at one of the most talked-about, debated, and downright polarizing moments in Star Wars—Kylo Ren's now-iconic declaration from The Last Jedi (TLJ): "Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Wow, you're really starting off with the least controversial topic possible, aren't you?" But bear with me—this moment is the perfect example of the approach we're taking on this blog. It's been quoted endlessly, turned into memes, and even used as a rallying cry to argue about what Star Wars should or shouldn't be. For some fans, it's proof that The Last Jedi is a deconstruction of Star Wars, rejecting its history, traditions, and even its heroes.
But does that interpretation really hold up? Or is it a case of taking one line out of context and running wild with it?
Let's take a look at how The Last Jedi handles Kylo Ren's philosophy and why the film, far from endorsing it, ultimately rejects it. Along the way, I'll hopefully show how looking at a story in its full narrative context—not just isolating moments—can reveal a much richer, more thoughtful message. And yes, this intentionally chosen example sets the tone for everything we'll be doing here: cutting through the noise to get to the heart of the story.
Kylo Ren: The Philosophy of "Let the Past Die"
When Kylo Ren says, "Let the past die. Kill it if you have to," he's speaking to Rey during one of their Force-bond conversations. This pivotal scene begins with Rey questioning Kylo about why he killed his father, Han Solo. Kylo deflects the question, instead turning the conversation toward Rey's own fixation on her parents. He challenges her directly, accusing her of clinging to the past and looking for her parents in everyone she comes across, first Han, and then Luke Skywalker. He frames her attachment to her parents as her greatest weakness, and tells her that Luke sensed and feared his power, just as Luke senses hers.
It's in this moment that Kylo delivers his infamous line, "Let the past die. Kill it if you have to," presenting his philosophy as a form of liberation. For Kylo, killing Han was not only an act of rebellion, but also a rejection of the legacy and expectations that weighed him down. He urges Rey to do the same—not literally, but metaphorically, by abandoning her hope of finding her place in the galaxy through her lineage or past connections. Kylo's words are seductive and, in keeping with Star Wars tradition, he is clearly framed as a "dark tempter" in this scene, positioning him as someone who has freed himself from the burdens of his heritage and found clarity in destroying the past.
For many viewers, this line feels like the film's thesis. After all, much of TLJ does seem to challenge long-standing Star Wars traditions:
- Luke Skywalker's Disillusionment: Luke has exiled himself, believing the Jedi Order has caused more harm than good.
- Rey's Parentage: Kylo tells Rey her parents were “nobodies,” stripping away the expectation that she comes from a grand, destined legacy.
- Failure and Subversion: The Resistance suffers setback after setback, and many of the series' archetypes (e.g., the noble Jedi) are questioned or re-examined.
On the surface, it might seem like Kylo's "let the past die" encapsulates the film's attitude toward Star Wars as a whole. But as we'll see, this interpretation overlooks how the story itself responds to Kylo's philosophy.
Luke Skywalker: From Despair to Hope
Luke's arc in The Last Jedi is often misunderstood as a rejection of his heroism and the Jedi legacy. When we first meet him, he's disillusioned, burdened by failure, and convinced the Jedi should end. At this point in the story, Luke seems to echo Kylo's belief that the past should die.
But this is not where Luke's story ends—it's where it begins. Over the course of the film, Luke confronts his fear, bitterness, and guilt. His turning point comes when Yoda reminds him that failure is a part of growth. "The greatest teacher, failure is," Yoda tells him, urging Luke to embrace his mistakes and pass on his knowledge—even the wisdom that comes from failure.
In Return of the Jedi (ROTJ), Yoda delivers one of his most important lessons to Luke: the necessity of passing on knowledge and responsibility. As Yoda lies on his deathbed, he reminds Luke that his training is not complete until he confronts Vader. But he also emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the self. Yoda tells Luke, "Pass on what you have learned," showing that the role of a Jedi is not just to fight battles, but to teach and inspire the next generation. This reflects Yoda's own growth as well, as in other media (particularly The Clone Wars) he comes to recognize the Jedi Order's failure to adapt during the Clone Wars era.
Fast-forward to TLJ, and we see that Luke has not fully internalized this wisdom. He has cut himself off from the Force, convinced that his failure with Ben Solo disqualifies him from passing on anything meaningful. Luke's thinking has become rigid, his vision clouded by his guilt and despair. In essence, Luke is repeating his old mistake from The Empire Strikes Back (TESB)—focusing on what went wrong or what might happen, rather than what's directly in front of him.
Yoda’s lesson highlights several important points that factor into Luke's character development here:
Failure as Growth: Yoda reminds Luke that failure is not the end but a stepping stone. Just as Luke learned from his mistakes in TESB, he must now accept his role in Ben Solo's fall and find a way to move forward. This is a direct continuation of Yoda's ROTJ lesson about responsibility, emphasizing that even flawed individuals can contribute meaningfully.
Passing on Knowledge: Yoda’s line about failure directly connects to his ROTJ instruction to "pass on what you have learned." In TLJ, Luke interprets his failure as a reason to end the Jedi Order, but Yoda reframes it: the Jedi's imperfections do not invalidate their ideals. By focusing on the wisdom in the ancient Jedi texts (even if Luke hasn't read them), Yoda urges Luke to pass on what is valuable, ensuring the survival and evolution of the Jedi legacy.
Focusing on the Present: Yoda summoning lightning to burn the Jedi Tree also serves as a reminder to Luke: stop dwelling on the past or fearing the future. Luke's self-imposed exile is a reflection of his tendency to focus on what's outside his control. Yoda's intervention mirrors his earlier lessons in TESB, where he chastised Luke for always looking "to the horizon" instead of "where he was."
Yoda's appearance catalyzes Luke's transformation. Luke's final act—his projection across the galaxy to confront Kylo on Crait—is the ultimate rejection of Kylo's nihilism. He doesn't strike Kylo down or destroy him (which is a key detail we'll come back to in a later post); instead, he uses the Force to embody the ideal of the Jedi: peace, selflessness, and hope. His actions inspire the Resistance, giving them the spark they need to survive. And with the words "I will not be the last Jedi," Luke reaffirms that the past is worth preserving and building upon.
Far from endorsing "let the past die," Luke's journey is about reconciling with the past, learning from it, and passing its wisdom—especially the wisdom gained from failure—to the next generation.
Rey: Choosing the Light
Rey is the audience's lens into much of TLJ, and her journey also challenges Kylo's philosophy. Like Kylo, Rey is searching for belonging and meaning, but where Kylo turns to destruction, Rey turns to hope.
When Kylo tells Rey to let the past die, she's tempted. His rejection of legacy and tradition appeals to her loneliness and uncertainty about her place in the galaxy. But ultimately, Rey chooses to reject Kylo's offer. She doesn't let the past die—instead, she literally carries it forward by taking the sacred Jedi texts with her.
Rey's decision highlights a core theme of the film: the past is not a prison or a burden, but a foundation. Her actions honor the Jedi legacy while ensuring it can evolve and grow.
The Narrative's Verdict on Kylo's Philosophy
The final act of The Last Jedi leaves no doubt about where the story stands on Kylo's nihilism. Luke's heroic sacrifice reignites hope in the galaxy, the Resistance is inspired to fight on, and Rey embraces her role as the next generation's Jedi hero.
Kylo, meanwhile, is left isolated and consumed by his own anger. His philosophy of destruction offers no clarity or freedom—only emptiness. The narrative positions his rejection of the past as deeply flawed, a path that leads to greater darkness.
If The Last Jedi truly embraced "let the past die" as its theme, it would have ended with Kylo triumphant and the Resistance crushed. Instead, despite Kylo rising to the status of Supreme Leader after the death of Snoke, the film closes with a message of hope, firmly rejecting Kylo's "worldview."
Why Context Matters
In hermeneutics, what we've just done would be an example of examining the literal context—looking at a statement within the framework of its surrounding narrative. Just as, in my field, we strongly, strongly discourage taking a single verse of Scripture and treating it as the whole story, I would argue we can't take Kylo Ren's words as the thesis of The Last Jedi without seeing how the film's events and character arcs respond to them.
So, why do so many fans interpret TLJ as a deconstruction of Star Wars? The answer, I suspect, lies partially in how we consume stories today. We'll discuss this much, much more in later articles, but for now, suffice to say that I have noticed modern audiences often approach films looking through a "metamodern" lens. Now, what is "metamodernism?" Well, if you want the big philosophical breakdown, check out Jonathan Rowson's article "Metamodernism and the Perception of Context: The Cultural Between, the Political After and the Mystic Beyond."
If you don't feel like reading all that, let's just say that modern audiences seem to approach films expecting self-awareness, irony, or meta-commentary. As a result, Kylo's "let the past die" speech feels like a meta-commentary on the series as a whole, leading some viewers to mistake it for the film's thesis. But there is a very valid question to ask here: is that reading of the film something that the context of the film itself leads one to conclude, or something that the audience brings to bear on the narrative?
As we've seen, TLJ doesn't seem to endorse Kylo's philosophy. The narrative itself, and the character arc of the protagonists—both Luke and Rey—appear to reject it pretty obviously, so that the conclusion actually reaffirms Star Wars' core themes.
This is why context matters. Stories aren't just about individual lines or moments—they're about how those moments fit into the larger narrative. By taking Kylo's words out of context, we risk misunderstanding the story's true message—and getting ourselves all worked up in the process.
Reconciling the Past
In the end, The Last Jedi isn't about letting the past die—it's about learning from it, honoring it, and carrying it forward. Luke's character arc, Rey's embrace of the Jedi legacy, and the Resistance's survival all point to a message of hope and renewal, not rejection.
This approach—looking at the full narrative rather than isolated moments—is what From Phantom to Skywalker is all about. As we continue exploring the saga, we'll keep asking: What does the story actually say? And how can we understand it on its own terms?
What do you think? Has this changed how you see The Last Jedi? Let's talk in the comments!
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