It’s almost more entertaining than the trailer.
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Father Roderick gained quite a bit of fame after posting his reactions to the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Two years later, almost 1.5 million people have watched him watch this preview. This is why when we heard there was a new Star Wars movie coming out, we were almost more excited to see Father Roderick’s take on the teaser than the teaser itself — and he did not disappoint.
From the very first shot of Rey’s hand bracing against a rock, Father Roderick’s face became set in an expression of childlike wonder, and our expressions were transformed to goofy grins. Real Star Wars fans will always understand the thrill of watching a trailer for the first time. Not only does it build anticipation for the upcoming feature, but teasers often create questions for us to vigorously debate in our parent’s basements.
This time, the questions were abundant. Did Luke really say it’s time for the Jedi to end? Was that an Old Republic Jedi symbol on the worn cover of a book? Was that Kylo Ren collapsing next to R2D2 in front of a burning building and if so why is he in possession of the most beloved droid in the galaxy? Of course, there is also the big question of Rey’s lineage, which was never answered in episode VII.
Read more:
Faith in Star Wars: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen Tutors a Sci-Fi Agnostic
Our theory is that the last Jedi is in reference to Luke. He will teach Rey about both the light side and the dark side, which would mean that she could not attain the title of Jedi, since they only serve the light, but she will be able to practice true balance of the force. While the countless books of the Star Wars expanded universe have not been considered canon since Disney bought the rights, Luke did discover that the light and dark sides are more about intention than being inherently good or bad in these “Legends.”
Perhaps it’s too soon to tell, but we look forward to the full trailer, so that we can watch more of Father Roderick’s fanboy reactions.