frustrating that even some Sequel fans will concede to the criticism that Luke attempting murder on his nephew is out of character. because:
1. Luke absolutely would kill someone he sees as a threat to his loved ones. When Vader threatened Leia, Luke snapped. all the composure he had maintained up to that point was gone the instant Vader named his sister and overtly threatened her. He drew his weapon and beat Vader mercilessly, relentlessly into submission, even taking his hand. What's more, it's obvious that he just barely reigns himself in.
all of this while in full knowledge that it is his father he's trying to kill.
you cannot see that and tell me he would not instinctively begin to go down that road again when he feels the same darkness he fought so hard to destroy manifest right in front of him.
2. of course he wasn't going to kill Ben. he explicitly tells us, and we see, that it was a moment of weakness. a shadow from his past that lasted an instant. his body reacted before his mind could engage, and he was ashamed. it is, quite literally, spelled out for us on screen. i don't know how it could be more clear.
this weirdly idealistic conception folks have of Luke as someone who always sees the good in people no matter what and never wavers from that even for an instant confuses and befuddles me. i'd blame Legends, but in there Luke runs (not falls) into the dark side (which i'd argue is actually out of character). i'll have to place this one on rosetinted glasses and nostalgia.
Luke fails. often. he failed in Empire, he failed in Return, and he failed in Last. what makes him compelling is not that he always does the right thing: rather, he learns from his mistakes, gets up, and tries again. it may take him years, but he does.
THIS!
I am glad to see these clear character analyses popping up now that it's been a few years and a little bit of the heat has died down from the sequels.
I'd also like to add that this idealistic view people have of Luke is the same view people had of the old Jedi order and is exactly what led to its downfall. People thought the Jedi could do no wrong and held them on pedestals that, once they could no longer maintain their goodness/control/image, came crumbling down and they had to build back up from the bottom. But I think Luke had too much of the broken teachings put in him from Obi-wan and Yoda and tales of the old Jedi were still fresh in the galaxy's mind so I imagine he grew up hearing about them that way as well. Where as Rey experienced the world before learning about the Jedi, and heard stories of them as heroes of the galaxy, but also didn't have it ingrained in her that they were these model, upstanding, citizens who were always right. She was able to step away from the ideals, and use the teachings to forge her own path where Luke was trying to rebuild the old Jedi order which is why he failed.
I genuinely think a Jedi order under Rey, and possibly Ben as well, could do better then Luke's because of this. They have the teachings, but they also have a better understanding of the cautionary tales that the Jedi also represent, about trying to be perfect and a place for people to look to no matter what by hiding when you are wrong. Luke succumbed to the perfectionist ideals in a way I don't think Rey and Ben would. They also have more personal experience with the dark side and would be more equipped to help students who are struggling with the pull towards it.
The biggest problem with the Jedi, is their perfectionism and hypocrisy creates internal chaos that then leads them to the dark side, or at least leaves them blind and vulnerable to attacks from the inside.
