Bill Gardner is back with a novel theory regarding Luke Skywalker’s voice.
By Bill Gardner // Remember the time I said that the evil sounding voice talking about the dark side of the Force from the first teaser trailer for The Force Awakens was Luke Skywalker? Well, obviously, the voice in the second trailer is also Luke Skywalker. Duh. But I think the new information supports my theory. Here’s why.
Luke feels tremendous guilt for not being able to save his father on the Death Star. While he recognizes that what his father did was evil, he also empathizes with him for his struggles. After all, Anakin Skywalker’s primary motivation was to protect his family. Sure, he wanted power, but he was also drawn to Palpatine because he lacked a father figure in his life. When he lost his wife and unborn children, he chose to stick with Sidious, the only family he had left.
Similarly, Luke still lacks a father. With his new task of balancing the light side and the dark, he chooses to pay tribute to his father by riffing his look. Can you think of a better way to pay him tribute? Further, why do you think they chose to show Vader’s mask in the new trailer? Luke was likely the only one who knew where his father’s remains were. Perhaps he dug them up. Or, more likely, he’s the only one with the image of his father’s melted visage etched in his mind. Based on that, he built Kylo Ren’s mask.
In the trailer, we see Luke sitting on what may be Mustafar, the place where Anakin effectively died. Look at the way he places his hand on R2. He looks pained. I think this is Luke mourning his father. Look at what he is wearing. A black cloak with a white shirt underneath. It’s almost as if he’s wearing a Jedi robe under a Sith cloak. Interesting visual evidence that Luke is walking the line between Jedi and Sith.
Now, let’s listen to Luke while he delivers his lines. Notice anything peculiar about his voice? Note the echo. There is an ominous undertone to every line that is easy to miss. This is not merely the sound designers flexing some aesthetic choices, it’s them hinting at Luke’s other voice heard in the first trailer.
Speaking of Kylo Ren, that’s a suspicious name – even for the Star Wars universe. I believe it’s part of an anagram that adds up to “Luke Skywalker.” The remaining letters will be used as Luke’s new Jedi name a la Obi-Wan or Qui-Gonn. In this way, his Sith and Jedi names add up to Luke Skywalker–the one who maintains balance.
I’m sure by now, most of us have weighed in on the infamous cross-guard hilt lightsaber. Does it serve a deeper purpose other than to look cool? I believe so. I believe it represents father, son and daughter. Yes, there have always been parallels to religion in the Star Wars universe (immaculate conception anyone?). But I think they’re mostly there for deeper symbolism that amounts mostly to healthy, if dead-ended interpretation and debate.
Trailer one is about a Sith Lord talking to his disciple about the dark side. Trailer two is a Jedi Master talking to his padawan about the light side. Both voices are Luke.
You heard it from me first.