Ultimately I don’t like the idea of him not being present for his death. It just feels cheap that he essentially used too much of the Force and that killed him. For being a Jedi Master I just don’t think that was a fitting death.
I feel like in the case of someone like Obi-Wan his fate was different. He probably knew that it was his time and he probably wouldn’t have defeated Vader. I just feel like for a character of Luke’s caliber to have him go out like he did is just a disservice to him, the franchise, and the fans.
I didn’t want a super action packed prequel style duel with Luke or anything but I’d have liked him to have been present and done something more rather than dying in isolation on a planet from using too much Force power.
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I think it's fair enough that yourself and others feel that way, I guess it's what you take away from all the star Wars films. However I still have to disagree.
I don't think he "died" as such. I don't think him projecting himself, (like mentioned on the next page from davejames, it's simply not a hologram, he has actual presence there by giving Leia Hans' dice) killed him, I think, like I mentioned earlier, he transcended himself and became one with the force, it was befitting, he finally forgave himself, was at peace with himself and with where the Galaxy was heading, exactly like when Yoda "died" I don't think Yoda actually just died, he had finally taught a new Jedi and was happy with what he had done to set the ball in motion for Luke overthrowing the empire (take into account the PT and it's Yoda passing the torch over to a new generation of Jedi, just like now Luke passing the torch over the Rey and the others, his job was done). He's not the last Jedi anymore, he's taught Rey, and more than that he's inspired hope again, and sort of in a 300-esque way it was never about defeating Kylo or the first Order, it was simply showing that there's people out there to fight them and that they can't always win, or to show that even a God can bleed.
So I mentioned already that I really actually like that Luke did what only Yoda and Obi-Wan managed to do, which was to become one with the Force. With Obi-Wan I don't entirely think he would have died fighting Darth Vader, (I mean film wise Alec Guiness wanted out) but the whole point of that was to teach Luke a lesson in trusting and using the Force, it's a theme that runs throughout the OT. And ultimately, Luke's final showdown with the Emperor and Darth Vader was never about strength or saber skills, it was using his empathy and himself to make Vader see the good in himself which then defeated the Emperor.
Now like Yoda, Luke exiled himself, but for different reasons, forgive me I've not seen the film myself since it released. And whether you think it's befitting of Luke or not, I think he's personally allowed a moment where he gives into his darkness to kill Kylo when he was trainging him. So he sort of goes mad and is against himself on that island. So him force projecting himself then becoming one with the Force (Yoda if I remember correctly basically tells him to kill the old ways) is a redemption, forgiveness of himself and Luke teaching a lesson, he undermines and potentially defeats Kylo and the First Order by showing himself, making Kylo doubt himself by showing how he used to look when Kylo knew him - essentially he was fighting them the same way he fought Darth Vader and the Emperor, it was never about killing them, it was about trying to bring out the good and also to show that there's people to fight against their bad.
Upon reflection, I think it was a pure continuation of Luke's character from the OT, that's why I think it was bittersweet, sombre and poignant. He taught Rey and the others of hope and to continue fighting, he helped train her in the force and Jedi ways and helped ignite the new Rebellion helping them to escape, he essentially did what Obi-Wan did to Luke at the end of A New Hope. And with Kylo, he's done what he did with Darth Vader, making him doubt already than he was the dark in him, and showing up the First Order by stopping the last crush of a rebellion. And finally, like Yoda and Obi-Wan, after fulfilling his purpose and redeeming himself, surrenders to the force, not dying from using the force.
I don't know, I still think people are entitled to feel hurt over it. Like I said at first viewing I was really unsure. Then reflecting more on it, it was probably the ebst way they could have continued Luke's arc. I mean, sure, like all of the new trilogy it's just pretty much mirroring themes and what happened from the OT (PT ftw), but even still, I'm actually really happy with the result.
And further than that, this figure looks ****ing great!
