Throwback Review | Return of the Jedi

I was about 11 years old when I first watched Return of the Jedi and it instantly became my favorite of the trilogy.

The hype was already building back then with the Special Editions on the horizon and Episode I freshly announced, so the excitement level was off the charts.

From the opening crawl to the last frame, it felt like the perfect culmination of everything these characters had been fighting for.

While I never fully loved the Jabba’s Palace sequence, the Vader vs. Luke duel absolutely floored me. Even as a kid, I could feel the emotional weight of that battle… the pain, the rage, the hope.

Luke stood out the most to me. This was truly his story, his final test.

The Emperor creeped me out in the best way, making the whole throne room sequence feel epic and dangerous. And when Vader was redeemed? That hit hard. It showed me, even at 11, that no matter how far someone falls, redemption is always possible.

The ending felt perfect… satisfying, earned, and powerful.

Over the years my love for Return of the Jedi has only solidified as it constantly flip flops between my #1 and #2 in the saga.

It left me with a deep appreciation for what George Lucas created

A galaxy that felt alive and mythic.

And yes… “Yub Nub” will forever be my favorite musical moment.