BTW, Han dying was something that Harrison Ford demanded when he returned to the role. So if we’re going to blame actors for things that happened in the story, let’s be equal opportunity. (And to state the obvious, real-world tragedies involving actual people and writing choices involving characters are not the same thing and shouldn’t be equated.) And Luke’s arc as a hermit was, as far as I know, the only thing in the sequel trilogy that actually came from Lucas’s outlines. I personally like it, but whether you do or not, pretty much all the creative forces behind Star Wars seem to be on the same page on that.
Context is the issue though. Luke looked very different at the end of The Force Awakens from the smelly old dosser he was turned into in The Last Jedi. Rian Johnson decided to deconstruct, showing contempt for the series. Mark Hamill was very unhappy and nicknamed his character 'Jake'. The JJ Abrams had to turn things around after Colin Trevorrow threw up his arms and called it a day. As I say, I would genuinely have preferred they set the sequels a thousand years in the future. The existence of Force ghosts mean Luke and Leia, even Han, could have appeared. I still kind of hope Lucas's sequel stories could be turned into an animated series. I want to see the triumph of the Whills!
Mordeen was saying that she killed herself because of her drug use. He has previously used the phrase “crackheads” a few weeks ago. He clearly looks down on people who are addicts. His words are unambiguous.
Addiction actually should be seen as unacceptable. I know it's a terrible thing not to have that one level of control. I was an alcoholic myself for many years who had fallen into cocaine addiction, which is beyond terrible to describe. Believe me, Mr R, I'm so ashamed and that shame will linger the rest of my life. I was functional and worked incredibly hard, but every day, after work, I'd be in the pub downing pint after pint, chainsmoking. Wake up with a terrible hangover, shower, force down some food and coffee, go to work. Rinse, repeat. I look back on a good 20 years of my personal life in horror and disgust. When I could have spent money on other things, perhaps had a family, I indulged my demons instead. One of my alcoholic friends keeled over and died at the age of 42. People indulged him, including his family. I walked away a few years before, because I could see where he was heading, because I always knew I needed to stop or I'd die. He didn't want help and ultimately someone would always drink with him, including his family.
Another friend had a wonderful wife and two beautiful children. Something inside him was broken, though, and he became a drunk - I think because he didn't believe on some level that he deserved his good fortune. He lost his family. My cousin - heavy drinking runs in the family - drank three bottles of champagne a night. She - a lifelong non-smoker - developed lung and bone cancer and died in her early 50s and everyone indulged her because she was great company. In every case, these people were indulged.
So while people with addiction problems need some help, treating the disease as unacceptable is very important. It's the toughest thing for loved ones or people in general to do. Walking away and treating them with contempt often has to be done. I'm clean and have been on the wagon for over five years and would never go back. It feels like longer. It was the looks of contempt and disappointment (including those of the person looking at me in the mirror each morning) that ultimately turned me around.
