The book Star Pilots, by Chris Kempshall
Deep exploration of Poe Dameron's strategy against General Hux: A Contextual Analysis of the Star Wars universe
Culture picks
Walker Scobell Discusses Character Evolution and New Cast at NYCC 2026
Alan Ritchson’s New Sci‑Fi Action Thriller Ranks Among 2026’s Biggest Streaming Hits
Sword Art Online creator is back with a new anime
Stephen King and Ed Harris’s Cult Classic „Knightriders” Now Free to Stream OnlineIn spite of the remarkable aesthetic qualities of the film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this film has unquestionably generated a significant amount of controversy among audiences. Looking back at the events, I believe that the main source of intense discussion does not necessarily lie in the artistic intent, but rather in the way the audience was presented. The original teasers for The Last Jediwere visually stunning, suggesting an adherence to the sacred archetypes of the Star Wars universe. However, Rian Johnson deliberately chose to undermine these conventional expectations, a decision that caused a shock reaction from the audience.
These narrative subversions began from the earliest times, exemplified by the tactics Poe Dameron employed against General Hux, considered a calculated military maneuver. Although the scene involving Poe Dameron did not generate the same fury as other directors' choices, negative reactions were extremely strong in the deaths of Supreme Leader Snoke and the exile of Luke Skywalker, subjects that sparked massive outrage on online platforms. Domhnall Gleeson, the actor who plays Hux, acknowledged his surprise at the character's comic evolution, while also asking Johnson to retain a darker shade of Hux's character. However, within nine years of launch, the Star Wars universe has implemented subtle adjustments to the stage, dramatically increasing its effectiveness.
A single source of information: Star Pilots
The book Star Pilots , by Chris Kempshall, stands out for its unusual nature, being conceived as an internal reference work in the universe, describing the life and role of starfighter pilots in the context of the Galactic War and the First Order conflict. The author of this monograph is believed to be Wedge Antilles, the leader of the Rogue Squadron, who collaborated with Luke Skywalker on numerous combat missions. Moreover, this work contains Wedge's authentic reflections on the events of The Last Jedi.
According to Wedge's perspective, the Resistance had observed a psychological vulnerability specific to the First Order, a weakness it had already exploited in various previous situations. The commanders of the First Order displayed an unjustified confidence in their own superiority, a naive illusion of their abilities and those of their forces. Wedge suggests that this attitude was absorbed into the inheritance of the Empire, with no survivor of the Imperial Remnant stopping and reflecting on the Galactic War's failure. He points out that the First Order did not have a strong enough reason to be arrogant or triumphant, as the Empire did. He therefore finds it fascinating how much of the First Order's military was so confident of its own capabilities, given that they had not achieved victories to justify them.
The costs of Poe's strategy: A bitter
Poe mentioned how easily the First Order could be encouraged to initiate confrontations, which was evident, for example, in the incident on Ovanis involving Black Squadron. Underlying this trend, it is supposed, was the desire of First Order pilots to be provoked and to attack an enemy perceived as inferior. It's not surprising that First Order starfighter pilots had a sense of superiority, a characteristic present during the Galactic War on both sides. However, the ease with which they could be encouraged made them highly predictable figures, and in the military context, predictability is equivalent to fatal vulnerability.
The conclusion is clear: Poe succeeded in provoking Hux with remarkable ease because he understood that the general possessed a typical First Order culture ego. Poe accurately anticipated Hux's answer, using encouragement and ridicule skills from remarkable mastery.
The costs of Poe's strategy: A bitter victory
However, Poe's success in anticipating Hux's actions, in provoking and ridiculing him, culminating in the destruction of a major First Order warship, does not mean that his strategy was costless. In reality, the Resistance suffered the loss of its entire bombing fleet as a result of the attack.
Wedge notes that while the elimination of a major First Order capital ship brought an immediate tactical benefit, the loss of so many pilots in an operation banned by General Leia Organa was a severe blow to both the Resistance's military forces and the morale of its personnel.
Poe correctly acknowledged his own mistakes at the end of „The Last Jedi”, but Wedge's perspective was different. He believed that Poe's mistakes came from gaps in his education; he had been formed by Ali's leaders.
