You Ever Think About How Luke Gave Jabba the Hutt More Chances to Do the Right Thing Than His Own Nephew?

I don’t know why, but this thought hit me the other day after reading a Reddit post, and now I can’t unsee it. Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight, walked into Jabba’s palace calm, collected, and fully prepared to offer peace. He gave that giant crime slug multiple chances to do the right thing. Warnings. Messages. Even face-to-face negotiations.

But when it came to his own nephew, Ben Solo? One flicker of darkness, one glimpse into a future that might happen—and Luke was already standing over him with his lightsaber drawn.

It’s one of the wildest contradictions in the Star Wars story. How did the same guy who stayed hopeful through everything suddenly lose faith in someone he loved?

Luke Gave Jabba Four Chances to Bargain

I’ve watched Return of the Jedi more times than I can count, but it wasn’t until recently that I really noticed how patient Luke was with Jabba. For a guy who walks in dressed in black, using Force chokes, and clearly means business, he actually gives Jabba chance after chance to settle things peacefully. And not just once, but four times.

First, Luke didn’t show up in person. He sent a message ahead of time, and not just any message, a respectful, carefully worded plea delivered through R2-D2. He introduced himself as a Jedi and Han’s friend, and clearly wanted to settle things without conflict. He even called Jabba “Exalted One” and offered the droids as a gift just to show he came in peace:

“Greetings, Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. I know that you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo’s life. With your wisdom, I’m sure that we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids.”

Jabba could’ve ended it right there. But instead of accepting the offer, he just kept the droids and shut Luke down completely.

Second, Luke arrives at the palace himself. He’s calm, but there’s a new edge to him. He’s no longer asking—he’s laying down terms. And even then, he gives Jabba another chance to do the right thing:

“I’m taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this… or be destroyed. It’s your choice. But I warn you not to underestimate my powers.”

It wasn’t some wild threat. Luke was serious but still giving Jabba a way out. Jabba laughed, ignored the warning, and dropped Luke straight into the rancor pit.

Third, after surviving the rancor and being dragged out of the pit covered in dust and grime, Luke still holds back. He doesn’t lash out. He looks Jabba dead in the eye and gives him another opportunity to avoid what’s coming:

“You should have bargained, Jabba. That’s the last mistake you’ll ever make.”

Even now, Luke isn’t attacking. He’s still warning.

And finally, we get to the sail barge. Everyone’s chained up, things are about to pop off, and Luke still gives Jabba one last shot. One more chance before all hell breaks loose:

“Jabba! This is your last chance. Free us, or die!”

And just like before, Jabba doesn’t listen. That’s when Luke finally makes his move, launching the plan they’d clearly set up in advance.

However, Luke Didn’t Give His Nephew a Single Chance

Now compare all of that patience Luke showed Jabba… to what happened with Ben Solo. It’s honestly hard to believe it’s the same man.

In The Last Jedi, we learn through flashbacks what really happened that night Luke went into Ben’s hut. Luke says he sensed a growing darkness in Ben—Snoke’s influence, and even the possibility of untold destruction. That much is understandable. Luke had every reason to be afraid.

But what’s hard to accept is what he did next.

Instead of talking to Ben. Instead of warning him. Instead of reaching out like he did to Vader, or even to Jabba, Luke had a brief moment where he thought about igniting his lightsaber. But in that fleeting instant of fear, he instinctively lit the blade while standing over Ben. And even though he immediately felt shame and regret, it was too late, Ben woke up and saw his uncle with a weapon drawn. That single moment shattered their trust forever.

Ben woke up and saw his uncle standing over him with a drawn saber. And from that moment on, Ben Solo was gone. That was the final push he needed to become Kylo Ren.

Even Luke himself admits it was his greatest failure. In his own words:

“I saw darkness. I sensed it building in him. I’d seen it at moments during his training. But then I looked inside… and it was beyond what I ever imagined. Snoke had already turned his heart. He would bring destruction and pain and death, and the end of everything I love. … And for the briefest moment of pure instinct, I thought I could stop it. It passed like a fleeting shadow. And the last thing I saw were the eyes of a frightened boy whose Master had failed him.”

That doesn’t sound like the same Luke who gave Darth Vader a second chance. Or the Luke who gave Jabba four different opportunities to back down.

And even though Luke immediately regrets it, the damage is done. Ben wakes up terrified and sees Luke as his threat instead of his guide. That moment gives Kylo Ren the fuel he needed to fully embrace the Dark Side.

Compare that to Jabba: Luke sends a respectful hologram message, he shows up and lays down terms twice, he warns again after pulling a move and surviving the Rancor, and he even offers one last chance right before the final confrontation. Four opportunities to choose peace.

But Ben? A nephew he loved and trained? He got one split-second flash of fear—and a lightsaber.