43 Years Later, Star Wars Fans Agree This Is Still the Saddest Scene in the Franchise

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The Star Wars series is celebrated for offering audiences engaging entertainment as well as impactful dramatic scenes. Even after more than four decades since the release of “Return of the Jedi”, many fans concur that one scene in particular stands out as the saddest across the entire franchise. On a popular Star Wars discussion forum, a user sparked a conversation by asking fellow fans to share their most emotional moments from Star Wars: they pointed to the memorable death of an Ewok during the Battle of Endor. In this scene, two Ewoks flee from Imperial gunfire and get caught in an explosion. Tragically, only one of them makes it out alive, leaving the surviving Ewok devastated when their comrade fails to regain consciousness.

In the comments, various individuals proposed their personal nominations for Star Wars’ most emotional scene, with Order 66 and the rancor’s demise being frequently mentioned. However, there was a general consensus that the death of the Ewoks stands out as the most heart-wrenching moment in the series. One devotee admitted that as an adult, they have to shut their eyes during this scene because it’s just too intense. Another described watching it as “extremely harsh,” drawing comparisons between the Ewoks and beloved pets.

The saddest scene in Star Wars.
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Among Star Wars enthusiasts, the Ewoks continue to spark debate. Some found their cute appearance off-putting, suspecting George Lucas designed them to appeal to the youngest audience members (a criticism later leveled at Jar Jar Binks following the release of The Phantom Menace). Notably, Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve has voiced his disapproval, labeling Return of the Jedi as a children’s comedy. Despite many fans yearning for Villeneuve to direct a Star Wars film, he has shown no interest, expressing the view that the franchise took a turn for the worse in 1983.

Conversely, Lily Gladstone from “Killers of the Flower Moon” shared that it was the Ewoks who sparked her interest in acting. She regards the Ewoks as symbols of Indigenous resilience because they played a crucial part in overthrowing the Empire. Although Ewoks haven’t had a major presence on-screen since “Return of the Jedi”, Lucasfilm still highlights them in other canon works, like comics.

Despite personal opinions about the Ewoks, it’s hard to dispute that the death scene in ‘Return of the Jedi’ is profoundly distressing. It stirs a strong emotional response due to the harm inflicted on a beloved and innocent creature. Moreover, it underscores the heart-wrenching horror of war, as these peaceful creatures were drawn into conflict when the Empire invaded their home. They made a valiant stand, knowing they would bear the brunt of casualties, yet seeing this unfold is still heartbreaking. Though these specific Ewoks remain anonymous amongst the crowd (their backstory is filled in ‘From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi’), the emotional impact is no less than that felt for the heroes of ‘Rogue One’ or Rex and Ahsoka battling through Order 66. Anyone can empathize with the sorrow of losing someone dear.

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2025-02-14 19:42