Naming a project can be a complicated affair, and when you have a series with an enormous fan base, I am sure it’s even tougher. As expected there has been a lot of discussion around the internet regarding the announced title for Star Wars: Episode VIII. The subtitle has a pretty common motif, and it got me thinking, we have…

The Last…

…Airbender (Anime, but also a movie, card game, and video game.)

…Picture Show (Movie, also a book.)

…American Hero (Movie)

…Guardian (Game)

…House on the Left (Movie… twice.)

…Unicorn (Book, also a film, album, song, and EP.)

…Question (Short Story)

…Starfighter (Movie — thanks, Miguel! Can’t believe I forgot this one.)

…Witch Hunter (Movie and Vin Diesel’s personal D&D Campaign)

…Supper (Painting, but so much more…)

…Act (Short Story)

…Castle (Movie)

…Boy Scout (Movie)

…Waltz (Concert)

…Time (Movie, also a pair of albums and so many songs.)

…Man on Earth (TV Show, also three films and a book.)

…Olympian (Book)

…Voyage of the Starship Enterprise (SNL skit)

…Uniform (Manga)

…Valley (Book)

…Year (Movie)

…Yankee (Play)

…Confession of Alexander Pearce (Movie)

…of Us (Game)

…Word (Cocktail, also so much more…)

…Tycoon (Unfinished Book, also two movies, album, and a tv series.)

…Detail (Movie)

…Emperor (Movie, also an actual person, album, and documentary.)

…Gangster (Movie)

…Five Years (Musical, also a movie.)

…Juror (Book)

…Vampire (Book series, also an anime.)

…News From France (Song)

…Lion (Horse)

…Empress (Book, also an actual person, musical, movie, and biography.)

…Song (Movie, also another movie, two novels, and a lot of actual songs.)

…Ninja (Game)

…Knight (Book, also another book, and a terrible Transformers movie.)

…Temptation of Christ (Movie, also a book.)

…Exorcism (Movie)

…Lecture (Book)

…Remnant (Game)

…of the Mohicans (Book, also many films, tv shows, and a pair of albums.)

…Judgment (Tynpanum, but also so much more…)

…Outlaw (Movie, also 3 other movies, a Miniseries, and a Pro Wrestler.)

…American Virgin (Movie)

…Flight of Noah’s Ark (Movie)

…Mimzy (Movie)

…Kingdom (Book, also a Miniseries.)

and now: …Jedi (Star Wars: Episode VIII)

There is so much more I could have added. (The list could easily double in length.) Does this mean The Last Jedi is a bad title? No, but it’s fair to say it’s not the most original in the series. It’s safe, informative, and inoffensive which seems to be Disney’s strategy with the Star Wars franchise. Besides, I’m not sure it matters.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

—Juliet Capulet, Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Juliet’s right, a rose by any other name would still smell good. In the end, The Last Jedi will still be Star Wars. It’ll most likely be as enjoyable as The Force Awakens. Fans will flock in droves to the theaters. But in a universe of Rogue Ones, New Hopes, and Empires Striking Back, I found myself wishing for something more.