Review: The Jedi Doth Return | R2-D2 Steals the Day

The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher
Narrated by Daniel Davis, Jonathan Davis, January LaVoy, Jeff Gurner, Marc Thompson, and Ian Doescher 
Published by Random House Audio
Format Reviewed: Audiobook 
Publication Date: July 1st, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction
Time: 3 hrs, 35 min
Reviewed by: Stephanie
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Hot on the heels of the New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars comes the next two installments of the original trilogy: William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return. Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter. Illustrated with beautiful black-and-white Elizabethan-style artwork, these two plays offer essential reading for all ages. Something Wookiee this way comes!

The first Star Wars trilogy has ended. As always, Ian Doescher did a wonderful job capturing the more comedic vibe from the first Star Wars trilogy. I enjoyed this much more than I did The Empire Striketh Back, what with R2-D2's internal monologues. If nothing else about this audiobook appeals to you, R2's narration will. It's sassy and sarcastic. It also felt quite appropriate, what with C3PO's one-sided responses from the movies, and added a lovely dynamic, especially during the first hour or so while they were rescuing Han Solo from Jabba.

Rather than R2-D2, the single moment that makes this entire thing worth the time is when Luke learns that Leia is his sister. We never really get a feel for Luke's reaction in the movies, which is fine but odd at the same time. In The Jedi Doth Return, Doescher does explore is reaction, which was humorous and utterly appropriate at the same time. Luke is horrified with himself and his internal monologue basically outlines what the audience is thinking - Shakespeare style of course.

The narration was enjoyable and Darth Vader's reflection was quite appropriate as well, which I would imagine was probably tricky to get right with this particular style while trying to stay true to him.

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