The Crossguard Lightsaber meme originated following the 2014 teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, which debuted Kylo Ren’s unique vented lightsaber hilt. Fans immediately began debating the practicality of the design, leading to a flood of parodies that added an absurd number of crossguards to the weapon or used it to represent unnecessary complexity. The meme captures the internet’s mix of excitement and skepticism toward new Star Wars lore. Today, it remains a popular choice for mocking over-the-top designs, edgy characters, or anything that features more bells and whistles than it actually needs.