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WithThe Rise of Skywalker , Disney’sStar Warssequel trilogy has get to a close , and J.J. Abrams stuck the landing as well as anyone could ’ve expected him to – which , considering the rushed nature , ever - changing storylines , and dissociate trajectory of the trilogy , was not particularly well .
When the trilogy began withThe Force Awakens , Star Warsfans were optimistic . Part of that optimism was a issue of the trilogy ’s new hero , Rey , who started off as an exciting prospect . So , here are 5 way that Rey was ab initio a promising fibre , and 5 ways that Disney ’s sequel trilogy let her down .
PROMISING: Daisy Ridley Was A Great Find
Unlike her Colorado - star John Boyega , Oscar Isaac , and Adam Driver , who were all mistily familiar to audiences beforeThe Force Awakenshit theaters , Daisy Ridley was a complete stranger who was cast without any prior on - screen acting work . She ’s clearly very talented , with a passel of emotional image .
If Rey was write as consistently throughout the trilogy as , say , Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy , orObi - Wan Kenobi in the prequels , then Ridley would ’ve doubtlessly fetch her arc to biography . Unfortunately , the trilogy relied too much on gimmicks to let her shine .
TRILOGY LET HER DOWN: She Was Inexplicably Great At Everything
Rey has been criticized as a “ Mary Sue , ” which is n’t quite accurate ( and it ’s a term with a very loose definition anyway ) , but she does seem to be bizarrely great at everything she try . When she jumped in the Millennium Falcon , she could suddenly vanish it well than Han and Chewie combine . There ’s no meter reading that she ’s ever left Jakku , so how would she even live how to fly , let alone fly that well ?
And the 2nd she had a lightsaber in her hand , she could use it more masterfully than the greatest Jedi who ever hold out . When she attempt to apply the Force on a whimsy , she was great at it . Everything Rey touches inexplicably turn to gold .
PROMISING: She Was The Star Wars Saga’s First Female Protagonist
When it was first announce that the newStar Warstrilogy would have a distaff agonist , fan were excited . The franchise had always had great distaff persona , from Leia Organa to Ahsoka Tano , but this was the first time that a female hero had anchored a trilogy in the core saga .
However , just set out to create a “ strong female character ” and call in them that does n’t make it so .
TRILOGY LET HER DOWN: The Force Awakens Made Rey’s Parentage An Unnecessary Discussion
Usinghis “ mystery box ” method of storytelling , J.J. Abrams establish Rey ’s parentage as an important argument with the flashback and Easter eggs inThe Force Awakens . As a result , a fate of the conversation surrounding Rey simply involve suppose who her parents were .
Rian Johnson was n’t interested in giving Rey a significant parentage , so he revealed through Kylo Ren inThe Last Jedithat her parents were “ nobody , ” which would ’ve worked for the type if her lineage had n’t been hyped so much betweenEpisodes VIIandVIII .
PROMISING: Her Force Connection With Kylo Ren Made An Intriguing Hook
Although it overuse a dramatic tool that was used just the correct amount throughout the original trilogy , the Force connection between Rey and Kylo Ren made for an intriguing hook .
Rey was always trying to sway Ben Solo back to the idle side , while Ben was constantly try on to swing her to the drab side . A lot more could ’ve been done with this game machine .
TRILOGY LET HER DOWN: The Out-Of-The-Blue Kiss
Rey ’s Force connectedness with Ben Solo was set up to be more than just a bare love story . It was about bring peace to the galaxy . Ben returning to the light side was necessary to abolish the Sith , as his power commingle with Rey ’s to finally bring balance to the Force
However , properly after Ben ’s redemption , when he and Rey have killed Palpatine and saved the beetleweed , he give her his lifeforce and then they kiss before he die . It was supposed to be aRomeo and Juliet - style tragic closing , but it just felt unearthly and forced inan endeavor to conciliate Reylo shippers .
PROMISING: She Seemed To Be A Nobody
When Rey was prove as a scavenger , clawing for scraps of food , campaign her way from one meal to the next , she seemed to be a dissimilar kind ofStar Warsprotagonist . Anakin Skywalker start as a slave on Tatooine , and his Logos Luke was a farmhand on the same planet .
But they both acclaim from the prized Skywalker origin . Rey was self - sufficient . She did n’t come from a peculiar phratry ; she did n’t even have a family . The fact that she could be anyone was inspiring .
TRILOGY LET HER DOWN: The Palpatine Reveal Worked Against Her Development
so as to give the trailers a cut that would guarantee that skepticalStar Warsfans would still buy a ticket for the sequel trilogy ’s close , The Rise of Skywalkerrevealed that Rey was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine . One of the costs of this twist was undermining Rey ’s eccentric arc .
The whole point of Rey seemed to be that anyone can be the torpedo , even a no - name desert scavenger – The Last Jedi ’s “ pauper ’s grave accent ” revelation and“Broom Boy ” endinghammered this home base – but the Palpatine revelation undid all that groundwork .
PROMISING: She Was Luke Skywalker’s First Student Since Ben Solo
In the cliffhanger cease ofThe Force Awakens , Rey goes to see Luke Skywalker on Ahch - To , where he ’s exiled himself . This localise up Luke ’s education of Rey inThe Last Jedi , where she became his first bookman since Ben Solo .
Unfortunately , since Luke was recharacterized as a bitter , cynical grump who could n’t care less about the Jedi , the breeding was n’t as fun or exciting as it could ’ve been .
TRILOGY LET HER DOWN: Taking The Skywalker Name Felt Forced
In the final moments ofThe Rise of Skywalker , Rey travels to Tatooine to bury Luke and Leia ’s lightsabers at the scorched cadaver of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru ’s farm . remarkably , a genus Passer - by ask Rey , a complete unknown , for her surname , which sets up Rey taking the name Skywalker . This scene has become the basis of innumerable meme , because it ’s ridiculously forced and it come out of nowhere .
Why ca n’t Rey just be Rey ? Why does she demand a last name at all ? It seemed like J.J. Abrams was ending Rey ’s electric arc with the conclusion of what Disney post “ the Skywalker saga ” in mind , not what felt right for her .
NEXT : Star Wars : 5 Ways Kylo Ren Was anticipate ( & 5 Ways The Sequel Trilogy Let Him Down )
