Spoiler-Filled Review: ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’
We finally find out the truth of who Rey is. Since her introduction, Rey has searched for who her parents are. She’s longed to know her identity. In The Last Jedi, she believes she has the answer when Kylo Ren says her parents were nothing and nobody. In The Rise of Skywalker, it’s revealed her parents are nothing but it’s her grandfather who is important. Rey finally knows the truth: she is Rey Palpatine.
This introduces an interesting dynamic with the granddaughter of the universe’s greatest evil trying not to become like him. She sees a prophecy that says otherwise and it reflects Kylo Ren’s unwillingness to go full dark. By the time the movie comes to an end, we get to enjoy a Skywalker and Palpatine team-up against the renewed Emperor Palpatine.
There are cameos in abundance from past Star Wars characters and celebrities. Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo in the mind of his son, Ben (Kylo). It’s the return of Han that pushes Kylo into turning back to the light side. That, and the sad death of his mother, Leia.
Wedge Antilles returns during a fantastic sequence near the end. Wedge is a fighter pilot from the Original Trilogy, so his inclusion will make fans excited. The famed composer John Williams is also in the movie for a split second as a member of a band who shakes his head at Rey and friends.
The celebrity cameos will please fans of the stage show Hamilton and TV show Killing Eve. Lin-Manuel Miranda is in the background during Resistance scenes and wrote a song that’s used in the movie during a trip to an exotic planet.
Rey finds out her lineage through flashbacks where we find out Rey’s mother is none other than Villanelle herself, Jodie Comer. Seeing Jodie in a small role in the Star Wars universe is a shame as she deserves more, but at least it’s something! It’s definitely a good surprise they managed to keep quiet.
The usage of the Original Trilogy characters means more to the story than fans thought. When Rey and Kylo are at a crossroads, it’s Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo who propel them forward. Luke advises Rey to not make the same mistakes that he did and that it doesn’t matter who she is, he and Leia still wanted to train her.
They saw the good in her that would bring balance to the Force. The memory of Han, and a projection created by Leia, manages to kill Kylo Ren and bring back Ben Solo. Without the original three, Emperor Palpatine would have won. Even after all of these years, the three are still saving the galaxy.
Act Three sees Rey face down Palpatine and it brings a moment reminiscent to Avengers: Endgame. After Palpatine declares he is the ultimate Sith, Rey replies “And I am a Jedi.” All of the power of the past Jedi help Rey defeat the evil Sith Lord. Before that, Rey is at death’s door and can’t see a way to win.
She focuses on the past Jedi and it gives us an amazing sequence where there are voice cameos. Included are: Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker. In another turn of events, they also include Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars: Rebels and Ashoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels.
The very final sequence brings tears to the eyes. Rey returns to Tatooine and buries Luke and Leia’s lightsabers next to Luke’s former home. Rey has a new lightsaber built from her staff and it’s golden-yellow. This color of saber is normally for high moral guards of the Jedi Temple.
There’s a chance the yellow means Rey is a Grey Jedi who has mastered the balance of the light and dark side of the Force. She’s asked by a passerby who she is and her answer says it all: “I’m Rey Skywalker.” Even though she’s a Palpatine, Rey chooses to be a Skywalker and in turn, brings forth a new version of the Jedi Knights.
And finally, Chewie finally gets the respect he deserves! In A New Hope, George Lucas decided poor Chewbacca didn’t deserve a medal. He helps destroy the Death Star but receives no plaudits.
However, The Rise of Skywalker rectifies this as Maz Kanata gives Chewie a medal for helping to destroy the Empire once and for all.
