We finally got some answers to major questions in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! Going in to the theater, I wanted to know who are Rey’s parents? Would Kylo Ren turn Rey to the Dark Side? And how in the world did Palpatine come back? Those questions plus more I didn’t even know I had were answered. There are major spoilers, so don’t read if you haven’t seen Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Who are Rey’s Parents?
This was my number one question! I don’t know why I cared who Rey’s parents were, but we get the answer in The Rise of Skywalker. I still wanted more, but we find out Rey is a Palpatine.
Rey is Emporer Palpatine’s granddaughter, but her parents were good. Her father was the son of Palpatine who went into hiding to protect his daughter. Kylo Ren tries to tie in the nobody comment from The Last Jedi by saying her parents were nobodies in the sense that they rejected Palpatine and wanted to protect her.
This sets up the inner conflict that Rey has throughout the movie with wanting to exact revenge on Palpatine and maybe have her turn to the Dark Side.
How Did Emperor Palpatine Return?
Ever since I saw the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer and heard Palpatine’s voice, I asked how could he survive that Death Star explosion? This has to be a flashback, right? Wrong.
The way he survived was never explicitly discussed, but he either survived or transferred his spirit through Dark Science, a la Sith or Harry Potter Voldemort magic. When Poe announces to the Resistance that Palpatine is back and another asks how? Someone replies through Dark Science and cloning. Also in the final battle scene, he tells Rey that once she kills him, his spirit (as well as all the Siths) will transfer to her, and they will be one.
Palpatine informs Kylo Ren that all the voices in his head (Snoke, Vader) have been Palpatine’s (he created Snoke) and that he has been manipulating him.
From a story standpoint, Director J.J. Abrams (and Screenwriter) brought Palpatine back because of how important the Skywalker lineage is in the Star Wars saga. Palpatine has been there from Anakin Skywalker to Ben Solo, so co-writer Chris Terrio also thought it was appropriate he be there for the conclusion.
Did Kylo Ren Turn Rey to the Dark Side?
Well if you’ve seen the movie, then you know the opposite occurred, and instead Kylo Ren and Rey share a kiss. Kylo Ren AKA Ben Solo sacrifices himself for her. Abrams also said that the kiss was more a brother/sister kind of kiss like Leia and Luke shared, but I’m not buying it.
I never shipped Kylo and Rey before, but after the looks and sexual tension in The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren and Rey were a couple, dang it! I don’t care if it was for 5 seconds, but they were going to work things out, and I don’t care what J.J. Abrams said. I said what I said – Reylo forever!
Who are the Jedi Voices Rey Hears at the End of The Rise of Skywalker?
One of the biggest moments is Rey’s quote in The Rise of Skywalker, “Be With Me.” She repeats it many times, asking for help when she needs it most. Luke and Leia promised the Force would be with her always. So what Jedi voices make a cameo to help her?
It’s hard to make them out, but the ghosts of Jedis past come out. You can find everything the Jedi voices say in the final battle in this list of 100 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker quotes.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)
Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson)
Yoda (Frank Oz)
Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson)
Ahsoka Tano ( Ashley Eckstein from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels)
Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze, Jr. from Star Wars: Rebels)
Adi Gallia (Angelique Perrin from The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars)
Aayla Secura (Jennifer Hale from Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars)
Luminara Unduli (Olivia D’Abo from Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars)
What was Finn Going to tell Rey?
So as Rey, Finn, Poe, and C-3PO are sinking in the sand, Finn says, “Rey, I never told you…” when he thought they were going to die. Then Rey asked him about it afterwards, and he answered he would tell her later. Even Poe asked Finn about it another time when he thought they were going to be killed. Finn brushed him off.
Many fans speculated that it was either he had feelings for Rey or that he, too, had The Force. The question was never definitely answered in The Rise of Skywalker, but several outlets confirm that J.J. Abrams told a fan it was that Finn was also Force sensitive.
It makes sense since Finn did bring up the Force several times and also that he “had a feeling” about which ship was navigating the fleet.
Why is Rey’s Lightsaber Yellow?
There have been different theories floating around about why Rey’s Lightsaber is yellow at the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. She buries Luke’s and Leia’s sabers at Tatooine and reveals her hard-core new yellow saber built out of her staff complete with a switch!
Some say hers is yellow, because she has brought balance to the Force. And since Jedi blades are green and blue and Sith is red, this is different.
Others say it may give a clue to what she’s up to next. The only other yellow-bladed lightsabers are in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels—the two animated Star Wars shows that take place between Episodes II and III, and Episodes III and IV. Yellow sabers are used by the Jedi Temple Guard. So maybe she’ll protect the new generation of Jedi and that she may not be the last Jedi.
Then there are those who say it’s just a way for Disney to sell more merch.
All of these theories are plausible. Which one do you believe?
In true Star Wars fashion, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker answers major questions, but it also leaves us with even more questions. I’m looking forward to more from the Star Wars franchise including The Mandalorian and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+!