The Rise of Skywalker Is a Convoluted but Fun Mess

Knights of Ren Knights Of Uselessness

So, after being teased about them for two whole movies, we finally get our first on-screen appearance of the Knights of Ren. The dark and menacing order of Knights that Kylo Ren leads finally appears on screen in order to track down Rey. And they do absolutely nothing!

In the end, these wannabe dark-siders turn into cannon fodder for the heroes to take out at the climax at Sidious’ base. If you read my previous reaction post, then you’ll know what “the Ren” means. What a waste of characters.

Rey’s True Heritage

Ever since we met her, fans have been wondering just who Rey really is? Is she Han and Leia’s long-lost daughter? Luke’s daughter? Anakin Skywalker reincarnated? Rian Johnson seemed to shoot all those down in The Last Jedi by saying her parents were nobodies. However JJ Abrams turns that on its head. While it’s true Rey’s parents were nobodies, that’s because they wanted to hide her from her true heritage. She’s Darth Sidious’ Granddaughter.

As it turns out, Sidious had a son who wisely chose to have nothing to do with Daddy Darth and went on the run. He and his wife left Rey on Jakku to keep her out of his hands, which led to his assassin’s killing them both. Also, somehow Luke and Leia both knew about her Grandpa being Palpatine.

Did I react in shock to Rey being Palpatine’s granddaughter? No, and for three reasons. Firstly, I read the leaks on Reddit a month ago but I didn’t think they were real. Secondly, I didn’t see it as a big deal. While it was earth-shattering for Luke to learn Vader was his father, he had at least some emotional connection to the image he had of him; Rey doesn’t. The story of Rey is that you shouldn’t let your past define who you are. While it does shake her up for a while, eventually Rey realizes that her real family’s the friends she’s made in the Resistance.

Third and finally, I actually found it ironic to the point of it being funny. The granddaughter of the Dark Lord of the Sith ends up rejecting the Sith and chooses to become the thing that he’s tried, and failed, to destroy. It’s like the ultimate act of rebellion.