The Rise of Skywalker: A Nerd's Speculation

This discussion could have potential spoilers based on correct predictions.

OK! I’ve been waiting too dang long to talk about another Star Wars movie, so I’m going to get straight to it! Today, I’ll be going back through this last week’s final trailer for The Rise of Skywalker and picking it apart with all of my Star Wars know-how and beliefs for how the saga will come to an end. I’ll be sticking to major moments in the trailer, or moments that I at least found to be worth discussing. If you want to follow along with my discussion, you can find the trailer here! So, without anything else to brief you all on, let’s get into it!

Training: 0:10

This first sequence on the forest plan feels very much like a quick training montage. As I’ll come to mention later, there’s a specific group of planetary settings I’m gathering here, and this feels like a sequence taking place very much right at the start of the film. Rey training for the coming conflict as the Resistance gathers forces for the coming conflict. Following the past, this is necessary for story purposes and looks to be a beautiful planet for visuals.

The Rise of the Resistance: 0:27

Upon first glance, this is may seem like a quick shot of the Resistance coming together finally. We see Lando, Ackbar, Poe, Chewie, and Finn, amongst a sea of Resistance fighters willing to put their lives on the line for the galaxy. But, as you’ll notice there’s something missing. Or rather, someone! Rey is not in this shot. Just as The Last Jedi’s ending promised us a journey with all of our core characters coming together, Rey is missing. Again though, this could be a sequence from early in the film, with Lando having just arrived with reinforcements. But there have been reports of a multi-year gap between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, so I can’t lay down a specific period in the film. I would place my bets on early in the film though, just as the story is about to pick up.

But I Do: 0:47

Amongst the rubble of the second Death Star on one of the planets in the Endor system (the second planet of the group mentioned), Rey faces Kylo Ren one last time in a beautiful conflict by what appears to be the console Obi Wan used to shut down the tractor beam. These two have been juxtaposed as two souls who took the same journey, but chose different paths. There’s more story to be told here, so I’m not sure this is the finale of the film. I’m very much of the belief Disney will attempt a turn to the Light Side for Kylo because of the teased plot, so this most likely is a second act confrontation. But, with everything we’ve seen of this, it’s sure to be worth the price of entry on its own.

Long Have I Waited: 0:52

Finally! We hear the man speak. After much teasing and anticipation, we hear the voice of the Emperor, after many long years. Along with it we’re introduced yet another planet at least to my belief. A frozen planet, with First Order TIE Fighters flying towards a glacier. Some may argue this is the same planet as the confrontation between Rey and Kylo within the ashes of the Death Star, but I will disagree and there’s striking visual differences. Notice the smoothness of the waves, and the overall color palette, it’s different enough to make you notice, and there’s more to come in the trailer to point to these being separate locations.

And Now Your Coming Together…: 0:58

A very quick shot that could be viewed as simply a scenic shot to fill space in the trailer, this appears to be the same planet as shown above but two things some have picked up on it: lightning and not a First Order Star Destroy, but an Imperial one. Immediately, this got my mind racing as to what this potentially means for the story, but as we get closer to the end of the trailer and my conclusion, I’ll discuss even more about this. For now though I’ll say: is the Emperor actually alive?

Is Your Undoing: 1:01

A massive shot of the Resistance Fleet, flying towards something? There’s a hint as to what later on, but with this promising to be the finality of the saga it’s sure to be a massive conflict with the galaxy at stake. A few things worth nothing at this point in the trailer that I haven’t previously mentioned is that the Ghost from Star Wars: Rebels is clearly visible to the right of the Falcon, and something sounds off with the Emperor. I may be sounding crazy but I believe the Emperor sounds much older. I know he already was old, but the way he speaks is slightly slower and it feels as though his respiratory system can’t keep up. And also, who is he talking to? It appears he only has contact with Rey as the trailer points out, so I’m curious if it’s a discussion about Kylo and Rey, as the trailer points towards them working together yet again. Many questions are raised from his speech alone!

Taking One Last Look… At My Friends: 1:19

I’m convinced this is a fake out. There’s no way that Disney would kill of C-3PO right? RIGHT?! I’m not at all aware of what the significance of this scene is, but some are pointing towards the possibility of him becoming one with the Falcon’s internal computer. We’ll see when the film releases, but I could also believe he’s doing something he hasn’t done before, at the risk of losing his memories.

Confronting Fear Is The Destiny Of A Jedi: 1:34

In a huge departure from what Jedi were taught from the prequels, Luke continues to show his progressive nature in understanding what it truly means to be a Jedi. He’s the wisest of all the Jedi, even more than Yoda in his knowledge of the Force. We also are witnessing what is most likely the final goodbye between Leia and Rey, a relationship that surely was meant to evolve before the passing of Carrie Fisher. She is likely to still play a role, but with a tease at the end of the trailer, her passing could occur in this film. Here’s hoping she passes on peacefully, as she deserves. Also, John Williams’ new take on the Star Wars theme we’ve all grown to love is triumph, and brings back all the emotions you felt the very first time you saw one of these movies.

There And Back Again: 1:48

I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is the most beautiful shot I’ve seen in the entire run up to The Rise of Skywalker. Rey and Kylo, in destroyed throne room of the second Death Star, teasing a potential future confrontation with the Emperor. Juxtaposed with the words “The Story Lives Forever” there’s just so much history and emotion in one shot. The entire story of Star Wars is on display here.

Let The Past Die, Kill It If You Have To: 1:51

Another shot with a lot of thematic purpose. It’s quick, but it’s powerful. Our two main characters destroy the remains of Darth Vader’s mask. Perhaps this is symbolism for the end of the old way, and Kylo’s finally made his turn back to the light. Or, it’s part of another conflict between them. The problem is that it’s in a location we haven’t seen at all so it’s hard to place it. Kylo is wearing his mask, something we didn’t see at other points in the trailer. The likeliest answer in my mind lies as the interior of a Star Destroy or Rebellion fighter.

The Coming Conflict: 1:54

I managed to skip past Finn and others riding on what appears to be space horses, but it wasn’t clear what they were traversing. Now I think it’s very much clear. This appear to be an armada of IMPERIAL star destroyers. It’s actually pretty incredible to see just how many are on screen, and if this is the same location as the one emerging from the ice earlier in the trailer, this could be the planet that plays host to the final confrontation between the dark and the light, as Resistance Fighters are also seen throughout.

Destiny: 1:58

Rey, face to face with some version of the Emperor on a new throne. There’s plenty to take from just this scene, but one thing worth nothing that isn’t visible in the shot above is that for a very brief moment you see what appears to be very living fingers from the Emperor. It’s either a slip up from Disney or an intentional misdirection, I’m going to go with the former for my theories.

With the introduction of Imperial destroyers, and a planet that is supposedly housing hundreds of them below ice, perhaps the Emperor has been alive in some way this whole time? He isn’t meant to live forever, so what if his entire plan has been to lure Rey and Kylo together, either to destroy them, or to turn them both to the dark and have them lead his new Empire to an eternity of tyranny across the galaxy. I’m not sure of his motives, but I’m putting my money on an older, wiser, and closer to death Palpatine showing up on screens. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it, but it makes sense as he was the spawning of this with his manipulation of the Force to create Anakin, so it makes sense for him to be the true overarching villain.

The Force Will Be With You… Always: 2:06

Ending with our hero, hearing the words we’ve all come to love over the course of nearly 40 years. Starting the line is Luke, but ending it is Leia. This scene most likely doesn’t play out exactly like this in her head, but I’m very much of the belief this will be in the calm before the storm of the final confrontation with the Emperor. What a brilliant choice to use both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher here, her surrogate parents throughout these films, to give her one last word of guidance as she faces her destiny.

Conclusion

There will be more coverage most definitely to come before the release of The Rise of Skywalker on December 20th, so you can be sure to look out for the that. I may also release a revised version of my rankings, as I plan to watch the entire catalogue of Star Wars films before TROS releases. There’s more discussion I want to have about potential plot points shown here, but I have laid the groundwork for it here. The Emperor is most likely alive, and seeking to retake his place as the ruler of the galaxy. It may feel like 1983 and 2005, but I wouldn’t have the end of this story be in any other way than this. And Disney if you don’t end this movie with Rey staring out at the binary sunsets of Tattooine, I will be very sad. But I’ll also cry like a baby either way, so don’t worry about me.