Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (#3)
After a short one week hiatus, I’m back with more of my thoughts on The Rise of Skywalker! It’s been just over a month since the film’s release and I’m sure most of you have seen the massive mixture of reactions this film has been getting over the past few weeks. I recognize that the farther away from the film we get, the less likely there will be a continued interest in changing your overall beliefs on the film, and as I said from the beginning, I’m not trying to make you love this movie, I’m simply showing you a differing perspective.
As a result, I’m going to try to add more pieces to this week’s discussion, and perhaps aim towards ending this series of pieces at 5. With The Clone Wars returning in the middle of February, and my interest in exploring other areas of the galaxy far far away shining through, I feel it’s time to move on from this discussion, at least for the time being. But that end will come another day, as this week I want to talk about some of the many character shifts we experienced throughout this film. Whether it’s a character changing motivations, or rather a character finally recognizing their potential in the story, there was quite a lot of changes in the status quo that I want to discuss. First, lets talk about something this film did unexpectedly great!
Chewie and C-3PO’s Rise to Prominence
Two characters who’ve been through thick and thin during this entire saga are the lovable companions Chewbacca and C-3PO. Throughout the original and prequel trilogies, both of these characters played either second fiddle, or comic relief for the audience. Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Chewbacca has been getting a good bit of background and depth to his character through Solo, The Force Awakens, and The Last Jedi. A great honor to the lovable fur ball originally played magnificently by the late Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca’s story reached a crescendo in The Rise of Skywalker. What is that story you ask? Like many others, his story has been about finding where he truly belongs and accepting the losses of the past.
As of Rise, Chewie has lost a lot of people, his family to the Empire, his right hand man and partner for life: Han, and one of his best friends: Luke. Chewbacca doesn’t necessarily have an incredible story arc throughout the film, instead having certain beats that help to finish his overall story. The first being Leia’s passing, we see Chewbacca react extremely emotionally, as if he’s finally letting out the pain of all the loss he’s seen in his life. Who helps to pick him up? Poe, Finn, and Rey: his new family. Although the people around him may changed over time, he always was a good person, and seeing him help rally citizens from across the galaxy to fight the Emperor was powerful, and his celebration with Rose at the end felt like a great closing moment for him.
C-3PO has been a character that I’d argue has always been under served in terms of dramatic potential throughout the history of Star Wars, used for cameo appearances or comedic relief, Anthony Daniels has been a good sport for Lucasfilm and later Disney. Because the first two films of the sequel trilogy didn’t really involve him heavily, he continued to play that role, but with Episode 9, we finally got to see C-3PO not just be a means to crack jokes, but actually a character with a story. After years and years of fearing his own demise, it felt like a real progression to see him recognize that the only way forward was at his own risk, and accepting that risk. What felt like a fan-service moment in trailers where he says goodbye to the main core of characters, actually really felt like it paid off decades of fans wanting more from C-3PO.
Ben Solo’s Big Moment and a First Order Spy
I just want to acknowledge the INCREDIBLE work Adam Driver has done throughout this entire series of films. He’s without question one of the best performances in the history of Star Wars, and everything you want from a sympathetic villain in a story like this. The redemption of Ben Solo was something that seemed to be a foregone conclusion, and as a result something I wasn’t really against. Mainly, I was curious to see how it would happen. Looking back on it, it might be one of the best moments of the entire movie.
Ren has been haunted by what he did to his father, Han Solo, back in The Force Awakens as he attempted to finally free himself from the light, and as a result we see him dealing with his own divisiveness throughout the first and second acts of this story. When Rey and Kylo have their final conflict on Endor within the wreckage of the Death Star, it feels like the perfect way to mirror Return of the Jedi, a confrontation not just physically, but ideologically between two people who care about one another, but see the world through very different eyes.
When Rey leaves believing Kylo is gone forever, but unwilling to be the cause of his death Ben finally reflects on who he has become. Seeing Harrison Ford return as Han Solo one last time, in the perfect position for him to do so, felt like a natural progression of Kylo Ren’s character. Going through this moment one last time, thinking about who he could of become if he chose of the light, you can see the moment he truly breaks down and understands the weight of the choices he has made. What makes it best though, is how his father responds. His father understands that he’s done wrong, but once again tells him that Kylo Ren can be gone forever, and he can once again be Ben Solo, his son. As he breaks down in tears, he finally calls Han “Dad…” but he’s unavailable to say what he really wants to. It’s Han who responds with “I know…”
With that Ben Solo returns to the world, extinguishing the flame of Kylo Ren and recognizing his new purpose as a member of the light as his grandfather did so many years ago. As I said, it’s one of the most incredible moments of the movie, and it’s weight is only recognizing upon multiple viewings, and seeing the work that Driver puts in to convey the conflicting emotions that he is feeling is absolutely magnificent.
Speaking of the First/Final Order, lets quickly mention the turncoat that is General Hux. While the result of his spying ends with his death, it did seem like a fairly good ending for the character. Hux was an interesting character in this franchise, almost always seeming like the arch enemy of Poe Dameron as Phasma was for Finn and Kylo Ren was for Rey. Their conversation at the beginning of The Last Jedi is one of the big highlights of the film, and it overall felt like the direction they were heading forthese two. But, regardless of where it actually ended, the only better conclusion would have been a death at the hands of the Resistance, or perhaps even Kylo Ren. His anger and hatred of Kylo Ren spurred his traitorous actions, which fits with his character as a whole, I just wish we got a but more of him before he was gone. In the end it does seem to be slightly half-baked as he’s gone half way through the film to make way for Allegiant General Pryde, who upon his introduction it’s immediately clear the direction they’re going once a spy is mentioned.
Luke and Rey on Ahch-To
I’ve been talking a lot about character progression and closing the book on stories for many characters, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one more extremely important one: Luke Skywalker. Ever the hero, it was shocking seeing Luke the hermit in The Last Jedi, rejecting the Jedi order and believing that it was time for it to end. But, as that movie progressed we saw the Luke we knew return, understanding his part to play, facing down Kylo Ren and the First Order at the Battle of Crait. What felt like it could have been the final act of his story, really was simply the climax.
When Rey retreats to Ahch-To to prevent causing any harm with her (Palpatine’s power), Luke is the one to stop her from destroying the lightsaber that has crossed generations. Recognizing that Rey is on the edge of a critical moment in her life, he gives her the guidance she sought back when she first arrived on Ahch-To at the end of The Force Awakens: Her destiny and the destiny of all jedi isn’t hiding from their fears, it’s confronting them, and in doing so she must confront Palpatine and face her own destiny. It’s immediately clear that Rey has awoken in him many of the values he once thought worthless. Before she can leave, he offers her Leia’s lightsaber. Once having trained with Luke, Leia gave up her saber near the end of her training as she sensed danger would come to her son. She did believe though at some point that someone would come who would be worthy of keeping it, and as a result Luke kept it with him until that moment came. While not necessarily the most impactful moment of the film, it feels like it fulfills Leia and Rey’s story in the film, with Leia being Rey’s last master.
While at this may seem great, Rey quickly realizes she has no way to Exegol as she burned up Kylo’s ship along with the last remaining wayfinder. Luke, acting very similar to Obi-Wan and Yoda before him, tells her “you have everything you need.” With that, as Rey retrieves the unharmed device from the desruction, he does what Yoda did for him so many years ago, raising his old X-Wing Red 5 out of the waters of Ahch-To, offering Rey a way forward. It’s powerful imagery, and shows that through of all Luke’s years, including him time of shutting himself off for the force, his training and history still is imbued in him.
Next Week!
In the past, when it came to these closing thoughts, I usually would tease what comes next for this series, but truthfully I don’t know where to focus my efforts for next week. There’s not a ton left for me to discuss, but I know what I want to leave for last: Rey and the lasting impact of this story. So tune in next week for a surprise Part 4 of this series, and I really appreciate you all following along with me through this journey. This has become not only a means for me to show a differing point of view on this film, but also a way for me to work through the massive amount of thoughts I have about this story. With that, may the force be with you all, and I’ll be speaking with you all again next week!
