Annlyel explores the connection between The Last Jedi and The Rise Of Skywalker
I’ve made my feelings very clear about The Rise of Skywalker on the internet; I’m not a fan. I’ve tried to find things about the film that I can respect and that I legitimately enjoyed. There aren’t many things to like about a movie that ultimately discredits the entire franchise as a whole…BUT…during my recent viewing of The Last Jedi, I was able to glean some connections that bled over into The Rise of Skywalker. Small connections that didn’t amount to much but connections nonetheless. One such connection involves a scene between Kylo Ren and Rey.
Rey’s hatred for Kylo is still very present in the early moments of The Last Jedi but the barriers are being gradually torn down between them. In a rather awkward Force connection (you know, the one that involved a shirtless Kylo Ren) he tells Rey, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. It’s the only way for you to become what you’re meant to be.”
His words struck me like a lightning bolt. Rey literally heeded his instruction and brought his saying to life in The Rise of Skywalker.
We learned that Rey was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine and the heir to the throne of the Sith. Of course, she wasn’t too happy about the news but she would eventually have to face the one person that was her legitimate blood relative in a climactic confrontation. It is then that Kylo‘s words are realized into existence.
“Let the past die.” She must let Palpatine, her past, die, otherwise, the galaxy is going to be in some serious trouble.
“Kill it if you have to.” Wielding Luke and Leia’s lightsabers she does just that, kills Palpatine, hence the “past.”
“It’s the only way for you to become what you were meant to be.” When she does let the past die and kills Palpatine she actually becomes what she was meant to be; a Jedi Knight and a Skywalker (adopted, but a Skywalker nonetheless.) So, Kylo‘s words came true in a truly powerful way. Wow.
I’m definitely intrigued to find more connections in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi that actually managed to come to fruition in The Rise of Skywalker. And maybe, just maybe, discovering these connecting threads between the three movies will create a certain appreciation for the ninth Star Wars film that I didn’t have previously.
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Annlyel James is a prolific Staff Writer for Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her own blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter @annlyeljames where she channels the Force frequently!
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Hello everyone. My name is Annlyel James. I’m a young woman who loves movies of all genres (specifically ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel movies.) I am also a Senior Correspondent for The Future of the Force.
Great quote. Thanks for sharing.
Your welcome. 🙂