Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley
Since the original “Star Wars” trilogy was created in 1977 by master filmmaker, George Lucas, it has spawned one of the most epic and enduring film sagas in recent history. Now, almost 40 years later, a new chapter in the story is brought to life as a young heroine named Rey, guided by Han Solo and Chewbacca, embarks on a journey to find the lost Jedi, Luke Skywalker, before a malevolent new entity destroys the galaxy forever.
One of the most intriguing questions that I pondered as I watched this film is, “What is Rey’s true identity?” When we first meet Rey, we know very little about her character. As the story unfolds, however, the silent clues surrounding her soon reveal a much richer story about Rey’s life. I believe that Rey is Kylo Ren’s sister and the daughter of Han and Leia.
Rey is the proverbial "Luke Skywalker" of this story. When we meet Rey, she has clearly lived alone on Jakku for a very long time, but she reveals a promise that she has held onto her entire life; the promise that her family would one day come back for her; the only problem is, her family never returned. When Rey and Finn encounter Han and Chewbacca, she seems to know a great deal about flying the Millennium Falcon (a very unique ship) and she can also understand Chewbacca's language. If she was Han and Leia's daughter, she would have learned these things before she was sent to Jakku. When Rey touches Luke's lightsaber, she has a vision: first she sees someone who is allegedly Luke. Then then she sees someone with a red lightsaber surrounded by fallen victims (Kylo Ren slaughtering the Jedi perhaps?) and then she sees herself as a young child being left behind on Jakku (seemingly against her will because she is very clearly upset). I believe Han and Leia sent Rey to Jakku when Kylo Ren destroyed the Jedi and Luke went into exile to protect her from her dark brother (much like Yoda and Obi-Wan hid Luke and Leia to protect them as children). When Rey and Kylo Ren both attempt to summon Luke’s lightsaber during the final battle, it doesn't go to Kylo...it goes to Rey. When Han dies and Rey returns with Chewbacca to the Resistance, Leia does not go to comfort Chewie, she goes to Rey. Although she has never met Rey up until this moment, Leia shares a long, silent hug with her, almost as if she were comforting someone she knew very well. Why would Leia do this, rather than comforting Chewie, if Rey were not her daughter or at least someone very close to her?
While Rey is the proverbial Luke Skywalker in the story, and her character embodies the light side of the Force, I believe that Han and Leia’s son, Kylo Ren, is another story altogether.
While Kylo Ren very much wants to emulate his grandfather, Darth Vader, to the point that he almost worships his grandfather’s memory, I do not believe that Kylo Ren has surrendered to the dark side. That's why he kept hitting himself when he was injured and throwing tantrums with his lightsaber when he got angry. He was trying to tap into the darkness. According to Yoda, pain and anger lead to the dark side and Kylo Ren desperately wants to become one with this darkness. His willingness to slaughter the Jedi and become the dark warrior, Kylo Ren, is another example of his desperation to abandon his family and join the Sith. When he confronts his father in the end, he tells Han that he is being pulled back to the light side and he pleads with his father to "help him". I believe Kylo Ren thought by killing Han, he would be able to fully embrace the dark side, but I don't think he succeeded, at least not entirely. I think killing his father only set his path towards the light side because Han’s final act was to sacrifice his own life to save his son.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is an exceptional addition to the "Star Wars" saga. The casting is stellar, particularly for Daisy Ridley who brings to life the character of Rey, the story is epic and the visual style breathes new life into both the worlds and the characters. If you enjoy "Star Wars", then this is one film I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley
Since the original “Star Wars” trilogy was created in 1977 by master filmmaker, George Lucas, it has spawned one of the most epic and enduring film sagas in recent history. Now, almost 40 years later, a new chapter in the story is brought to life as a young heroine named Rey, guided by Han Solo and Chewbacca, embarks on a journey to find the lost Jedi, Luke Skywalker, before a malevolent new entity destroys the galaxy forever.
One of the most intriguing questions that I pondered as I watched this film is, “What is Rey’s true identity?” When we first meet Rey, we know very little about her character. As the story unfolds, however, the silent clues surrounding her soon reveal a much richer story about Rey’s life. I believe that Rey is Kylo Ren’s sister and the daughter of Han and Leia.
Rey is the proverbial "Luke Skywalker" of this story. When we meet Rey, she has clearly lived alone on Jakku for a very long time, but she reveals a promise that she has held onto her entire life; the promise that her family would one day come back for her; the only problem is, her family never returned. When Rey and Finn encounter Han and Chewbacca, she seems to know a great deal about flying the Millennium Falcon (a very unique ship) and she can also understand Chewbacca's language. If she was Han and Leia's daughter, she would have learned these things before she was sent to Jakku. When Rey touches Luke's lightsaber, she has a vision: first she sees someone who is allegedly Luke. Then then she sees someone with a red lightsaber surrounded by fallen victims (Kylo Ren slaughtering the Jedi perhaps?) and then she sees herself as a young child being left behind on Jakku (seemingly against her will because she is very clearly upset). I believe Han and Leia sent Rey to Jakku when Kylo Ren destroyed the Jedi and Luke went into exile to protect her from her dark brother (much like Yoda and Obi-Wan hid Luke and Leia to protect them as children). When Rey and Kylo Ren both attempt to summon Luke’s lightsaber during the final battle, it doesn't go to Kylo...it goes to Rey. When Han dies and Rey returns with Chewbacca to the Resistance, Leia does not go to comfort Chewie, she goes to Rey. Although she has never met Rey up until this moment, Leia shares a long, silent hug with her, almost as if she were comforting someone she knew very well. Why would Leia do this, rather than comforting Chewie, if Rey were not her daughter or at least someone very close to her?
While Rey is the proverbial Luke Skywalker in the story, and her character embodies the light side of the Force, I believe that Han and Leia’s son, Kylo Ren, is another story altogether.
While Kylo Ren very much wants to emulate his grandfather, Darth Vader, to the point that he almost worships his grandfather’s memory, I do not believe that Kylo Ren has surrendered to the dark side. That's why he kept hitting himself when he was injured and throwing tantrums with his lightsaber when he got angry. He was trying to tap into the darkness. According to Yoda, pain and anger lead to the dark side and Kylo Ren desperately wants to become one with this darkness. His willingness to slaughter the Jedi and become the dark warrior, Kylo Ren, is another example of his desperation to abandon his family and join the Sith. When he confronts his father in the end, he tells Han that he is being pulled back to the light side and he pleads with his father to "help him". I believe Kylo Ren thought by killing Han, he would be able to fully embrace the dark side, but I don't think he succeeded, at least not entirely. I think killing his father only set his path towards the light side because Han’s final act was to sacrifice his own life to save his son.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is an exceptional addition to the "Star Wars" saga. The casting is stellar, particularly for Daisy Ridley who brings to life the character of Rey, the story is epic and the visual style breathes new life into both the worlds and the characters. If you enjoy "Star Wars", then this is one film I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.