The Rise of Skywalker is now just over a month away, with Star Wars fans’ excitement levels building as a result. October’s action-packed trailer, the third released by Disney ahead of the blockbuster, has set pulses rating and the company seems confident enough that the movie can repair the saga following the divisive entry that was The Last Jedi.
As to be expected, Rey has featured prominently in all three trailers so far. She is, after all, the talisman of this trilogy. Let’s take a look at 10 things the footage has shown about her character as the wait for the final chapter of the Skywalker saga nears its end.
She’s Training
One of the biggest complaints aimed at Rey throughout the sequel trilogy so far is that she’s so powerful, despite having undergone very little training. She was able to defeat a fully-fledged Jedi Knight in Kylo Ren during The Force Awakens — despite starting the movie as a scavenger on Jakku — and even overpowered Luke Skywalker during a confrontation in the sequel.
Rey barely learnt anything from Luke when he reluctantly agreed to train her but in the upcoming film, she looks to be honing her skills. The final trailer shows her sprinting around a jungle planet with a training droid similar to the one Luke worked with in A New Hope, even possessing a similar helmet.
She’s Stronger
Rey has always been considered strong. As mentioned, she bests Kylo Ren in a fight and she’s also able to prevent the villain from taking Anakin Skywalker’s old lightsaber during The Last Jedi. She also takes out three TIE fighters with a single shot during that movie but admittedly, that could just be poor editing.
However, Rey looks to have become even more powerful since we’ve last seen her. In the teaser trailer, she full-on somersaults over what appears to be Kylo Ren’s ship — something we’ve not seen a Jedi Knight do, well…ever.
She’s Repaired The Lightsaber
The last time we saw Anakin and Luke Skywalker’s old lightsaber, it looked damaged beyond repair. The weapon had splintered during The Last Jedi when Kylo Ren and Rey had battled to take control of it shortly after the shock death of Supreme Leader Snoke, and many thought we wouldn’t see the iconic object again.
However, the first teaser (and other footage) appears to suggest Rey has fixed it. She’s similar to Luke in the regard that she’s grown up in a harsh environment and therefore, learned many handy skills along the way. She repaired the Millennium Falcon in The Force Awakens and her talents, it seems, don’t end there.
She’s Still Searching For The Truth
“Everybody keeps telling me they know me,” Rey says with undeniable anger and annoyance during the third and final Rise of Skywalker trailer. It seems as if the former Jakku scavenger has grown frustrated at the lack of movement regarding the identity of her parents who, two chapters in, fans remain in the dark about.
Disney should really have solved this mystery by now, but they have instead allowed it to drag on. And it seems Rey won’t just accept Kylo Ren’s words that they’re drunkards who sold her when she was young. Instead, something far more interesting may lie ahead.
She Has A Dark Side
Speaking of the frustration within Rey, that sort of anger is exactly what would make her the perfect Dark Side user. It seems that the upcoming movie is set to explore that side of her, with the D23 footage appearing to show Daisy Ridley’s character standing with a dark hood, red lightsaber and villainous glint in her eye.
Both Anakin and Luke Skywalker had similar darkness within their soul. The former was unable to keep it at bay but, in Return of the Jedi, Luke stopped short of turning evil at the last minute. It remains to be seen which direction Rey chooses to follow.
She Will Fight To Kill
When Rey fought Kylo Ren in the woods of Starkiller Base during the events of The Force Awakens, she comes extremely close to killing him. She appears primed to raise her lightsaber and strike him down when he’s unarmed, but is unable to do it, due to the destruction of the planet, which moves Ben Solo away from his opponent.
Yet it looks as if Rey will fight to kill him this time around. Analyzing the trailers, it’s clear that she’s fighting more aggressively than her opponent, who has adopted a defensive stance for the confrontation. Only time will tell as to whether or not she’s successful at slaying the man who has caused her so much pain…
She Will Acquire A Dagger
It’s been rumored for some time now that The Rise of Skywalker will have a plot point regarding a Sith Dagger, which somehow holds the key to Rey discovering the truth about her parents. Initially we thought it was internet chatter — until the weapon popped up in the third and final trailer for the movie.
There’s a scene which shows Rey and Kylo Ren appearing to strike down Darth Vader’s old mask. During this sequence, Rey is holding the blade in one hand and her blue lightsaber in the other. What is its significance? We don’t know yet, but we’re truly excited to find out.
She Is Closer To Leia
Rey and Leia’s relationship got off to a good start in The Force Awakens, with the duo becoming close following the death of Han Solo at the hands of Kylo Ren. They were, however, kept apart for the majority of The Last Jedi, only reuniting on Crait after the remaining Resistance members had been able to escape the planet on the Millennium Falcon.
However, Rey appears even closer to Leia now. Trailer footage has shown the duo hugging, with a tear even rolling down Rey’s face. Leia also appears to hand the youngster a golden medallion which may or may not be Han’s from A New Hope. It’s also been claimed that with Luke no longer around, it will fall to the daughter of Anakin Skywalker to train Rey.
She’ll Be Mostly With The Gang
Another complaint aimed at The Last Jedi was director Rian Johnson’s decision to send the gang off on separate missions, rather than keep them all together. Rey spent most of the movie with Luke (with Chewbacca in the background), Rose and Finn went on a pointless mission to Canto Bight, while the likes of Poe Dameron, C3PO, and Leia were confined to a runaway ship.
But J.J. Abrams has vowed to rectify that mistake in The Rise of Skywalker and trailer footage backs him up. Rey is, for the most part, surrounded by her friends. That’s how it should be. It allows us as viewers to appreciate everybody more and understand their role in the story.
Rey Will Fear Palpatine
We know that Palpatine is back and who wouldn’t be scared of him, right? Not only is he rather terrifying to look at — or at least he was during the original and prequel trilogies — but he’s also extremely powerful, skilled with a lightsaber and devastating when he unleashes his iconic Sith Lightning.
The final trailer for the movie doesn’t show the villain’s face, but Rey is certainly scared. As he talks and appears to edge closer to her, she backs off, taking steps away from the Sith Lord as he cackles with menace. We can’t help but feel she may need some help when it comes to wiping out the big villain of the Skywalker saga once and for all.
