**************************** (**********************************
Rey, meet your grandpa.**************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ******************************Exactly how did the Emperor come back? [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ************ The Rise of Skywalker
starts with the revelation that Emperor Palpatine is back and has sent a galaxy-wide transmission announcing as much. OK. But didn’t he get thrown down a huge shaft on a Death Star that was subsequently blown up? Where’s the connective tissue? [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] The movie covers its tracks by quoting a line from the prequels: “The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.” Palpatine tells Anakin this when he tantalizes the young Jedi about a Sith named Darth Plagueis who, apparently, was able to conquer death. That was the primary reason Anakin went the Dark Side — and yet, Darth Vader was never successful in achieving that particular power, so we’ve never been exactly sure if Palpatine was being honest or not (though ifThe Rise of Skywalkeris any indication, it seems he was). The general idea here, we think, is that Palpatine did whatever Plagueis did;there have been many hints of thisin canon up to this point, and the word “cloning” is thrown around briefly, but the specifics of this resurrection remain mostly a mystery.**************************** (What has the Final Order been doing all this time?Palpatine explains to Kylo Ren that he’s built a new fleet, called the Final Order, that’s almost ready to take over the galaxy. And, if Ren kills Rey, he can have it. That’s all well and good but there are
a lot
of ships, followers, and troopers that are part of this Final Order. Where did they all come from? Where did the supplies come from? Have they just been sitting around for 30 years? How does Palpatine know that
now
is the time for this ? The whole plan doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Rey is a homeschooled Jedi. [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/so-what-can-a-force-ghost-do-1838080624″,{“metric25”:1}] **************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ******************************** How much did Rey learn from the Jedi texts vs. Master Leia? Master Leia At the start of the film, Rey calls Leia “Master,” showing that she’s been training as a Jedi with the General. There’s also a brief scene where she uses the ancient Jedi texts from Ahch-To to pick up the film’s narrative. But we’re left wondering: How much of Rey’s abilities came from her time working with Leia and how much did she glean from the books? Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter. By facing her biggest fears, herself and the Emperor, Rey triumphs and becomes a Jedi.(Who and when did Palpatine fuck?) ****************************************** One ************** of the biggest answers we get in
The Force Awakens, which is years after the events of Return of the Jedi
. Assuming her parents are, rough estimate, 25 or years old when the leave her on Jakku at, another rough estimate, age eight, that would have Palpy doing the nasty a few years before the battle of Yavin inA New Hope
Early Emperor days. Almost Supreme Chancellor even.
(What happened between Palpatine and his son?
************** [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] If your father was the most powerful, most evil man in the galaxy, it makes sense that you’d reject him. But it could make equal sense if you adored and worshiped him. We assume the former has happened between Palpatine and Rey’s dad (which is how the role is credited in the credits) because he took his wife and daughter away. However, the story of this Emperor and his son is mysterious and tantalizing. Why wasn’t the son chosen as the heir apparent? What happened to his mother? Was he not Force-sensitive? It all seems like a story very worth telling at some point.(********************************
*****************************Leia is very important in the film.************************************************
How did Luke and Leia know Rey was a Palpatine? a When Rey visits Ahch-To with the thought of going into exile, she encounters the Force Ghost of Luke Skywalker. During their conversation, Luke reveals that both he and Leia knew she was related to the Emperor. Um. How? When? The Force … we guess? The only hint we have before this moment is that Luke a) very clearly does not know who she is when they meet in
the last jedi but b) certainly begins to suspect something during their training. So maybe that’s how Luke found out, but how did he know Leia knew? Had they been communicating through the Force since Luke’s death? Is that possible? Lots of questions here. Thought not sharing that info with Rey does make sense. [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ********************** Why was Luke looking for Exegol? [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] Exegol is the ancient Sith planet at the heart of
The Rise of Skywalker
. As Rey and the crew are searching for a Sith Wayfinder that will help them find the way, they run into an old friend — Lando Calrissian — who tells them he and Luke were also looking for Exegol together and it led them to Pasaana, though that’s where the trail ran cold. But … why was he looking for it in the first place? Were Luke and Lando on the hunt for Exegol because Luke sensed that Palpatine was coming back? And if he did, doesn’t that make his decision to go into exile even worse? Granted, in this movie he admits he was wrong to do so, but if he
didknow Palpatine was back, you have to wonder what he expected to find on Exegol.() **********************************
[[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] (****************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ****************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ************************************** Did Luke actually inspire the galaxy? We guess not.****************************************************************** How did Luke’s death impact the universe? (At end of
The Last Jedi,
Luke Skywalker gave his life to both save the Resistance and also inspire the galaxy to rise up and join them. When
The Rise of Skywalker
begins, though, the Resistance Doesn’t seem to be that much bigger and Luke’s sacrifice is never mentioned. It certainly meant something to the people on Crait whose lives it saved, but the idea of young kids passing along this legendary story, like we saw with Broom Boy, seems to not have worked. Or, if it did, maybe fear of the First Order overshadowed it? Many things inThe Rise of Skywalker
are seemingly at odds with
The Last Jedi
and this is arguably the biggest one . A great moment is all but forgotten.What’s Broom Boy up to these days?
Speaking of Broom Boy, what happened to him? And if not him specifically, the idea of him? The idea that Force sensitivity can be anywhere and even a no one can be a hero? We may never know what happened to that character, but the crumbs of that idea are seen in another character: Finn.[[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/so-what-can-a-force-ghost-do-1838080624″,{“metric25”:1}] **************************************** What was Finn going to say to Rey on Pasaana? AKA
Is Finn going to become a Jedi?
Moments from certain death in some Star Wars
quicksand, Finn tells Rey he has something to tell her. He never does, though, and it’s teased throughout the rest of the movie. We can only guess what he was going to say but we think it’s that Finn is Force-sensitive. Throughout the film, Finn continues to explain that he has these instinctual feelings or knowledge that where he is is where he’s supposed to be. Then, in the final battle, when Rey “dies,” Finn feels her death. These are all clues that Finn could be on his way to becoming a Jedi, which is certainly a secret he would want to share with Rey.[[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] Oh, and this:
[[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ************************************************** (Spice-runner Poe Dameron.) ************************************* (********************************************************************** (When was Poe actually a smuggler?
********************** [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] Another character who gets some curious additions tohis backstory is Poe Dameron. Though he was a New Republic pilot before going to the Resistance, here we learn that he also was a spice runner on Kijimi with Zorii Bliss and the rest of her crew. When did he have time to do that exactly? Zorii says he left to go to the Resistance, not the New Republic. So maybe it was during his time as a New Republic pilot, but just on the side because he didn’t believe in it anymore? We don’t know but, considering how popular Poe and his ancillary stories are, I’m guessing we’ll find out.Why Did Resistance allies come after (The Last Jedi
?
While talking to Zorii, Poe explains he’s still upset that the Resistance allies did not come to help them during the battle of Crait. It’s set up for arguably the biggest moment in
********************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren went off to find Ezra Bridger. Ahsoka, apparently, did not survive.(**********************************************************Is Ahsoka Tano dead?
Before Rey triumphantly defeats Palpatine, she hears the ghosts of Jedi past, something she’s been trying to do the whole movie. Among the voices she hears are those of Anakin Skywalker, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Adi Gallia, Kanun Jarrus, and Qui-Gon Jinn. What do all those people have in common? They are dead, which is why Rey hears them. That’s worrisome for the other voice she hears:Star Wars Rebels
won’t turn out so well .************************** (What exactly is a Dyad in the force?
Kylo Ren reveals, and Palpatine later confirms, that he and Rey are a Dyad in the Force. It’s a rare, generational occurrence where two people are bound together in the Force. What it exactly means beyond that, we aren’t sure. Nor do we know when or if it has happened before in
**************************** Finnpoe did not happen. [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ******************************************************************************** (************************************** What are the Pits of Griq? [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] Like mostStar Wars
movies, (Rise of Skywalker) has a ton of random, throwaway lines to new, mysterious battles or species to give the world some realism. But, for us, one stood out, and it’s when Poe and Finn talk to C-3PO about the Pits of Griq. It happens for an instant, then never comes back, but it sounds like some kind of Sarlacc pit type of place for torture and pain. Very interesting to say the least. [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] How the heck did Maz Kanata end up with Luke’s lightsaber? [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] **********************A mystery that’s been floating
SinceThe Force Awakensis how Maz Kanata ended up with the Skywalker lightsaber that fell into oblivion on Bespin. She even says in that film that’s a story for another time. Well, time is pretty much up now, unless we read it in a comic or book down the road.What’s up with Lando and Jannah?
After the Resistance’s victory, Jannah and Lando talk about where they’re from. Jannah says she doesn’t know where she’s from, Lando turns around and says “Let’s find out.” The whole thing is a little awkward, to say the least. Is he hitting on her? Are they related? Early rumors were that they were related, and some new books suggest that’s the case, but the film leaves it up in the air.(********************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ************************************************************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] ************************ [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ****************** We love that this early press image is actually of her seeing Ben Solo. Huge spoiler.**********************
What is Rey’s plan now and what’s next for the galaxy?
The Rise of Skywalker (ends much as
Return of the Jedi
did. The small team of good guys has saved the universe from the big group of bad guys and one Jedi remains who knows the ways of the Force. That person is also, once again, a Skywalker. Will Rey train more Jedi as Luke couldn’t? Her taking on her own saber may suggest that. And with the defeat of the Final Order, did the First Order also fall? Are there still First Order pockets in the galaxy? Will the Resistance try to make a New New Republic? With Palpatine and Kylo gone, shouldn’t a dark power rise up to bring balance to the Force? Will we see any of this story and, if so, how would it be different this time around? Our best, completely unresearched guess, is yes. Maybe after another decade of unrelated
Star Wars
films, an
Episode X
can pick up with the remnants of what an old Jedi woman named Rey Skywalker left behind. (****************************************************************************Answered
[[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] What
The Rise of Skywalker [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/resistance-reborn-is-an-exquisite-payoff-to-4-years-of-1839618813″,{“metric25”:1}] did do more than the previous two films is answer some of the biggest questions. Such as … (**************************************************************************** [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] ********************************************************************************
******************************** (Triple Snokes!) ************************************* (Who is Snoke?) Snoke was merely a clone created by Emperor Palpatine to take control of the First Order. To what degree Palpatine controlled Snoke, or if he was an independent thinking being, is unknown, but it was Palpatine all along.(Who are Rey’s parents? [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/so-what-can-a-force-ghost-do-1838080624″,{“metric25”:1}] As mentioned above, Rey’s father was the son of Emperor Palpatine. A son who chose, along with Rey’s mother, to hide their daughter from her grandfather for fear of retribution, and were then murdered because of it. Kylo saying they were no one in
The Last Jedi
was because they thought of themselves as being no one, even though they really were someone.**************************** Did Leia train as a Jedi? [[“Embedded Url”,”External link”,”https://www.instagram.com/io9dotcom/”,{“metric25”:1}] “There is another ”was always a rallying cry at the end of
Return of the Jediand, so far, the sequels haven’t shown that other, Leia, diving too deep into the Force. In
The Rise of Skywalker
though, we learn that Leia did train with Luke, and actually got quite good, even constructing her own lightsaber. But she had a vision that she was meant to train someone else down the road and the death of her son was part of her path. As a result, she gave up on being a full-fledged Jedi.[[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}]
******************** [[“Embedded Url”,”Internal link”,”https://io9.gizmodo.com/33-questions-we-desperately-want-answered-after-star-wa-1748953034″,{“metric25”:1}] Lando piloting the Falcon. It really is
The question of Kylo’s redemption has long been debated. Here, we finally found out that, yes, Kylo would be redeemed. It only took the dying breath of his mother, reaching out across the galaxy, tobeginthe process — followed by the sacrifice of Rey to heal his potentially fatal wound, and finally his subconscious personifying his father, Han Solo, to prove to himself he was ready. These all came together to make Kylo Ren throw away his red lightsaber and once again become plain old Ben Solo.(Who are the Knights of Ren?) *****************************************
We finally saw this group in action but there’s not really much to know. They’re just … acolytes. They come back, sort of help Kylo, and then all die very easily at his hands. RIP KOR, we hardly knew ye.
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