Rey Nobody is Rey Anybody: The Force Awakens has one thing wonderfully right about Rey

Although his name is now canonically Rey Skywalkerthe original idea for Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was fundamental both for the character and for the future of Star Wars. I admit I don't like the idea of Rey Skywalker. I think Rey's name is a perfect revenge for Anakin Skywalker, as Rey rejected Palpatine's name and lineage and instead continued Anakin's legacy - effectively giving the Skywalkers the final say. Even so, the idea of Rey being a nobody was much more appealingboth in The Force Awakens and in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

This began with Rey being little more than an orphaned (presumably, at the time) scavenger from Jakku, which Kylo Ren directly referred to when he interrogated her in The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi maintained this idea, with Kylo telling Rey that she was nothing and had no place in this story. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker turned this completely upside down, revealing that Rey was a descendant of one of the Star Wars most powerful Sith, Emperor Palpatine himself. Despite this big change, Rey being a nobody was brilliant and continues to be important to the franchise.

Rey was designed as the ultimate auto insert for a new generation of fans

It was easy for many viewers to see themselves in Rey's 'Nobody'

Rey (Daisy Ridley) in her junker outfit and glasses looking tired in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In A New HopeLuke Skywalker was effectively a 'nobody'. Back then, the name Skywalker didn't have the meaning it does now. Star Wars movies and TV shows, and he looked like a wide-eyed farm boy who was given the incredible opportunity to become a hero. Of course, since then, Star Wars revealed that he was destined to become the future of the Jedi and was the son of a former queen and senator and one of the most powerful Jedi in history.

In A New HopeLuke Skywalker was effectively a 'nobody'.

In the beginning, Rey played practically the same role that Luke already had, perhaps even more. No last name, parents or any history, Rey 'Nobody' became Rey Anybody, allowing viewers to truly see themselves in her. Just like the viewers themselves, Rey saw the Jedi as legendary figures, so much so that she had to ask Han Solo if they were real. In this sense, she became the gaze of the viewer, experiencing the galaxy as an outsider to this story.

That's what made Rey so refreshing The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Yes, many argued that Rey was a 'Mary Sue' (a heavily gendered term, despite some talk to the contrary) because she was naturally gifted with the Force, but she was still a new Force user who seemingly had no connection to the Skywalker family tree or with other important actors in the galaxy. When she was just a 'nobody', Rey was actually the best self-insertallowing real-life viewers to identify with her because she didn't bring any immense legacy or history.

In this sense, Rey also reinforced the original message of Star Wars—that anyone can be a hero and, coinciding with this, the Force can emerge in anyone. In fact, the very notion that the Force “woke up” in Rey made this point clear. In The Force Awakens and The Last Jediwhen Rey seemed like a true nobody, she served as a reminder that powerful Force users can come from anywhere, as the Force doesn't belong to the Skywalkers, the Jedi, or the Sith.

Rey follows Luke Skywalker's pattern as an everyman hero

Even now, Rey's character still offers viewers that reliability

Like Luke, Rey's arc in the sequel trilogy meant she went from an obscure "nobody" to someone tied to the galaxy's history and essential to its future - to the Jedi in particular. For the most part, these changes happened because of plot twists The Rise of Skywalker. In both The Force Awakens and The Last JediRey proved to be incredibly powerful and became the hope for the future, but this still happened in the context of her being "nobody" in this larger story before starting her Jedi path.

When The Rise of Skywalker disconcertingly revealed that, completely contrary to this idea, Rey was a Palpatine by blood (and Palpatine himself was still alive), it was clear that she was a nobody. Instead, like Luke and even Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One, Rey was, in some ways, destined to become this powerful Jedi. I readily admit that I found this curve disappointing because I was so invested in the idea that Rey really was a brand new, exceptional character without having an exceptional lineage.

Even with this change, however, the idea that Rey was an insert character did not completely change.

Even with this change, however, the idea that Rey was an insert character did not completely change. Once viewers saw themselves in Rey, that connection wasn't so easily broken, even if it was at least partially undermined by the changes made to her story in The Rise of Skywalker. Similar to Luke's continued status as an everyman hero in Star Wars Despite everything that has been revealed about the Skywalker legacy, Rey is still 'Rey Anybody' because despite her connection to Palpatine, her story remains relatable.

No matter who her parents ended up being, Rey still grew up alone, feeling lonely and ordinary, if not completely insignificant.. She was not raised with an understanding of the Jedi or the Force and, like Luke, was not trained until adulthood. Until The Rise of Skywalker The plot twists and her relationship with Palpatine failed to reverse everything that had been established about her character as a heroine who started out as nothing more than an abandoned child who had to survive alone.

Rey's True Nature Explains Why She's Proven So Controversial

Not everyone could see themselves in Rey, and that caused problems

Unfortunately, it's impossible to separate Rey from all the controversy and backlash that followed her and Daisy Ridley throughout the sequel trilogy, and while this response is multi-layered, it partially connects to this notion of "Rey Anybody." Although Rey was intended to be a self-insert character, Not everyone could see themselves as Rey. Unfortunately, this included a large portion of the fan base who always managed to see themselves in Star Warswhich led to harsh criticism and even criticism of the sequels, Rey in particular.

There are many valid criticisms to be made about the sequel trilogy. There were undeniably problems with the Star Wars sequels, many of which I disagree with myself. However, when complaints about Rey boil down to accusations that Star Wars is pushing an 'agenda', they no longer care about the quality of films. This line of thinking is a dead giveaway that the problem we really have with the sequels - specifically, Rey - is that the main character was a woman.

Many will argue that other characters, such as Ahsoka Tano and Jyn Erso, were received positively despite being girls/women. Although Ahsoka is now firmly considered one of the Star Wars best characters, however, this was far from the truth initially. There is also no getting around the fact that arguments about Star Wars forcing an 'agenda' with Rey refers to the sequences with a female protagonist rather than another Anakin or Luke Skywalker.

While Luke was widely celebrated as an everyman hero, some viewers bristled at the idea that Rey was the new face of Star Wars and it was made to be relatable. This resistance is really a shame because it misunderstands Rey's goal, especially in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. For decades, audiences have embraced and seen themselves in Lucas, and they haven't needed to share every aspect of Lucas's identity to do so.. Rey should provide the same for a new generation.

The Future of Rey's New Jedi Order Will Appeal to the Next Generation of Star Wars Fans

Rey's Star Wars story isn't over yet

One way or another, The story of Rey Skywalker continues in Star Warsalthough the exact form it will take remains to be seen. There are several nearby Star Wars films currently in the works, and these films have raised a number of questions about Rey's future in the franchise. There have been discussions about Rey for a long time Star Wars film, supposedly titled Star Wars: New Jedi Orderwhich would presumably see her running her own Jedi Order.

However, with the news of Simon Kinberg's death Star Wars trilogy, which will evidently see Rey in the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, it's unclear where Rey's story will go next. No matter the film or arc, Rey will continue to play a role in the future of the franchise. Hopefully, even in light of everything that has happened in The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars will continue the story Star Wars: The Force Awakens began with Rey Skywalker still representing a hero the audience can identify with.