Star Wars: The Force Awakens Ushered in a new era of the Skywalker saga, so why is its title so important? Although Star Wars: The Force Awakens was officially the next chapter of the legacy of the Skywalker family, its original characters – Rey, Kylo Ren, Finn and Poe Dameron – became the franchise’s new mascots, so to speak. They drove the story; Although Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Leia Organa each have a role to play, they are mainly there to help the new heroes rather than drive the story themselves.
This is reflected in the US Star Wars Sequel trilogy’s individual titles. Each one refers to a specific character (or characters, in The Force Awakens‘ case) role in the story and the larger galaxy. Although this was clear, to a certain extent, when The Force Awakens was first released in 2015, We know more about what preceded the events of the film than ever before, which makes its title all the more poignant and relevant.
The light side of the force fell into darkness
After the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi And Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren By Charles Soule and Will Sliney, as well as other supplementary titles, we now know exactly what happened to make Luke Skywalker disappear, throwing the galaxy into turmoil. After an often-misinterpreted confrontation between Luke and his nephew, Ben Solo – who would later become Kylo Ren – the light side of the Force fell into darkness. Luke’s Jedi Academy was destroyed, few (if any) Jedi remained, and Luke withdrew from the Force, convinced that the galaxy would be better off without him.
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Of course, this was not the case. Luke’s disappearance gave Kylo Ren, and by extension, Snoke and Palpatine, free rein to enact vengeance as the First Order rose to power from the ashes of the Empire. The galaxy needs a new hero – it needs someone to balance the darkness of Kylo Ren and give those terrorized by the First Order hope again. Enter queue.
Rey and Finn both reawakened the light side of the Force
While Rey was hidden away on a desert planet, hoping her family would one day come to rescue her, The Force created a deep connection between Rey and Kylo Ren – the Force Dyad. It wasn’t until years later, when Rey became involved in Finn’s violent escape from the First Order, that she really connected with the power of the Force for the first time. The force “reawakened” in her, her light balancing the darkness of Kylo Ren, and the two were drawn to each other until, at the end of the trilogy, Ben Solo, newly redeemed, met his inevitable death.
Rey wasn’t the only one to “awaken” the light side of the Force, however. The Force Awakens strongly revealed that Finn is also force-sensitive.
Rey wasn’t the only one to “awaken” the light side of the Force, however. The Force Awakens Strongly implied that Finn, too, is Force-sensitive, his attachment to the light winning out when he is first ordered to shoot unarmed villagers in the opening scenes of the film. He also had a connection with Rey, a connection that was much deeper than a superficial, necessary friendship, and he later proved his loyalty to her by picking up Anakin Skywalker’s old lightsaber and defending her against Kyla Ren with it.
Although The Last Jedi And Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Never gave Finn a chance to realize his true potential – Although Rise of Skywalker Hinted that “something” told Finn to leave the First Order that fateful day – Rey and Finn are both instrumental in turning the tide against the forces of darkness on Starkiller base. They reignited the light side of the Force together. Star Wars: The Force Awakens It truly was the beginning of a new era, both for the franchise and for the galaxy.