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Professor Dean

ENG 1101.2V5

4 October 21

The Rise of Skywalker: A Plot Hole in the Galaxy

Imagine: a witty main character getting tangled up in a rebellion fighting against a

tyrannical government… in space. The Star Wars cinematic universe is full of adventure; with

technologically advanced industrious ships, intense energy bolts flying out of guns, too many

political tensions to count, and a mystical power known as the “Force,” the Star Wars universe

truly manages to enthrall its audience. 

Over the past couple of years, the Star Wars franchise has both risen and fallen due to the

controversies of the recent films. The most recent film, The Rise of Skywalker, is a thrilling and

adventurous movie that follows the teenage protagonist, Rey, who gets involved with a rebellion

fighting against the dictatorship government system. Along the way, unexpected friendships are

formed, battles are fought, and many discoveries about Rey’s mysterious past are revealed. It

follows the classic hero’s journey perfectly and offers an entertaining story to most ages. There

are many elements in the movie that are able to attract a crowd. The magnificent world building,

the colorful characters, and the suspenseful plot twists that make the audience gasp in surprise.

In the Rise of Skywalker, there are many different life forms, cultures, and other qualities

about the Star Wars world that the audience can be absolutely enthralled by. Through the use of

advanced technology, the characters are able to travel far and wide across the galaxy and visit

different planets. In some ways, everyone in Star Wars could be considered an alien. There are

aliens who truly look alien, such as Chewbacca, a popular character in the Star Wars franchise.

He comes from a race known by the name of “Wookies” who have the fluffiest brown fur and
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speak in a native tongue that sounds something like a mix between a loud groan and a roar; there

are other aliens who look human…or human enough. Each creature has their own genetic

makeup and practices from religion, social structure, foods… the list goes on. Because of the

diversity and the cultures, there are endless kinds of aliens to explore. As the characters explore

the galaxy, it makes the audience feel as if they were exploring the world with the characters

rather than plainly sitting by and watching.

What makes the world of Star Wars stick out the most is the unique species of peoples

who have the ability to use a mystical power called the “Force”. The Force is used to bring up

themes of good and evil through beings who have the ability to use it, known as “Jedi”, who are

meant to represent good, and “Sith” who represent evil. These beings are able to make use of the

Force which grants them unbelievable powers such as making objects float, heightening senses,

and sometimes allowing someone to communicate over long distances. They are also granted a

pretty cool laser sword that has the ability to cut through almost any material.

         In the Rise of Skywalker, there are several interesting characters that manage to bring the

film to life. A military soldier turning against the government and joining the rebellion, an

arrogant pilot who has a slight hero complex, and the main character, Rey, who is training to

become a Jedi. The cast of characters have certain personality traits that make them stand out,

but also make them realistic. The military soldier is serious but has a lot of compassion and

sympathy for others. The pilot, as said earlier, has a bit of a hero complex, but he’s honest and

loyal to his friends and beliefs. While the main character is intelligent, and determined, she also

has many insecurities that prove to become challenges for her throughout the film.

 However, when all of them come together, their teamwork is impeccable. From moments when

they are being chased in space (which happens far more often than not), to rescuing a team
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member, to saving the galaxy from the government, the characters seem to balance each other

out. There is another character that could be considered the antagonist in the story; he plays a

significant role throughout the story as a Sith, but he is also given a redemption arc. Furthermore,

there are not only new characters, but also old ones who were in the original Star Wars movies

that appeared in the original 1977 film: A New Hope. Though the characters and actors are

obviously much older, their presence in the new films gave a flash of nostalgia to the older

audiences who were around when the first Star Wars films were released.

         As the final battle for freedom arises, the Rise of Skywalker concludes its three-part story

arch, and the plot is drastically thickened and offers the viewers with a shocking, unimaginable

plot twist. So far, the rebellion has found a planet to set up a base. But in a sudden turn of events,

the rebellion is forced to relocate because of a weapon of mass destruction. The weapon was

designed by the government and has the ability to incapacitate planets. The antagonist, Kylo Ren

(or Ben), is the figurehead of the government, but also a Sith who has been contacting Rey

through the Force in an attempt to turn her into a Sith.

         The movie focuses on Rey and her inner conflict. She struggles to decide who she is

because of the surprising reveal that she is the granddaughter of The Emperor, the man who

began the tyrannical government. The Emperor is also the most renowned and feared Sith that

the galaxy had ever seen, and a returning character from past Star Wars movies. It was certainly

a shock to the audience when they found out about Rey’s origins. However, no one in the

audience was prepared for what came next. In a drastic turn of events, the audience learns that

the Emperor is alive. But how? The crowd begin to whisper amongst each other, attempting to

make sense of the sudden turn of events. There are several plot twists through the movie that are
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key to keeping the audience engaged, and those who worked on creating The Rise of Skywalker

certainly managed to throw the audience the unexpected.

         However, though the plot twists were shocking and kept the audience on the edge of their

seats, the plot twists went a little too far. From the previous Star Wars, it was clear to the viewers

that the Emperor had passed away. So how did the Emperor suddenly make his return? In the

previous movies, there was hardly any foreshadowing to hint towards his return and made it

seem like it was something that the creators of the movie threw in the film just for the heck of it.

Unfortunately, The Rise of Skywalker fails to explain the reason why and leaves the viewers

with a major plot hole. There are several questions that the audience has yet to know the answer

to: when did the Emperor have children for Rey to be his grandchild? Did the Emperor revive

through the Force or was he never dead in the first place? The downfall of The Rise of Skywalker

was the plot twists, since despite their added excitement—it came with many unanswered and

complicated questions that have yet to be answered.

         Though the Rise of Skywalker was not well-received by everyone, the movie was

delightful to watch as it brought along the classic world of Star Wars with diverse life forms and

original world building, while also introducing new, loveable characters and bringing back

previous favorites. Though the plot twists were a bumpy ride, they definitely managed to catch

the audience's attention and keep them interested until the end.