19 reasons why Rey Skywalker is a terrible character
Almost seven years have passed since Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) … concluded the Star Wars (1977-2019) saga. Filled with plot contrivances, nonsensical characterization and corporate pushed decisions, the trilogy ultimately lived or died on its protagonist. While Anakin was the chosen one who betrayed the Jedi, and Luke Skywalker (his son) was the naive kid who found himself at the center of an inter-galactic space battle between good and evil, Rey (or Rey Skywalker later on), was a plank of wood lacking depth, motivations, and, most importantly, an arc. Luke grew over the span of three movies from a young boy to a stoic Jedi Knight. Anakin was born a slave and became the most powerful (and feared) Sith Lord, only to redeem himself by saving his son’s life. Rey had none of these traits, boasting 19 Mary Sue qualities that caused worldwide audiences to roll their eyes.
As an orphan scavenger on a desert planet with no experience in piloting spacecraft, Rey not only knows how to pilot the Millennium Falcon (a ship she has never seen before) but also how to fix it.
While captive, she uses the Force to order two Stormtroopers for her release with no training.
She uses the Force to get the lightsaber away from Kylo Ren with no training (again).
She masters lightsaber combat on the spot under extraordinary circumstances when confronting Kylo Ren.
Despite having zero experience in combat, she defeats a fully trained former Jedi-turned-Sith lord.
When news of Han Solo’s death reach Leia, she hugs Rey instead of Chewbacca, Han’s best friend for decades!
She effortlessly defeats Luke Skywalker, a fully trained Jedi knight who bested Darth Vader and resisted the mental manipulation of Emperor Palpatine in less than 20 seconds.
Her mysterious past set up in The Force Awakens (2015) was a gimmick.
In The Last Jedi (2017), she kills Elite Praetorian guards by swinging her sword left and right.
The choreography serves Rey and not the guards, who rely on disappearing weapons and unnecessary twirls.
She magically lifts a large stack of stones telekinetically .
She suddenly projects Force lightning just because.
She conjures a new Force ability out of thin air: Force healing.
Which is quite handy when she stabs and then proceeds to heal Kylo Ren.
From a mysterious past to a nobody, she is suddenly the Emperor Palpatine’s granddaughter.
She knew where to put the Ochi’s dagger to locate the planet Exegol.
Defeated Palpatine by using two swords against him to block his lightning.
She kissed Kylo Ren for no reason before he succumbed to his wounds.
And then he adopted his name to become a Skywalker, a trans-Skywalker if you will.
Deprived of a clear arc, emotional connection to the material, or actual dramatic stakes, Rey is shown to master telekinesis, mind control, lightsaber combat, Force lightning, and wound healing. She defeats elite guards and three exceptionally powerful individuals (Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine) with the slightest effort while attracting the attention of people (Palpatine, Kylo Ren, Finn, Maz Kanata, Leia) who do not even know her story-wise. She finally cements her own legacy by stealing somebody else’s. Now this is what you call a masterpiece of storytelling and a truly compelling hero in the Star Wars mythos.