Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation #4In the six years sinceStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerpremiered, its title has remained a point of contention and discussion among fans. Many have questioned the true meaning behind “The Rise of Skywalker” title, especially given the film’s ending. However, the latest comic adaptation offers a compelling new perspective that recontextualizes the title’s significance.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation#4, written by Jody Houser with art by Will Sliney, provides crucial new dialogue that reveals the true meaning of the name of the film.
This issue deepens the connection betweenRey, Leia, and the Skywalker legacy, suggesting that Rey’s adoption of the name is less about direct lineage and more about embodying the spirit of the Skywalker familythrough Leia’s influence.The comic expands upon pivotal scenes, adding emotional weight and clarity that retroactively enriches the film’s conclusion and justifies its title.
Leia’s Enduring Legacy Forms The Heart Of The Resistance In More Ways Than One
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker#4, Written By Jody Houser With Art By Will Sliney
The Rise of Skywalker#4 powerfully reinforces the pivotal Leia Organa, especially through her interactions with Maz Kanata. New dialogue reveals Maz telling Leia:“You are the heart of the Resistance. You are the one who was strong enough to stay.”This line, not present in the original film, significantly emphasizes Leia’s unwavering commitment and strength. It positions her not just as a military leader but as the emotional and moral anchor for the entire movement. This unwavering spirit is what truly defines the Skywalker legacy,and it’s a legacy Leia passes on, not just through blood, but through her indomitable will and compassion.
The added dialogue between Maz and Leia underscores the idea that Leia’s influence transcends even Luke’s ability to redeem Ben Solo. Leia explicitly states, “Even Luke couldn’t bring Ben back,” acknowledging the difficult task of saving Ben from the dark side.Yet, Maz reassures Leia,“But you are so much stronger than you know, Leia. All of these people are here because of you”.This highlights Leia’s unique power of persistence and love, which ultimately proves instrumental in Ben’s redemption. It is Leia’s unwavering hope and belief in her son that provides the foundation for Rey’s later success in reaching him.
Leia’s Unwavering Commitment To Her Son Echoes Through Rey’s Actions
Rey Walks In The Long Shadow Cast By Leia
A particularly poignant addition to the comic is Leia’s words to Kylo Ren through the Force:“I won’t give up on you. I’ll be with you until the end.“This newly inserted dialogue creates a direct and powerful connection between Leia’s persistent love for her son and Rey’s commitment to bringing Ben back as well.It shows Leia’s deep impact on Rey’s approach to Ben,suggesting that Rey’s efforts to bring him back to the light are a direct continuation of Leia’s own struggle and hope. This connection significantly strengthens the bridge between Leia’s life and Rey’s destiny.
Leia’s mother’s promise of never giving up on her son establishes a precedent for Rey’s unwavering faith in Ben’s ability for redemption.
This new exchange fundamentally reshapes the understanding of Ben’s redemption.It’s not just a standalone act by Rey, but an echo of Leia’s own relentless compassion.Leia’s mother’s promise of never giving up on her son establishes a precedent for Rey’s unwavering faith in Ben’s ability for redemption. By explicitly showing Leia’s final words to Kylo as a promise of enduring presence, the comic emphasizes that Rey’s ultimate connection with Ben is deeply rooted inLeia’s love and sacrifice.This makes Rey’s subsequent actions feel less like a new initiative and more like a continuation of Leia’s ongoing fight for her son’s soul.
Leia’s Choice to Forego Jedi Training Illuminates Rey’s Path
Leia’s Lightsaber Represents More Than The Film Let On
The comic adaptation also offers a glimpse into Leia Organa’s own journey with the Force, as recounted by Luke’s Force ghost to Rey. On Ahch-To, Luke appears to Rey and recountsa detail about Leia that no one knew prior. The panels follow his story by flashing back to the postReturn of the Jediera, showing that while Leia was training with her brother, she had a vision that her son would die at the end of her Jedi path. Refusing to let that future pass, Leia handed over her lightsaber to Luke and informed him that one day,her saber would be picked up again “by someone who would finish her journey.”
This newly added thread deepens the significance of Rey’s role in the Skywalker saga.Leia’s decision to step away from formal Jedi training wasn’t due to her potential or lack thereof, but rather a strategic choice, a deferral to a future champion to prioritize her son’s life.By showing Leia’s prescient understanding that another would complete what she began, the comic firmly establishes Rey not just as a random participant in the Force,but as the fulfillment of Leia’s own powerful, yet divergent, destiny within the Force.
This makes Rey’s ultimate embrace of the Skywalker name and Leia’s lightsaber an even more significant act, asit signifies the completion of a legacy that began with Leia’s unique connection to the Force,now fully realized through Rey’s journey and her connection to both Luke as a Master andLeia’s as her guide and predecessor, both spiritually and in the Resistance.
Rey’s Adoption of the Skywalker Name is a Testament to Leia’s Influence
“Skywalker” Is More Than Just A Name; It’s A Legacy
The most significant implication of these new lines is the reinterpretation of Rey taking the Skywalker name. With Leia’s connection to Ben and her unwavering belief in his redemption, Rey’s adoption of the Skywalker name takes on a far deeper meaning. It’s no longer solely about her inheriting Luke’s legacy or a chosen family in a general sense.
Rey embracing the Skywalker name isn’t just about a symbolic continuation of a heroic lineage; it’s about acknowledging Leia’s influence in shaping her path.
Instead, it becomes a direct inheritance of Leia’s enduring spirit, her strength, and her boundless capacity for love and hope,all qualities that define the true essence of the Skywalker lineage.This perspective reframes the entire climax of the film. Rey embracing the Skywalker name isn’t just about a symbolic continuation of a heroic lineage; it’s about acknowledging Leia’s influence in shaping her path.
Leia’s unwavering commitment to Ben, despite his descent into darkness, ultimately leads to his redemption andRey’s own connection to the Skywalker name.TheStar Warscomic adaptation solidifies the idea that the “Rise of Skywalker” isn’t just about one individual, but about the enduring power of compassion and hope embodied by Leia, which Rey ultimately carries forward as her true inheritance.
