Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Plot
While the First Order continues to ravage the galaxy, Rey finalizes her training as a Jedi. But danger suddenly rises from the ashes as the evil Emperor Palpatine mysteriously returns from the dead. While working with Finn and Poe Dameron to fulfill a new mission, Rey will not only face Kylo Ren once more, but she will also finally discover the truth about her parents as well as a deadly secret that could determine her future and the fate of the ultimate final showdown that is to come.
Overall Series Review
Categorical Breakdown
The main trio is racially and ethnically diverse. The narrative attempts to be representative, which was openly stated by the filmmakers as a goal. However, the story does not center on lecturing about systemic oppression or privilege. A key diverse character, Rose Tico, is significantly sidelined, a move critics noted as minimizing representation. The plot focuses on the individual merit of the heroes regardless of their background, rather than a hierarchy of immutable characteristics.
The central conflict pits the heroes against the First Order, an explicitly totalitarian regime, which upholds the value of the democratic Resistance's institutions. The protagonist, Rey, is revealed to be the granddaughter of the villain Emperor Palpatine, a dark ancestor she must actively reject. Her final act is not a self-hating deconstruction of her home, but an embrace of a chosen, heroic family/legacy (Skywalker). The narrative encourages honoring a spiritual past while fighting a clearly defined evil.
Rey is established as the hyper-competent hero of the galaxy, effortlessly mastering advanced Force powers, combat skills, and piloting with minimal training, leading to strong 'Mary Sue' critiques. She is the one who ultimately defeats the overarching evil, Palpatine. Screen time is heavily female-centric, achieving statistical gender parity. The male characters are largely supporting figures to the female hero, fitting the 'Girl Boss' trope where the female lead is instantly perfect.
The film includes a single, brief same-sex kiss between two minor female Resistance fighters during the final celebration scene. The moment is minimal and easily missed, not affecting any main character's arc, but the director drew attention to its inclusion beforehand, framing it as a specific effort toward representation. This inclusion is a clear, politically motivated nod toward alternative sexuality.
The conflict is based entirely on the metaphysical struggle between the Light Side of the Force (transcendent good) and the Dark Side (evil). The hero’s strength comes from embracing the faith, guidance, and collective power of the past Jedi, who are treated as a source of objective truth and moral strength. The villain's ideology is explicitly shown to be flawed and evil, contradicting the idea that morality is subjective or a 'point of view'.