DISCUSSION: The Rise of Skywalker teaser
Ok, as soon as I saw this shot in the teaser, I knew this would be the title card for this article, no discussion. It's too emotional and bittersweet to not be placed front and center.
Anyway...after months of little to no information, we finally got our first teaser and title for Episode Nine: The Rise of Skywalker. I'll go over what I think of the name later, but for now, let me go over some of my favorite elements from the teaser and see what this could lead to for the film.
The first minute or so of the trailer deals with Rey in a desert and flipping over a special tie fighter, (which was a great shot by the way). Over the sequence we hear a voice over from Luke, stating that thousands of generations of Jedi now live in her, and that even though this is her fight, they will always be with her in spirt.
It's already been confirmed that Mark Hamill will reprise his role as Luke in the film, so I imagine that he will serve in a role similar to how Obi-Wan was in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as a force spirit guide.
I hope for Rey, she not only reflects on herself and the Jedi in the film, but also reflects on the force itself in the film, as there are rumors she could start a new force order in the film separate from the Jedi.
As far as the planet, my guess it's either Jakku from the Force Awakens, Tatoonie, or Jedha from Rogue One, as all three have ties to either the force, the former Empire, or the larger story of the saga in general.
Kylo also has his moments to shine in the teaser, as he not only has a badass moment where he body slams someone, but also is repairing his helmet. This is symbolic because to me, not matter how far he tries to distant himself and become his own person, he is always drawn to his past and family lineage, as he truly wants to be like his grandfather...Darth Vader.
Still, as much as I've loved the dynamic and characterization of Kylo in the previous two films, I want moments in the Rise of Skywalker where Kylo is unleashed and fully displays his terror and power, like Vader in Rogue One.
If this doesn't spark joy in you, I don't know what will. We see Lando Calrissian piloting the Millennium Falcon again with Chewie. It's great to see Billy Dee Williams portraying the character in live-action again after 36 years. My hope for Lando is that he is given the same amount of screentime and character interactions as Han from the Force Awakens.
Throughout the trailer, we see shots and action sequences with the characters which looks fun, even though I think it's too early for me to speculate what each of the shots mean. Still, it's been confirmed by Director J.J. Abrams that the main cast, including some of the new characters, will spend most, if not all of the movie together in an adventure, which I love. I love Rey, Finn, and Poe, and I want them to interact and fight the First Order together, as I think that's been an element that has been lacking from the sequel trilogy so far.
Also, we are getting another new droid companion for the Resistance, a small little droid named D-O, pronounced Dio. Yes...if you watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure like me, you know that name is hilarious. My thing, where is R2? I want R2 to have his moments to shine in this film, as he has been sidelined greatly in this trilogy. I love BB-8, don't get me wrong, but we need some love for one of the OG droids.
We see the group travel to a planet where they see what appears to be some of the wreckage from either one of the two Death Stars. Are they on Yavin, are they on Endor, or are they on a separate planet and that isn't the Death Star?
Of course, everyone lost their minds when Luke ends the trailer by stating "no one is ever really gone," (which I admit is a stark contrast to the Last Jedi's 'Let the past die') when we hear the laugh of Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. Yes, Ian McDiarmid is reprising his role in the film.
On the one hand, I'm thrilled that Ian is reprising his role and that Sidious would have a role in some way in the saga's final film. However, my hope is that Sidious is either used as a spirit, a haunting figure for either Rey or Kylo Ren, or even in flashbacks, as I think not only would his revival ruin Anakin's sacrifice, but also invalidate the stakes of his death. One of my least favorite aspects of the old legends continuity was Palpatine's revival, so I hope that is something that is not repeated in canon.
Overall, I'm really impressed with the teaser, as it teases enough for now and leaves us questioning what is going to happen.
Now, for the name...I've warmed up to it. I originally thought the title was going to be something like Balance of the Force, but the name fits the idea that this is the final film in the main saga of films, the Skywalker Saga. Of course, what the title refers to can be anybody's guess.
