An Enthusiast

Amidst all the chaos, I’ve found a way to link the themes shown in both movies. I will admit that there probably could’ve been clearer ways to do this in the movies than how it was done in TROS, but I preffer trying to piece together what we got instead of what we didn’t. It may be me just coping but eh. Whatever. Spilled milk ya know?

Anyway, in my interpretation, I think that TROS asked the question of what happens when all your life you’ve been desperate to find your purpose and you come to find out that the main reason for you existing is so you could do fucked up shit in the future?

We’ve gotta remember that Rey had no vision for her future in any capacity until the force came knocking in TFA. She counted the days until her parents returned because if she didn’t, she probably would have to give up any hope of living a life beyond that of a scavenger on a desolate planet. When she saw the old woman cleaning parts at the shop, she saw that version of her future, and that probably shook her to her core.

Fast forward to TLJ and surprise! She finds out that she may actually be meant for something much more. She doesn’t know what yet, but the fact that she can use the force and wield a lightsaber gives her the strength to keep looking for that elusive purpose. I like to think that her determination to become a Jedi mainly comes from her not wanting to live an aimless existence like she could’ve been had she stayed on Jakku. However, she’s told that despite everything, she is a nobody. And that she was merely an inconvenience to her parents and has no real reason for existing.

This is where she realizes that her destiny has been placed in her hands. When Kylo extends his hand to her, she can choose to join Kylo and the dark side, or she can choose to save her friends on Crait.

She sees how Kylo freely chooses to be a dick despite his destiny as a Solo/Skywalker being that of a hero and finds out that maybe it doesn’t matter where you come from. That your destiny is whatever you choose. She has a family that she loves and she chooses to save them just because it’s the right thing to do.

However, this doesn’t really satisfy her longing for purpose. Yes, she learns an important lesson about choices in TLJ, but this doesn’t give her the security she’s longed for her entire life. All of those feelings of uncertainty she was desperately trying to put away from her mind while she counted the days until her parents returned suddenly rush back after she finds out that her choices can have grave consequences for her and her friends.

Then Grandpa Palps comes back and man does he have one hell of a juicy offer. He’s now giving her the security she’s never had in her life. He literally tells her the reason for her whole existence. How much more secure can you get? Rey wanted to know her place in the story and well… she got it. And she really, really, doesn’t like it.