From Russia with Reylo. Arts & ridiculous things

If you like the film tlj please consider to sign this „Thank you card“. Star wars films are expensive and we want to have a ton of them to be made!

In today’s episode:

The Last Jedi is laden with subtle and not-so subtle sexual imagery and symbolism. From erect light side Force trees to dark side Force holes, from skin-on-skin finger-touching porn to sexy hip grabs and hip thrusts and gasps - 

When it comes to Reylo sex, TLJ delivers and then some. 

We continue our conversation regarding the core sexual awakening themes in the Rey and Kylo Ren dynamics that were first explored in The Force Awakens. We discuss how the hut explosion brilliantly reflects a not uncommon occurrence in sexual development: underlying the overt character dynamics in TLJ we find a girl shamed by a parental figure for her unseemly sexual impulses; Luke is scandalized that Rey “didn’t even try to fight” the pull to the darkness - where Kylo Ren is, where she can be alone with him to touch fingers to their hearts’ content. 

We also break down the moment Rey grabs hold of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, the fact that she doesn’t run away from it anymore and she isn’t frightened of it - she grabs it and holds it confidently -

- in keeping with the evolving sexual dynamics between them. We maintain that her confident handling of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber is another milestone in Rey’s ongoing exploration of herself as a sexual being, and we’re so here for it. 

In closing, Denise makes a case for why Reylo is alive and well in the Sequel Trilogy.

Today’s episode features lovely artwork by the uber-talented Reylo artist @hotside and by our artist crush, the lovely @ksart-things. <3

Also shout out to the brilliant @skysilencer, formerly @jediwhinetrick, for her amazing meta on the sexual imagery and themes of the reylo praetorian fight. Check it out. 

Ok, I’ve seen it!!! It’s just beautiful, obviously. Rian Johnson is a pure genius, obviously. BUT. I’m dead. I mean it. This movie rocked my world. I LOVE it, I HATE it. I just have no idea what I think about it. I love Kylo even more now, but I don’t like him as I did before. I see reylo so clear in the movie, but I don’t believe in it as much as I did before. It makes me suffer and it makes me happy at the same time. And I feel like I’m going a little bit crazy. I have a lot of theories in my head after watching it but I don’t dare to believe in any of them. I’m happy, I’m terrified. I love it, I hate it. And love it. And hate it. And lov… It is a masterpiece. I’m going to watch it tomorrow again.  @starwarsconnection​ I need your podcast more than ever before! :] (more than anything in the world :D) P.S. Am I the only one who feels so weird? :D

In today’s episode we share our predictions for The Last Jedi. Because IT’S ALMOST HERE.

We discuss what we expect to see from the movie as a whole, as well as our predictions regarding the Force plot and Resistance plot, with emphasis on key characters and character dynamics.

Irina and Lee share their prediction bingo cards for TLJ:

We share our wish lists:

We share our deepest, darkest fears regarding TLJ and the sequel trilogy, and find it very therapeutic. Reywalker/Rey Solo/ReyPoe, anyone?

Lastly, a word on the crossguard lightsaber pulling shenanigans: although Denise did not participate in this episode, if you’ve seen our recent TLJ speculation podcasts you’ve heard her talk about the protective stance that Rey takes towards Kylo Ren in a lot of the marketing images for episode 8, and her questioning whether it was foreshadowing. With the release of TLJ tv spot #22, which shows Rey Force-pulling Kylo Ren’s lightsaber and wielding it apparently against Snoke, we have to wonder whether Denise is onto something after all. Why is Rey pulling Kylo’s saber? Is he incapacitated in some way?

gif source: @degouges

More importantly, continuing our discussion of Kylo’s lightsaber as a symbol of his masculinity, Rey has drawn his distinctive lightsaber to her, essentially claiming it as if it belonged to her. What would Freud say?

Regardless of what your interpretation is,  this only bodes well for the dynamics between these characters going forward.

And no matter how it all turns out, it looks like this is going to be an amazing movie. We hope you enjoy it, and may we all be surprised for the best. ^^

We’d love to hear your predictions and wishes/fears for TLJ. Reply below to let us know what you think!