EW: The Last Jedi: Rey takes her first steps toward uncovering her family history

The discussion in the EW article seems to ignore an important point. While it's true that the character of Luke was fundamentally independent of his father's identity, nevertheless the relationship between Luke and Vader did change dramatically due to the revelation. Rather than hating and trying to kill Vader, the revelation caused Luke to take a second look and to discover that there's still goodness in Vader. The change in Luke's attitude from being antagonistic toward Vader to that of compassion led in turn to the change in Vader and to his redemption.

One can also wonder if Luke would have given up and retreated to Ahch-To if a non-Skywalker apprentice had betrayed him and destroyed the new Jedi Order?

 

They can't seem to make up their minds on if Rey's parents are important, if we will know for sure, etc...so many contradictions from them.

 

Looking back at the article, I think there's a lot of hints that Rey is going to be what Anakin was, but be like Luke in regards to how she handles it, and will not fall as Anakin did.

“To me, it’s important insofar as it’s important to her,” Johnson says. “And I think it’s important to her in terms of what is her place in all of this? What’s going to define her in this story? She was told in the last movie that the answer’s not in the past; it’s looking forward. But she’s showing up on this island to talk to this hero from the past.”

Rey's origins tie to the past. How they connect with Luke? Noth having a dark side parent possibly.

“There is no present or future — only the past, happening over and over again — now.”

This is where I think she is like Anakin in a way. A Chosen One of sorts, but with an opposite upbringing.

“You can be told [‘the answer’s not in the past’], but I think she still has a lingering hope that she’s going to find the thing that’s going to say: This is where you belong. This is where you are. I think she still holds onto the thought that where she comes from will help define where she’s going.”

Learning of her family could change her, but it didn't change Luke or Leia, so she needs to realize sh e will not become a monster if darkness runs in her veins.

“You can always look for answers and that doesn’t mean that the rest of your life is so easy. It’s not like, oh, I know who my parents are so now everything falls into shape, especially in the Star Wars world,”

Rey will find out the truth, but it'll set her destiny in stone. She has to help Luke and Ben and be the one who removes the gray from them.

“Yes, it would potentially change her mind, or at least give her a little bit more peace in moving forward. But ultimately what’s coming is coming, and whatever abilities she has are there. So, personally, I think it’s less important than even she may think.”

This hints that her origins might be dark or related to the dark.

“What’s wonderful is it’s not so cut and dry, who’s good and who’s bad and that’s not me saying, ‘Oh, my God, some people are gonna go bad,'”

Rey will not turn evil.

“There’s always room for bad people to make good decisions and vice versa. Again, that could be nothing to do with your parents and it could be everything to do with your parents.”

This applies to both her and Kylo Ren. Her family might have used dark side powers, but she won't become like them. Ben did fail and use the dark side poorly, but he can still do the right thing and end his torment.

 

I hope they are.