I Can't Believe I'm Asking This, But is Rey a "Mary Sue"?

I'm glad this post has been created so other posts don't suffer as much anymore

But to answer, no, I don't think she is.

I also don't understand why it's something some people are so passionate about. Like she's awesome and beautiful and Star Wars is great. What more do you need?

 

there was a lot of thrusting--on Rey's part.
hmmm. : o |

 

As long as they aren’t relatives I’m 100% into Reylo. What Mary Sue have you ever heard of that hooks up with a genocidal, dad killing maniac??? Take that Haters!!

 

The same reason people attack Kathleen Kennedy as racist or sexist.
Insecurity and misplaced anger.

 

And they are usually unnecessarily smug and pretentious about using strawman arguments or appealing to unobtainable goals for an ongoing franchise.

 

Her name is Rey. Not Mary Sue. Doesnt even rhyme...AND...it IS WRITTEN Rey EVERYWHERE in the script. Not a single mention of Mary Sue...I mean..look for example here:

KYLO REN
It's just us now. Han Solo can't
save you.
After a beat, Rey moves forward with the blaster -- AIMS IT!
Kylo Ren RAISES A HAND -- Rey struggles under his FORCE POWER --
she can't fire -- he strains too, especially with the WOUND
Chewie inflicted. Kylo Ren GESTURES POWERFULLY -- Rey's
BLASTER FLIES OUT OF HER HAND -- another GESTURE and Rey
FLIES BACK and SLAMS INTO A TREEthirty feet away!
She drops -- LANDS HARD in the snow. Dazed, hurt.

I mean...if it isnt spelled out in the script then surely she is not a Mary Sue. I see only Rey spelled...like R-E-Y! Right? Y'all see this?
(Was that too unsubtle? )

Oh yeah!!! This is the last line of defense to prove she aint a Mary Sue! Kathleen!!!! Note this! GReyLo must happen if Rey is to have ANY credibility!! Lolz

 

You’re welcome Hahahaha

 

Complexity. Ambiguity. You know . . . the things that make a well rounded character, instead of a one-note wonder.

 

Except I fail to see how Rey's character in TFA is significantly different to Anakin's in TPM or Luke's in ANH in terms of being a "one note wonder".

The first part of a trilogy is the inciting incident and the setup for what is to come: the hero/heroine almost always overcomes all of the major obstacles thrown at them so that we, the audience, trust them as characters to make important decisions moving forward in the trilogy, and also so that they're depicted as competent in doing so.

The second part of a trilogy is primarily about conflict, whether it be thematic, emotional or physical, and focuses on developing the hero or heroine so that they are prepared for the final act of the trilogy: the resolution. This is where the protagonist almost always faces their deepest fears, and they often come away scarred, emotionally or physically, after having made mistakes (which writers can further use as an in for us to empathise with the character).

I think it's unfair to conclude that Rey is a Mary Sue anymore than it is to come to conclusive feelings toward the first of three acts without knowing how and why things will play out; the whole reason the core films cycle in trilogies is because there is a story to tell which requires an extremely heavy focus on character development which cannot be accomplished in one film alone, yet may be attainable through using each film to focus upon one traditional act (the setup, the conflict and the resolution).

If we get to the end of this trilogy without seeing Rey struggle to overcome any challenges then I will be thoroughly disappointed, and perhaps the term Mary Sue - and all of the negative connotations that come with it - will be most applicable.

Up until that point, though, I think it's nothing but unfair to judge a character so harshly and absolutely, especially with the foreknowledge that it was always going to be the case that the Rey's arc would be told throughout a trilogy of movies.

I wasn't around back in '77, but I'll be damned if I've ever heard - and will ever hear - anybody refer to Luke Skywalker in such a way in reference to his character in the first movie, which would arguably be a much more justified stance given that there was no foreknowledge of its inclusion in a trilogy.

 

i was around. i can pretty much guarantee you nobody did.
no one said it about Leia either ~ and she's dang near perfect in every imaginable way.

 

That could be anyone in fairness. It's a general vague assessment of the types Rieekan was referring to. In my time on internet forums, they all tend to have certain traits. Can't help it if a few fall in that category here...

 

Yes Rey is totally 100% a Mary Sue even if most people here can't accept it or are offended by those who say it. She is perfect in everything and she did in one single movie and without a Jedi Master what it took Luke three whole movies to learn even having the two greatest Jedi Masters ever on his side. You can't get more Mary Sue than that.

 

Hahah...well played! Only her middle name is rey lolz!

Wait till the TLJ.

She is not yet a mother of god but she kinda will be when a Skywalker knocks her up

Disagree based on a bunch of her childish flaws presented to us in the TFA alone. But to point the flaw in your reasoning: Is her journey over already? I think we still have 2+ movies of Rey and making absolute statements like this after only 1/3 is presented is kinda....Sithish?

 

Who the hell is Mary Sue? Thing is Luke was little Mr. Perfect too you know. In ANH he had only a few hours of training and he was able to use the Force to blow up the DS. He was also able to fly an advanced fighter, with only having bushpilot experience. TESB, he was able to use the force to grab his lightsaber, in the snowcave. He only trained with Yoda for a short time, and became a Jedi Master. I didn't think Luke was a believable character when I was a kid, either.

 

Truefax. Luke is a Marty Stu!