SPECULATION Is Luke Rey's Father? - The Evidence For and Against

There seem to be a lot of threads about Rey or Luke that lead into the issue of whether the Jedi Master is in fact Rey's father. I think it is worth having a thread that weighs up all the evidence for and against to see which is the stronger view. I'm not going to provide the counter argument to each point within the list. I will leave that to the debate to come in the thread. I'm just going to list the for and against points. If anyone has more they'd like to add to the lists or change maybe pm me and I will do it (to keep it all in one place) and credit your point/alteration. I posted this in the VIII Forum as we're likely to find out in this movie about Rey's origins. Thanks, MS.

Anyway, the evidence for:

1. Kathleen Kennedy expressed how the ST will be a continuation of the Skywalker saga:

"The Saga films focus on the Skywalker family saga. The stories follow a linear narrative that connects to the previous six films," she said. "The Force Awakens follows Return of the Jedi and continues that generational story."

Now this could just refer to Kylo, but it is perhaps evidence more pointing towards the main protagonist, who is Rey, being a Skywalker.

2. Rey is very powerful and she becomes powerful with the Force very quickly. This indicates a strong connection to the Force which is something common within the Skywalker family: "I have it, my father has it, my sister has it....you have that power too".

3. Rey has visions or memories of Ahch-To, her entire story so far is about waiting for her parents and finding Luke - indicating a special link with Luke.

4. Her character is very much 'Skywalker' in nature. Anakin and Luke grew up on desert planets, as "a nobody" destined to be "a somebody". Rey's origins are very similar. They're all good mechanics and pilots. They all wear similar clothing. They all wish for a better life. They're all destined to become Jedi. Luke left Tatooine on the Falcon with Han (who later offers him a job). Exactly the same happens with Rey. Their backgrounds are the same.

5. Luke's lightsaber calls to Rey. She hears Luke and Luke's mentors. Is this just because she is the next Jedi or because she has a connection with Luke already?

6. Artoo wakes up only when Rey is nearby. Do we buy the idea that Artoo was woken up by BB8? JJ said BB8 speaks to Artoo and then Artoo comes to life. But on screen, BB8 speaks to Artoo and Artoo stays in low power mode. Only later does Artoo switch back on, independently - just as Rey arrives on the planet. Does this indicate something else?

7. The Excalibur moment of Rey pulling the saber out of the snow (away from Kylo). Is this a nod to the Arthurian legend where it shows she is the true heir of The King/Luke?

8. Colin Trevorrow said Rey's parentage will be profoundly satisfying. Is this evidence that she will end up being Luke's daughter?

9. Lucas' quotes suggest it could happen:

Question: Will Luke Skywalker ever get married ?
Lucas: Not in the next three, since is not born (laugh)
Question: In the final trilogy ?
Lucas: Humm, I don't know.....I'm not sure which kind of characters will be in the sequels. Nothing definitive. We'll have to wait and see.

+

Lucas: Hopefully, I will someday be doing the next three Star Wars, but I'm not sure when. The next three would take place 20 or 30 years before the films they're celebrating here today. I'll do the first trilogy first. There are nine [films] floating around there somewhere. I'll guarantee that the first three are pretty much organized in my head, but the other three are kind of out there somewhere.

Starlog: Why didn't you give Luke a girl?

Lucas: You haven't seen the last three yet.


Lucas also asked JJ "What happens to Vader's grandkids?


Evidence against:

1. Rey believes Luke Skywalker to be a myth. Surely a girl who from the age of 5 had the mind to mark down every day her parents were away, would remember her fathers name?

2. Rey says that "her family will be back" suggesting her entire family left her on Jakku. In the Art of TFA there is the concpt art of the family ship we see leave Rey in the vision. Next to it is two adults and child. This to me suggests that both Rey's parents were with her on Jakku at some point. So she should know her father. But more importantly, it shows her father abandoned her as well. Is this something that Luke Skywalker would do? All the pre-gumph above aside and whatever the circumstances, would Luke abandon is daughter?

3. It's too obvious and too similar to the reveal of TESB. Do we really want another Skywalker I am your father moment?

4. Jedi's aren't supposed to marry and have kids. Does anything suggest this will be different for Luke?

5. Would Luke have firstly risked having a family of his own - knowing the danger they might be put in being related to him? Would he have thought it a good idea to devote time to raising a family when he has a Jedi Order to build?

6. Surely other people, such as Han & Leia, would know that Luke had a daughter? Yet no one suggests that this extraordinary orphan girl is Luke's daughter? No one indicates that they sense she is Luke's daughter. When Kylo looks into her mind, would he not perhaps have seen her images of her parents?

7. Would there be a conflict of interests if Luke was Rey's father in terms of her training to be a Jedi? Would it sit right that Luke trains his own daughter to send her into battle with evil Forces that could destroy her or turn her evil? Would a father ever risk that?

8. Maz's conversation with Rey:

REY: I have to get back to Jakku.

MAZ: Han told me.

(reaches out, hold Rey's hand)

Dear child. I see your eyes. You already know the truth. Whomever you're waiting for on Jakku, they're never coming back. But... there's someone who still could.

REY: Luke.

MAZ: The belonging you seek is not behind

Maz is clearly telling us here that Rey wants her FAMILY to come back to Jakku but KNOWS that they aren't. Maz is essentially saying - You know they're dead or something. And then saying Rey can find her place with Luke, it is clear that Maz has looked into Rey's eyes and seen the truth of the matter. Rey's parents are gone. This is about her finding the Jedi Master Luke and him being her teacher. If this isn't the case then Maz is a fool.

9. When Rey sees Luke for the first time, there is no recognition of father and daughter. Rey continues to extend the lightsaber rather than showing shock at realising Luke is her daddy. And Luke is fixated on the saber. Surely this would play out differently if they had been forcefully separated and didn't know they existed? Surely Rey would react more strongly?

10. If Rey is a Skywalker then it will appear only the Skywalker's can be the heroes. Rey being a nobody allows for her to be someone everyone can relate to.

 

I'd call that profoundly obvious rather than satisfying. And I mean that in the negative sense!

 

I personally find that whole Maz conversation to be the deal breaker for me. Maz is force sensitive. She can see a lot through people's eyes. From Rey she determines that her family is never coming back and that deep down Rey knows this. But and the "but" is the important bit, she can find belonging with Luke.

Maz utterly separates Luke from Rey's parents. It makes it clear there and then to me that Rey's parents are more a dramatic device in Rey's story to create conflict and to be a hurdle for Rey to move passed.

In my view her parents are likely dead but her destiny is to find Luke and train to be a Jedi. Then she will find her place in the Galaxy.

 

I love @FN-3263827's idea that Rey's parents are from the Empire in some way compared to Kylo's parents being the heroes of the rebellion.