Snoke is from another galaxy.

So, I agree with the Aftermath-based speculation that Snoke may be from the unknown regions of the galaxy, and that the remnants of the Empire encounter him when they go there to regroup and form the First Order. I personally find this more interesting than the alternatives:

- Snoke is some heretofore unmentioned powerful force user who was just laying low uninvolved during the OT
- Snoke is a minor character from the OT who was barely mentioned and probably unnamed, e.g. one of the force-user "Advisors" hanging around the Emperor in ROTJ
- Snoke is Plagueis (I was actually onboard with this idea prior to TFA, but given the lack of set-up for this in TFA I feel it would be underwhelming and odd at this point to make this reveal)

Snoke is a bit of an enigma in TFA, which was frustrating -- but honestly I wish he was even more of an enigma, i.e. I wish that nobody affiliated with the Republic/Resistance knew about him -- that they knew there was some kind of dark side user heading up the FO, but his identity was a mystery.

Instead, we have Leia talking about Snoke like he's some kid's soccer coach turned bad. It made me think he was an aristocrat of some kind, somebody just hanging around in her social circle that she suspected had nefarious intentions, somebody with direct access to Ben Solo. I don't like this idea at all, but I'm having trouble reconciling literally the only thing we know about Snoke (that Leia was trying to keep Ben away from him by sending him to Luke) with the idea of Snoke as being a powerful entity from the unknown regions of the galaxy who arrives on the scene with the rise of the FO.

Thoughts on this?

 

The Star Wars galaxy is huge. It would be ridiculous to introduce another one when we've barely explored the current one in both legends and canon. The CIS alone had over 10,000 star systems if I remember correctly, and they paled in comparison to The Republic, and then The Empire.

 

I thought Leah mentioned in her convo with Han during TFA that she was worried about Ben being corrupted by Snoke so she sent him away to study with Luke, and that in hindsight this was a mistake that drove Ben to the dark side. I could be misremembering -- what's your take on this conversation as it relates to Snoke's pre-TFA role? Was he part of the Republic and in direct contact with Ben, or part of the dying Empire and possibly sought out by Ben due to his dark side knowledge (perhaps Ben encounters or learns about him during his artifact-hunting with Luke?), or somebody not affiliated with either power who seized control of the remnants of the Empire and created the First Order?

I haven't read the books, but it makes sense that 1) Leia would be personally invested in undermining the First Order, since Snoke "stole" Ben from her, and 2) her attempts to depict the First Order as a threat would be met with distrust due to her weakened credibility after the revelation of her as Vader's daughter.

Despite the title of this thread, I think we're talking about Snoke possibly being from "outside" the known galaxy, not necessarily from another galaxy. An analogy might be the Kuiper belt outside our solar system. The Aftermath books suggest Palpatine identified the "origin" of the dark side coming from these unknown regions, and the remnants of the empire retreated there after the battle of Jakku.

 

Empire's End suggested there was a hyperspace route in the unknown regions that led to another galaxy. Palpatine's contingency plan was to destroy The Empire, and take his chosen few to this new place to begin a new empire.

 

Thank you both! I should update my protocols to refrain from speaking about books I have not read.

 

I still don't see how it explains who Snoke is for 85% of the movie going public.

Even Thrawn was tied into this Empire's End book. Just goes to show that the Lucasfilm story group, as they said, think long,long, term.

They will not throw Snoke in there without a back story. To long to explain in VIII and no book coming out before then with an explanation on who he is.

So...

If he turns out to yet be Rax, oh god the amount of Aftermath books that will be sold after VIII.

This is Disney after all..

 

I too absolutely LOATHED Leia mentioning Snoke by name, knowing of him, etc. It felt like a total shoehorn of this character into the story without any setup.

 

In the OT everything was new and Lucas didn't even know if he was going to be able to make a sequel to SW-ANH.

But In this case, there can not be a PT and there is no place or time for an explanation on Snoke. Book? perhaps, but no time, with VIII fast approaching. Stand alone movie? perhaps..but not until Solo, Obi-wan- Yoda maybe Palps, Fett and others are done so again no time. A half-assed explanation in VIII by Luke can't work. TOOOO much to go through, too many questions to have answered, Ben turning into Kylo's seduction , Snoke's rise to power, getting close to the Solos, etc etc....

We live in a different time. No one knew about Palps back then.. no one cared, and it was a surprise when introduced. Not the case here.

there is viral marketing when it comes to Rax euhh Snoke. Stickers about Your Snoke theory sucks, books. movies...his identity is on everyone's mind. It was purposefully revealed that way. They have a plan this time, and no way will they do it without a proper explanation.

and I think we already got one

 

Yes I do. He dies,or so it seems. But where did he die? What was all around him? The dark side. The way the book Empire's End is written, he was dying, he sees a last flash of light. Then, the only other perspective is from Sloane. She thinks he's dead as he lies there and she seemingly got her revenge, but he, according to the emperor, is the long term contingency plan, no other was chosen to take his place because Palpatine died before he could.

 

I continue to be fascinated by the constant, obsessive Snoke speculation. I wish the internet was a thing in the early 1980's so we could have spent immeasurable time and energy debating the origins/real identity of Lobot.

Incidentally, I have seen the Lobot is Snoke theory somewhere on the internets. Ehrmmm...why not. Lobot was standing too close to an air vent when Palpatine was exploded in the giant shaft, and inhaled a giant snarf of Sith-Essence. Decades later, he is now mutated and transformed into the Snoke we see in TFA.

And he ditched the headphones. To look more badass.

You're welcome.

 

--- Double Post Merged, Mar 8, 2017, Original Post Date: Mar 8, 2017 ---

First Palpatine explains to Rax that he has to think long term, because it's unwise not to and that he has the plan. Then he tells Gallius :

"You, my son, are the Contingency.”

“What is that?”-Rax

“..
it is time now to join the Empire. You will serve me in whatever way I require, and if all goes well you will remain the Contingency. If you fail me, then I will find another, for this role is one of great purpose and destiny. Will you be what I require?”

“I will.”

That smile returns. “Most excellent.”

“But I do not know how.”

“Ah. That will come in time"

Rax has been there through it all.

In a Snoke deleted speech to Kylo Ren, "The sentiment" speech, he explains what truly brought down the Empire.


As for the Palpatine reaching out to Ben in the womb. I didn't catch that at all in the book.

What I did catch is what Luke left Leia with.

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow cast.

I just believe that Ben was born in that manner.

Palpatine also told Rax that Jakku was important 1000 years ago and it would be again. Not another Galaxy nor the outer unknown regions of space.

There is a reason why Rax was born on Jakku. There is also a Reason why Rey was left on Jakku. And it will all triangulate in the next 2 movies.