SPECULATION The Official Rey's Parents in Ep. IX Thread

You know, I've enjoyed TLJ too each viewing to an extent. There is a lot of great stuff to cherry pick. What seems to happen is, I enjoy it in the moment, but when we tear it apart in the threads/forums, I really get frustrated when looking at things as a whole saga and how it has been handled. I really feel like the only way to tie up a 9 part saga is through family. What else is left that isn't going to feel hollow? Cool things for Rey to do are go on a force vision quest, crystal search if needed - though she has one, and construction of a light saber on screen. Outside of that and killing or redeeming (I don't know why she would) Kylo, what would bring her story around as satisfying? She ends up with Finn and restarts the next gen Jedi? That's fine with me, but there really won't be anything else to this trilogy for her getting to that point for her character - it would almost just be gear up and kick Kylos arse. Pretty empty.

I'm a nobody and when I grew up in the 80s I could insert myself into the heroes - the skywalkers were your family. A big reason Game of Thrones is popular is because lineage is interesting and who is who blah, blah. If we insert are selves into the legacy characters, we would want to know that we would have future generations, and they would be okay and successful. I guess I have been questioning why they would have chosen to bring back the OT group only to systematically kill them with each installment, while reducing the only heir to a total d-bag level. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing them all and their performances were great, but why not start this trilogy with an old old old old man Luke - not played by Hamill - who can no longer fight- meeting Rey, and go from there- A recent multi billion dollar purchase I suppose...

I guess I'm a walking cliche because that's what SW is to me - age old themes and cliche. A nobody is an age old theme too, but doesnt fit well with a previous 6 part family saga unless the intention was the rises and falls of that family. How depressing. I'm pulling for a happier ending where at least Rey is at peace with a truth that isnt drunks - I mean like anything - a goddamn connection to Luke or something - he saved her and the parents batting away some creature on Jakku. Anythingggggg.

This rant is all likely because I have children. My wife loved TFA and Rey, but struggled with TLJ on many levels. She really expected her to be Luke or Leias daughter. I asked my 5 year old daughter - who only likes one SW movie, TFA, because of Rey - if she thought it would be good if her parents were mean to her. Guess what her answer was? I asked her who she thought her father was - answer Luke. She has not seen TLJ yet because 2.5 hrs for a 5 y/o is an eternity. I'll be curious of her thoughts. This is not a commentary, but the closest female opinions I have on Rey and what they wanted for the character. I'm curious what kind of response/observations fans with children witnessed from their kids after Rey's revelation. I also cannot support an abusive relationship with Kylo - it would be odd if that happened during the era of Weinstein and a poor message, but nothing's shocking.

Okay, I've said my final? peace on this matter and it's off my chest. Folks can now tell me to review how it was explained in other threads for the last 3 years she is a nobody and why that's best for the story. If they go with the story as is, that is fine, and I will buy the 8,9 blurays, etc. because I'm weak, however the trilogy will sit in the cases a little less than the prequels, but not by much.

 

I think the question of who her parents are will remain as presented in TLJ, nobodies. Although I do honestly believe that she was originally a Solo or Skywalker and that this was changed during the production/post production of TFA. It can still be seen in certain interactions in that film and also the novelization of TFA says something along the lines of "Leia hugged her in a way that only a mother could...". Also explains why Leia approaches Rey and passes by Chewie in a fixated gaze, and then the very long hug. I know JJ has an explanation for this but we all know that the filmmakers have engaged in various forms of misdirection (not maliciously, just to make the final story as presented make more sense). Also, Snoke has a line saying "Perhaps Kylo Ren was right about the identity of the girl..."

I remember listening to a podcast in the aftermath of TFA release and they described how these novelizations are done before the final film is released and take quite some time to write, obviously, so the script they use as the basis for the novels is usually not the final script. They also discussed "hints from insiders" suggesting that major character changes were made very late in the game during production of TFA. Also, in regards to his original story treatments, George has mentioned Vader's grandchildren (plural). If not the Rey (at that time "Kira" character), then who else could that plural be referring to?

 

LOL, no I'm not. I'm simply responding to your accusations that I walked into TLJ with a hard set of "rules" that it HAD to live up to.

I'm sorry that you think a coin only has one side.

 

You didn't even realize I wasn't talking to you, let alone accuse you of anything. This is a thread about "who are Rey's parents" and I wrote "you guys never learn" for obvious reasons. You asked for an explanation and I gave it to you - people walked into this movie with set expectations, got burned, and some are now just doing it all over again. It was never about you, but since then you are crashing and burning in your saga to justify yourself on why you disliked the movie. You keep accusing me of not taking your opinion but you haven't even realized I'm not arguing with you.

 

When I was in college we had a homeless man locally coined Crazy Ray who skulked around the campus neighborhood.
Now we get Crazy Rey. Delusional about her abusive/neglectful past, etching on walls and lying to herself in a creepy way for 15 solid years on Jakku.
What a weird dynamic for this trilogy.

 

I posted in the TFA Forum that I'm beginning to think Rey's parents were among the villagers killed in the Jakku attack. Ben knows that they are dead because he killed them. This would cause quite the further conflict, especially because Finn was involved (as a Stormtrooper).



If that's the case, I still want more of an explanation for her powers, whether a more distant relative, Force destiny, reincarnation, etc. There needs to be more that ties into all of the hints, quotes, and build-ups for Rey in TFA.

 

From a narrative perspective, Rey’s parents serve the same functional purpose as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. It’s not who they are that matters as much as what they represent: the obligation to a pedestrian existence our hero must separate from in order to begin their journey.

In Luke’s case, that choice was made for him, “There's nothing here for me now.” But for Rey, it’s a choice she has to make on her own. A choice that’s directly related to her sense of self-worth. Abandoning her family means having to acknowledge that they actually abandoned her, “Whomever you're waiting for on Jakku, they're never coming back.”

WHO Rey’s parents are was never a question for Rey. She already had a concept of that much. Her questions were WHERE are they? WHEN are they coming back? The answer to the first question became irrelevant the moment the answer to the second question became “never”.

The ‘who’ was a question we came up with because we’ve been conditioned to as fans and JJ played into that. Mysterious parents? <gasp> Must be someone important. “Classified, really? Me too. Big secret.” <gasp> Must be someone important.

 

A truly touching reaction to Rey's parentage reveal and probably the most important reason why she should remain a nobody:

 

Unpopular opinion: Still think she's Luke's daughter and I believe it even more strongly than before TLJ. If it's ok with the mods, I can link to the explanation.

 

Really, I think what they were going for in these films—even if the idea could have been communicated better—is that Rey is inherently strong with the Force. Yoda kind of alludes to this when he speaks with Luke in The Last Jedi and mentions that the sacred texts don’t contain anything Rey doesn’t already know. The whole “powerful light, powerful darkness” thing is important here. Rey is supposed to be naturally powerful in the Force because it awakened in her to combat Kylo Ren’s darkness. That would be the most logical way of explaining her innate abilities with the Force.

Sticking with the idea that Rey is a “nobody” also allows them to end the Skywalker saga with Episode IX. Luke and Han are dead, and Leia will presumably have passed away at some point during Episode IX. That leaves only Kylo Ren, who may or may not be redeemable at this point—even if he is redeemed, I can’t see the films concluding by allowing the man responsible (either directly or indirectly) for the deaths of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker to live. His death would allow the Skywalker saga to end and would also allow the films to end on a somewhat happy note by not killing off the protagonist, Rey.

On the other hand, you could have a case where Rey and Kylo Ren are brother and sister, and what he tells her about her parentage was simply a lie. (The Last Jedi really progressed Kylo Ren’s story arc more than any of the other new characters, so that would definitely contribute to Lucasfilm’s attempt to make Kylo Ren a more evil villain.) In contrast to the parentage reveal in The Empire Strikes Back, where Vader was telling the truth but people questioned it, in this case, perhaps Kylo Ren is not telling the truth. It would explain why he continues to share a Force connection with Rey after Snoke’s death. (Not to mention, aside from his connection with Leia, the only other Force connection to appear in the film is the one between Luke and Leia, who are, as we know, siblings—this connection also happens either right before or right after one of Kylo Ren and Rey’s interactions.)

Either way, I think there is a lot of material to work with there. I like the idea of Rey not being related to the other characters (even though I strongly disagreed with it prior to the film’s release) because I think it allows for her to do the things she does on her own merit rather than simply inheriting all of these amazing gifts from her parents. In a sense, Rey embodies everything we love about Luke, Han, and Leia—not only does she possess many of their character traits, but she literally owns Luke’s lightsaber, inherits Han’s ship, and has some sort of strong connection with Leia, if nothing else. She’s the ideal heroine going forward if we have to say goodbye to these classic characters, but I think the beauty of it is that she can still be a great character if she is confirmed to be related to the other characters somehow.

 

I very much hope they stick with answer of them been drunks dead in the Jakku Dessert, Though it does annoy me the amount of time that both Abrams and Johnson spend on going "whose the girl?" "whose her parents?" "who are you?" .... just for the answer to be a daughter of junkers. I mean i went in to the film fully expecting them to go down the route they did and even expecting it it still felt a little flat after all the build up, and im not talking fan buildup, im just talking on screen build up.

However now they have done it i just want them to move on!

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 28, 2018, Original Post Date: Jan 28, 2018 ---

I dont think they had any idea who her parents where, maybe a few ideas that could change but thats about it. Same with Snoke im throughly convinced to this moment their is no definitive answer as to who he is/was. He was just made becuase they wanted an emperor like figure and they will work the rest out later, just like Rey was they wanted a hero from a dessert planet strong in the force and thought they would work out her backstory later.

 

For me, I felt that there was a lot of very clear foreshadowing about Rey's Lineage. When we aw the first trailer at Star Wars Celebration 2015 `, Luke starts us off with his line from RotJ "The Force is strong in my family...." etc. If you couple that h the fact the Kathleen Kennedy stated the Episodes I-IX the Saga films would be about the Skywalker family, and Lucas's original plan being a trilogy that followed the next generation of Skywalkers, then it would seem to me that it was clear Rey was a Skywalker or Solo. I was very convinced through The Force Awakens that she was indeed going to be a skywalker. Then when Kylo Ren says that her parents her nobody, just drunkards buried in a grave on Jakku, I was disappointed and underwhelmed by the reveal. Not because I need her to be a part of the Skywalker family but that I felt lied to and hoodwinked.

Now as I've been thinking about and reading all these posts I have to say I agree with @JuliusFett I believe that Kylo Ren weather he was telling the truth or not is irrelevant the fact is that he manipulating Rey. I believe that Here lineage is still open for debate and could potentially be changed in the next film or even just solidified. Leading up to TLJ I was sure she was Luke's daughter. After seeing TLJ I am more convinced that he could be a Solo if she isnt a nobody. As someone pointed out earlier there is a glaring plot hole. Kylo Ren says they were drunkards in a grave on Jakku. The problem with that is that according to Rey's vision they left. I submit to you then these options

1 - Kylo Ren was lying out his ass and making crap up
2 - Whatever Kylo Ren and Rey saw could have been put their by Snoke
3 - Rey's parents never actually left and that was a manufactured memory.
4 - Rey's parents aren't really nobody
5 - Rian Johnson is careless writer (I don't believe this last one to be true)

I know that when watching the Force awakens people came to these conclusions

1 - Rey Skywalker is lazy writing
2 - Rey Random makes the most sense
3 - Nobody recognized Rey
4 - Han Luke or Leia would not abandon their child like that

I personally don't think that Making Rey a Skywalker would be lazy writing given the massive question of how and why she was left on Jakku... allegedly by her parents. I actually think it is lazier writing just to throw her parents away and say that were crap people that cared not for her.... in the scenario where that is a truth that Snoke Made for Kylo and Rey to see or even if it was Kylo Ren manipulation her through their connection, then it is brilliant writing because its the hardest thing for Rey to hear. She doesn't want to believe that her parents are nobody so what better way to send her to the dark-side then to make her worst fear come true make her feel worthless and offer a hand of friendship. Whose to say that wasn't Snoke's plan provided Kylo couldn't end Rey.

Rey Random makes the same amount of sense in the first film as solo or skywalker does. Their is enough evidence to support many theories

Their could a reason that it seems like nod`body knows who she is. If you think about If she was Leia's Daughter than its possible Leia had an affair with someone else and the baby ended p adopted or something or its also possible that Han's memory was manipulated by Luke and or Leia. furthermore they would have not seen Rey for 14 years. that is a long time. And actually their are some looks that Han gives her as though she is familiar. Also Kylo Ren seems to be somewhat familiar with her already. when you add to that the fact the Maz asks the question whose the girl, and then they cut away and don't give an answer, only to then have Maz run up to Rey and beg her to find Luke the next time you see her on screen which is almost literally right after her conversation with Han. There could also be a reason why nobody says anything. Like Obi-Wan straight Lied to Luke and we assume everyone else was telling the truth. there has been 30 years of galactic drama since we last saw our favorite Trio and some bad things had definitely gone down.

Han, Leia, and Luke would actually send their child somewhere to keep them safe from Snoke or some other darkness like Kylo Particularly if Luke felt the Force telling him to do so. my point being is that theses problem are all answerable we just may not always like the answers given. Just like we might not always feel that the answer to mystery and question posed in the story are always the best. I wanted Rey Skywalker where as you may want Rey Kenobi or Rey Random. In the long run as long as the answer doesn't hurt the story its okay in my book. as far as Rey's parents being a nobody, I'll have give an answer after IX comes out. I need to see how trilogy concludes.

 

Snoke already explained this. Kylo Ren made her what she is. Let me see if I can break down the cosmology here.

Once upon a time the entire Balance of the Force rested on one man's shoulders. That man was Anakin Skywalker. As he descended into Darkness, he took the Force and the Galaxy with him. When he got his act together, things immediately started going in a good direction. That was Anakin's true power: the fate of the Universe reflected his life, as he chose to live it. With that power, he had a destiny: to Destroy the Sith and bring balance back. In the end, he did it. Since he screwed up so much along the way, it cost him his life, but in the end he fulfilled his destiny.

Now, instead the Balance of the Force being Anakin's job, the Force balances itself. So, when Kylo Ren starts tipping the scales, the Force reacts by empowering someone to stop him. That someone is Rey. Her purpose is to counter Kylo Ren. Maybe even pacify him or neutralize him. Or, maybe instead of that balance being on one man's shoulders, it's on two.

 

As for now Rey's parents are nobodies.

But you have to ask yourself the question.....If her parents are nobodies, why aren't they showing their faces anyway?
It shouldn't be a big deal if they are truly nobodies, but instead they keep mysterious about it.

Strange.

 

Their faces aren't there because they're dead. "Pauper's grave on Jakku" were Ren's words I believe. I think the idea is the don't want us wasting any more time or energy on them.

 

Blast away my friends:

Rey will be revealed to be Luke's daughter.

Episode VIII did exactly what it was supposed to do -- Set up the biggest twist of the ST where Rey is revealed to be Rey Skywalker. You can see it in this chatroom and others, a large percentage of the SW fandom believes Rey to be a nobody.

We've all seen the arguments for and against Rey Skywalker. But ask yourself: You (Disney) have purchased for $4+ Billion the rights to Star Wars. The greatest hero of a generation, Luke Skywalker, is yours! You plan on churning out movies for years and years. Two of your greatest assets within the Star Wars universe are (A) the Skywalkers and (B) the Solos -- recognizable names and brands ($$$$).

No way in hell Disney doesn't create children of Luke Skywalker.

Lately, there's been this idea that Disney is simply making up the Sequel Trilogy as it goes, switching ideas from episode to episode, director to director, writer to writer. Hogwash. Read those articles with a critical eye. No way Disney doesn't have an overarching plan for the ST (Rey, Luke, Snoke, Kylo, etc.).

So, here goes, one last defense of Rey Skywalker (and I'm happy to eat crow if I'm proven wrong in the next movie). Here's what we know for sure:

- TFA: Rey doesn't know who she is, fears she is a nobody, seeks belonging, was left by someone (who may have called her sweetheart) on Jakku, thinks she can't leave Jakku....

- TFA: Rey is extremely force powerful (like a Skywalker), doesn't realize how force powerful she is until challenged throughout the movie, and knows of Luke only as a myth.

- TFA: The Skywalker saber calls out to Rey. Maz tells Rey whomever she is waiting for on Jakku isn't coming back but there is someone who could -- to which Rey responds "Luke."


- TLJ: Snoke teaches Kylo that a rabid cur (dog) when properly manipulated can be a sharp tool, making reference to keeping Hux around to help serve Snoke's purposes. Kylo later manipulates Rey into believing what she fears most--that her parents are nobodies (filthy junk traders).

- TLJ: Rey seems to believe her parents are nobodies -- and now the audience generally does too. Great hook, line, and sinker to set up the twist in the next installment episode.

- TLJ: Rey is constantly searching for who she is. She doesn't know. She still fears being nobody. Luke doesn't seem to recognize her and doesn't claim her. Rey doesn't get answers in the dark hole on Acht-To. Rey (and the audience) begins to believe she is a nobody.

- TLJ: Kylo is mind-melded to Rey. Kylo recognizes Rey's fear and easily manipulates her using Rey's memories against her--Rey was essentially raised by filthy junk traders on Jakku! But Rey's real parents weren't part of her upbringing as far back as she clearly remembers. If Rey knew her parents from the get go, this mystery wouldn't be such a great mystery. She wasn't mind wiped--she never knew them.

- TLJ: Importantly, Luke cut himself off from the force. This is a big reason why Luke did not recognize Rey--until just before he died, after he reconnected to the force in a big way. That was his last realization in TLJ, after he saved his friends and daughter from the First Order.

In summary, many are unhappy with the lack of exposition on Luke's exile and Snoke's rise to power. If Rey is a nobody, it sets up a paradox where some nobody born of junk traders is more powerful than the Skywalker bloodline? TLJ's theme is that the past matters. Learn from the past and don't kill it if you have to. Episode IX will bring about resolution. Rian has consistently said that what Rey learned in TLJ is true from a certain point of view but that her parentage is not resolved for certain. Simon Pegg thought Rey's parentage was originally different from that told in TLJ. Daisy Ridley thought it was obvious who her parents are from TFA. This all sets up for a consistent overarching story were Rey always was and is Luke's daughter.

The neat part will be HOW we learn Rey is Luke's daughter. My speculation has always been that Rey was born to Luke's mother without Luke's knowledge. Luke is in a sad state also because he has lost his wife. Perhaps he thought he lost his child too. Perhaps that is when he cut himself off from the force. Perhaps Snoke forced Luke into exile or he would kill Luke's captured wife.

Knowing Luke, but better yet knowing Disney, I highly doubt Luke never had a wife or family. The story of Luke's child(ren) is movie making gold for Disney.

 

Not only is Luke a sadistic lonely hermit, now he's a playboy too?
Also, lets not forget:

Basically an employee at Lucasfilm had a poster with Luke Skywalker's face crossed with red X.

Also KK said Star Wars fans cannot relate to Luke Skywalker.

Disney does not care about Luke Skywalker. No way Rey is Luke's daughter because of this simple reason: Disney give a rat's butt about Luke.

 

Even if Luke cut himself off from the Force, he still has a brain. You'd think he'd remember if he had a daughter. That's not his personality to just dump her off Jakku with Unkar Plutt of all people. Rey is a nobody, accept it. Plus, it fits with all the other upbringings. Luke to nobodies Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen. Anakin a slave to a slave mother. To quote Maz: "The belonging you seek is not behind you, its ahead."

 

He should be able to remember whether he and a female ever loved each other very much.

Who are the candidates?

Aphra?

Anyone else have any ideas? It the novel of TLJ, apparently there was supposed be someone named Cammie? Kandy? Cindy?