Which character will go solo in Episode VIII?

I've wondered/hoped a bit about a LGBTQ main character in the films since Disney seems to be deliberately pushing for diversity in things, but yeah probably not (oh well).

As for your original question, I'd say that my money is on Poe as well. Finn and Rey seem to be our main protagonists so far with lots of interaction between the two of them. As of now, Poe seems to be kinda next to the two of them rather than a main character in his own right (though I admit that this may just be due to the marketing and the film may not bear this out).

 

Well if Rey does meet Luke at the end of Episode VII and hands Luke his lightsaber, it'd be foolish of her to just drop it off and say see-yah without mastering the force first...

 

I still think being family related would be the better option

 

I think it all comes down to whether or not Rey and Kylo are related. If they are, which is admittedly the strongest possibility, then there obviously won't be a romance between them. However if not, I could see one possibly happening if Kylo is meant to have a redemption arc in the trilogy.

As for who will go solo in VIII, I think the spoilers of TFA indicate that Rey will start off VIII already separated from Finn and Poe. So the real question, to me at least, isn't who will go solo in VIII: It's "how will they all reunite during VIII?"

 

If anyone it's gotta be Rey

 

I think Rey will have the solo journey, and Finn and Poe will have their own arc together, which is where the supposed "new female lead" comes in (possible romantic interest for Finn?).

I feel like Poe will either be the series' first LGBT addition or not have a significant romance in the films, although there were early rumors on MSW that Rey was attracted to Poe.

But who even knows? I wouldn't be against them switching the dynamic up and not splitting the trio up.

 

OT character arcs. Luke: rite of passage, mystical discovery, confronting inner darkness. Leia: allowing trust and intimacy to soften her rough exterior. Han: humanizing himself by joining a larger cause/group, and falling in love (love instead of lust).

ST "Most Likely To..." list. Poe: most likely to need to experience love instead of lust. Finn: most likely to humanize himself by defecting and joining a more noble cause. Rey: most likely to be on a rite of passage/mystical journey, and also most likely to have a rough exterior that needs to be softened with trust and intimacy. Kylo: most likely to confront his inner darkness.

Conclusion. Poe and Rey: most likely to have the Han and Leia love/hate relationship.... Thus, I think Rey will be more like Anakin than Luke. It doesn't seem like she's starting from scratch skill-wise, so she can be on her mystical journey and have a relationship at the same time. If she isolates, it'll be between 7 and 8. The more screen time that's given to Rey's force training, is less screen time for her romance with Poe, or whoever. My bet is Poe.

 

They had that gay moff in the "Lords of the Sith" book, which seemed awkward to me, sort of forced and random. It took me out of the story and seemed too topical. I would be stunned if they went there in a movie.

 

That's your reaction to it.
But to quote a certain stormtrooper: "Get used to it."

 

So I have to "get used to" random, irrelevant, and obviously real-world topical comments that take you out of the universe in SW content? Is Aftermath going to have a random, out-of-nowhere throw-away line about universal health care or the flat tax? Maybe that is a normal thing in SW books, I never got into the EU so wouldn't know and maybe why that's why I'm not used to it. I prefer my real-world parallels to be more subtle in fantasy works.

Perhaps, I should have left my thoughts on the randomness out of it, because that wasn't my point, but rather that while they've done gay characters in the book, I'd be surprised if they went there in a movie.

 

Gay people are not a political stance. They're just people.

 

I foresee a lot of Finn/Rey shipping! The actors themselves have a great dynamic. However, I really don't see that happening the films... and part of me hopes I'm right.

It's rare you get an even, man-woman friendship in a movie that doesn't somehow revolve around or tease romance (heck, even Luke made out with his twin sister). I'd like to see that with Finn and Rey.

Poe seems to be set up as a mentor for Finn (convinces him to defect, stands up for him at the Resistance meeting) and potential crush for Rey (as with the OT, barely teased in the first movie but developed in the second).

But it's really got to be the Skywalker Jedi - i.e. Rey - that goes on a solo adventure. Who knows, maybe she doesn't get romantically involved with either of them?

 

I definitely feel this will be Rey! Especially in accordance with the rumours we're hearing from the skellig-michael filming. I think Rey will leave the group at the end of EP 7, to go off on her own to "complete her quest"