Rey Skywalker’s ancestry was a major part of theStar Warssequel trilogy, but there are 10 ways it could have been better if she was a descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi instead of Sheev Palpatine. The reveal that Rey Skywalker was a descendant of Emperor Palpatine was one of the most controversial choices in the sequel trilogy ofStar Warsmovies. While it did go on to become an important part ofStar Warscanon - it helped inspireProject Necromancerand the story ofRey’s parents inStar Warsis quite good - it could have been better.
One of the easiest waysStar Warscould have improved Rey’s ancestry was by making her a Kenobi instead of a Palpatine. Both Obi-Wan and Rey were some of themost powerful Jedi ever, and he would have been a much more fitting grandfather to Rey than Palpatine was. There are 10 major reasons that Rey being a descendant of Obi-Wan would have worked better than her being a descendant of Palpatine, and any one of them could have wildly changed the entire sequel trilogy andStar Warsas a whole.
How Old Was Daisy Ridley In Every Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Movie?
Star Wars has been a massive part of Daisy Ridley’s career, partly because she’s played Rey Skywalker for such a large portion of her life.
One of the biggest reasons Rey should have descended from Obi-Wan is because it would have confirmed a long-running theory fromStar Wars: The Clone Wars. In his youth, Obi-Wan had a brief romantic relationship with Satine Kryze, the woman who would go on to become the ruler of Mandalore.While they ended their relationship long beforeThe Clone Wars, the show also introduced Satine’s nephew, Korkie, who many fans believed was Obi-Wan’s son.Star Warshas never officially confirmed that Korkie was a product of Satine and Obi-Wan’s relationship, but the sequel trilogy could have.
In the currentStar Warscanon, Korkie Kryze and Obi-Wan Kenobi are not related. Korkie wasn’t the son of either Satine or Bo-Katan, and seems to have been directly related to a third, unnamed Kryze sibling.
Star Warsessentially could have killed two birds with one stone by making Rey a Kenobi: it could have confirmed the Korkie fan theory, and it could have used a preexisting character as Rey’s father.Korkie also would have gone a long way in explaining Rey’s parentage naturally. He could have become a refugee after the Purge of Mandalore and ended up on Jakku.Star Warscould have done quite a bit with Korkie, from making him an important Mandalorian during the New Republic era or something else, if only Rey were a Kenobi.
9Rey Would Have Been The Perfect Culmination Of Satine & Obi-Wan’s Doomed Love
Korkie Kryze being Rey’s father or grandfather wouldn’t have simply given her a clear lineage, however, it also would have been the perfect ending to Obi-Wan and Satine’s love story. Satine’s death was one of theworst things to ever happen to Obi-Wan, and their entire relationship was tinged with tragedy. They loved each other, yet duty called them both in different directions. Either one of them would have left their calling for the other, but neither asked. And, in keeping withStar Wars' penchant for tragedy, Obi-Wan watched Satine die in his arms, killed for the sole reason of causing him pain.
What If Obi-Wan Kenobi Had Left The Jedi To Live On Mandalore?
Long before Star Wars: Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi almost left the Jedi Order to become a Mandalorian and marry Duchess Satine Kryze on Mandalore.
Making Rey the descendant of Obi-Wan and Satine could have done so much to give the couple a happy ending to their tragic stories. Both Obi-Wan and Satine fought their entire lives for peace, but they both died before they could see that peace. Decades later, Rey would have finally fulfilled their work by killing Palpatine. She also would have been a living testament of the love they had for each other, a sign that their love, however brief, was strong enough to save the world.Rey being a Kenobi would have been a rare - and deserved - moment of happiness for both Obi-Wan and Satine.
8Rey Being A Kenobi Would Have Been The Perfect Way To Honor Obi-Wan’s Legacy
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most recognizable and beloved characters inStar Wars, yet he plays a minimal part in the final trilogy of the Skywalker saga. He uttered a single line to Rey when she first picked up Anakin’s lightsaber inThe Force Awakens, and he was one of severalJedi voice cameos inThe Rise of Skywalker. Other than that, however, Obi-Wan had very little lasting legacy in the sequels. Even when Luke was visited by an old master who wanted to set him on the right path,The Last Jedisent Yoda’s Force ghost instead of Obi-Wan’s.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi became a Jedi Knight after his master’s death. Obi-Wan trained Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, with his own apprentice knighted after the Battle of Geonosis. The Jedi Master became a key player in the Jedi during the Clone Wars, and was heartbroken when Anakin turned to the dark side; Obi-Wan critically wounded Anakin before taking to the shadows, watching over the young Luke and Leia for years. He sacrificed himself for his two charges, becoming a Force Ghost and continuing to mentor them.
Making Rey a descendant of Obi-Wan would have been the perfect way to honor and continue his legacy.Because of Rey, he would have been either directly or indirectly involved in every chapter of the Skywalker saga, from his mission with Qui-Gon Jinn on Naboo all the way to the Battle of Exegol. The sequel trilogy’s focus on Rey’s heritage would have also been the perfect way to include either Ewan McGregor or the late Alec Guinness as Force ghosts, giving them a literal legacy on the trilogy.
7Rey Being A Kenobi Would Have Tied The Skywalker Saga Together As Well As Being A Palpatine Did
One of the best parts of Rey being related to Emperor Palpatine was how well it tied together all nine movies in the Skywalker saga. Because of their relationship, Palpatine was the antagonist of the entire saga, and every single movie saw at least his influence, if not his direct actions.Palpatine’s return and the reveal that Rey was his descendant inThe Rise of Skywalkerput a bow on the entire Skywalker saga. It also transformed the sequel trilogy from a story set in the same galaxy into the final chapter in a generational battle between good and evil.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be defeated once again.
The thing is, Rey didn’t need to be related to Palpatine to tie the sequels into the rest of the Skywalker saga.The Rise of Skywalkeralready made Palpatine the antagonist of the sequel trilogy by explaining how he used Snoke as a puppet and had been planning his resurrection for decades.On top of that, Rey being related to Obi-Wan would have provided just as clear of a connection to both the prequel and original trilogies as her relationship to Palpatine did. The best parts of Rey being a Palpatine would have been preserved if she turned out to be a Kenobi.
6Rey Being A Descendant Of Obi-Wan Was Better Set Up Than Her Being A Descendant Of Palpatine
Rey being a Kenobi would not only have connected the Skywalker saga as a whole, it would have connected the sequel trilogy better.The Force AwakensandThe Last Jedidid very little to indicate that Rey was related to Palpatine in any way.WhenThe Rise of Skywalkerwas released, it seemed very much like Rey’s relationship to the Emperor had been thought up as a way to walk back some of the backlash fromThe Last Jedi. Their connection has since been fleshed out considerably through variousStar Warsshows and Project Necromancer, but at the time it didn’t make much sense.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Cast
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concludes the Skywalker saga with Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron leading the Resistance against the First Order. As the final battle unfolds, they draw upon the wisdom and strength of previous generations to confront their adversaries. Released in 2019, the film concludes the sequel trilogy.
WhenThe Rise of Skywalkerwas released, there was much more evidence that Rey could be related to Obi-Wan than there was for her relationship to Palpatine.That evidence began as early asThe Force Awakens, when Obi-Wan spoke to Rey through the Force. EvenThe Clone Warshad already hinted that Obi-Wan could have had a son in Korkie some nine years beforeThe Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It follows Han Solo and new allies, including Finn and Rey, as they confront the rising threat of Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers while seeking the elusive Luke Skywalker.
By contrast, the setup for Rey being a descendant of Palpatine didn’t start untilThe Mandalorianseason 1, just months beforeThe Rise of Skywalker. It also took quite a bit to explain their relationship, as there are now several shows and a full novel explaining how she descended from Palpatine.Explaining how Rey was related to Obi-Wan would have been as simple as confirming a theory fans already believed and using evidence from the sequel trilogy itself.
5Rey Was Originally Supposed To Be Related To Obi-Wan Kenobi
The three movies in the sequel trilogy feel quite disjointed, especially with regard to Rey’s ancestry.The Force Awakensleft the identity of her parents a mystery.The Last Jedithen revealed the mystique surrounding Rey’s parents was inconsequential, as they were ordinary junkers. ThenThe Rise of Skywalkerchanged its mind yet again and decided that Rey’s parents were the key to the entire trilogy.Part of the reason those movies feel so disconnected is that theoriginal plan was to make Rey a descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Rey Kenobi: 10 Ways Star Wars' Scrapped Obi-Wan Twist Would Have Changed The Sequels
Rey went from nobody to Palpatine to Skywalker in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but the idea of her being a Kenobi was also considered.
TheStar Warssequel trilogy obviously went in a different direction for Rey’s heritage, but making her a Kenobi could have made the three films mesh together much more seamlessly.If the sequels had known ahead of time that Rey was going to be a Kenobi, rather than deciding inThe Rise of Skywalkerthat she would be a Palpatine, it could have set up that twist better. It also would have avoided the confusion and backtracking of all three movies, and it just would have been a more cohesive story.
4Rey Acts Much More Like A Kenobi Than A Palpatine
Another reason Rey seems so deserving of the Kenobi family name is because she acts much more like Obi-Wan than she ever acted like Palpatine.Rey had a few similarities to Palpatine, like her ability to use Force lightning and her general strength in the Force. She also had some connection to the dark side through the Force dyad. Other than those general abilities, though, she never really acted much like the Emperor. She wasn’t self-absorbed, cruel, or plotting, which are all hallmarks of the Palpatine name. Their familial bond didn’t seem to affect Rey’s personality much.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Complete Star Wars Timeline Explained
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most recognizable characters in Star Wars, meaning he also has an extensive timeline within the franchise.
Throughout the sequel trilogy, Rey behaved and thought much more like Obi-Wan than Palpatine. She was loyal and trusting to a fault, just like Obi-Wan.They also both paid for that trust: Kylo Ren’s influence on Rey and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s duels with Darth Vader brought both Jedi as close to the dark side as they would ever get. Additionally, both Rey and Obi-Wan were pinnacles of the Jedi Order, and symbols of what a Jedi should be. They were good, compassionate, and courageous people, and Rey seemed much more similar to Obi-Wan than her canonical ancestor.
3Being A Kenobi Would Have Made Rey Closer To Ben Solo
TheStar Warssequel trilogy tied Rey and Kylo Ren together quite closely through the Force dyad and their mutual problems with identity and legacy. Rey was struggling with not knowing her parents and trying to find out what kind of legacy they left her, while Kylo Ren was struggling with the burden of the Skywalker legacy.Rey being a Palpatine played on that nicely, as she became a child of the dark side who chose the light to mirror Kylo Ren’s role as a child of the light who chose the dark, but making her a Kenobi could have been even better.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren’s heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
By making Rey a Kenobi,Star Warscould have also made her a perfect parallel of Kylo Ren.Being part of the Palpatine bloodline made Rey the mirror image of Kylo Ren, but being part of the Kenobi bloodline would have made them parallels who started with much more similar backgrounds. It also would have opened up some great opportunities for their characters, like Rey learning how to live up to the Kenobi name and teaching Ben how to live up to the Solo name. It also would have played perfectly into a major part of Rey’s internal struggle.
2Rey Could Have Struggled With Her Kenobi Ancestry Just As Much As Her Palpatine Ancestry
Aside from how it connected the Skywalker saga, one of the best parts of Rey being related to Palpatine was what it did for her character development.The Rise of Skywalkershowed Rey learning that she had inherited an incredibly dark and evil legacy, and the entire movie was about her learning to overcome her evil nature and choose to be good in spite of it.While it certainly would have had differences, Rey could have gotten that same internal conflict through her relationship with Obi-Wan.
Rey Skywalker
Daughter of a “failed” Palpatine clone, Rey became part of a mysterious phenomenon known as the Force Dyad - a vergence in the Force that bound her to Kylo Ren. Trained by both Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, Rey fought against the First Order as an ally of the Resistance. She ultimately triumphed against Palpatine himself, channelling the full power of all Jedi.
Obi-Wan’s legacy was one of pain, and there would have been more than enough material to use for Rey to overcome that legacy.Internally, Rey would have had to reckon with the fact that she was a product of Obi-Wan’s relationship with Satine, a relationship that was one of his biggest regrets in life. Obi-Wan also prided himself on being a Jedi, yet his relationship with Satine was the closest he ever came to leaving the Order. Rey would have had to learn how to be a good Jedi even though the entire reason she existed was because one of the best Jedi ever almost left the Order.
Rey’s connection to Obi-Wan could have been just as emotionally poignant as her connection to Palpatine.
Rey could also have had some external problems from Obi-Wan’s legacy. Obi-Wan failed to bring Anakin back from the dark side, and if he was able to talk to Rey in the sequel trilogy, he probably would have told her to kill Kylo Ren rather than try to redeem him.That would have perfectly set up Ben Solo’s redemption at the end ofThe Rise of Skywalker, and it would have been a chance for Rey to learn to step out of Obi-Wan’s shadow and succeed where her grandfather failed. Rey’s connection to Obi-Wan could have been just as emotionally poignant as her connection to Palpatine.
1Rey Would Have A Much Easier Time Rebuilding The Jedi Order With A Kenobi Surname Than A Palpatine Surname
The last reason Rey should have been a Kenobi instead of a Palpatine is because it would have helped her future tremendously. Rey is set to star in an upcomingStar Warsmovie, tentatively titledNew Jedi Order. That film will follow Rey as she tries to rebuild the Jedi Order and bring peace to the galaxy again. The problem is, her connection to Palpatine will almost certainly be an issue in that goal.The galaxy will remember just how much grief and pain Palpatine caused, and if they learn who Rey’s grandfather was, they might oppose her bid to rebuild the Order.
Star Wars: New Jedi Order
The tenth mainline installment in the Star Wars franchise is the first movie to follow the sequel trilogy, where Mark Hamill’s Luke, Carrie Fisher’s Leia, and Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gave their final farewell. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, development on a direct sequel had become dormant as Disney shifted focus on other parts of the galaxy, namely, Disney+ shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka. However, a movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
While seeing how Rey handles being known as a Palpatine is an incredibly interesting direction forNew Jedi Orderto take, it might not be the best.Revisiting Rey’s connection to Palpatine could be seen as retreading groundThe Rise of Skywalkeralready covered, and it could slow the new movie down unnecessarily. If Rey was a Kenobi, however, she wouldn’t experience nearly as much opposition from the galaxy in her goal of rebuilding the Jedi Order. Rey Kenobi might have allowedNew Jedi Orderto skip over the past and get right into new and exciting storylines.
While there are several reasons Rey should have been a Kenobi instead of a Palpatine, that doesn’t mean her current heritage is bad. The themes and emotionsThe Rise of Skywalkerbrought up by revealing how Rey was connected to Palpatine were some of the best parts of the movie, and Palpatine was far from the worst choice for Rey’s most prominent relative. It also opened the door to quite a few great stories, fromThe MandaloriantoShadow of the Sith. There are also still plenty of waysStar Warscan explore Rey’s connection to the Emperor, and they’ll surely be worth watching.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
