Rey’s Parents Can Be New Characters
The Big Mystery
Ever since The Force Awakens hit theaters, the big question has been who Rey’s parents could be. There are fan theories that support the idea of just about every previous Star Wars character being a parent of hers. I bet somewhere out there is a theory of how the Ewok, Wicket W. Warrick is Rey’s father. Yeah, that’s how crazy the internets are with Rey theories. However, one theory that hasn’t really been explored is the chance that her folks aren’t anybody we already know. That brings us to this Reel Theories idea. Rey’s parents can be new characters.
The Old, Reliable Team
Not for nothing, there’s something to be said for the idea that there is some riddle to be solved about Rey’s family. Star Wars has always been about the Skywalkers, so it makes some sense to have that still be the case. Also, there are plenty of members of the original cast to throw into the mix. In Episode VII we get to see Han, Chewie, Luke, Leia, R2, and 3PO. Heck, count the torched helmet, and we even see Darth Vader. All the inclusion of original trilogy characters certainly creates the illusion that Rey’s lineage will be some sort of revelation, winding this way and that until the familial ties to familiar faces are revealed. However…
New Faces
For as many returning characters as there are in Ep. VII, there are a ton of new ones, too. The main character, Rey as well as her companion through much of the story, Finn, are both brand new characters. Even though Kylo Ren is the kid of Han and Leia, he’s still a new character. There’s even a new lovable little droid in BB-8. Not to mention, Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma and Kylo’s master, Snoke, as well. All new to the story of Star Wars. If they can all be new and important, why can’t Rey’s family? This wouldn’t be the first time that Star Wars gave us new characters. In the second installment in the series, The Empire Strikes Back, we already meet new players. Lando Calrissian and Yoda show up there, among others. The point isn’t to chronicle all the performers, rather to simply illustrate that the series constantly introduces new people, droids, and creatures to us.
Why A New Family?
That is the question… Introducing a new force sensitive family could be a vehicle to create a new conflict for the heroes to overcome. If Rey has ties to an ancient, powerful Sith family, this could be a boundary that Luke or a pupil of his must cross. If Rey is from a family with ties to the Jedi, then this could be a, “torch being passed to the next generation” type of thing. The new film is titled The Last Jedi. If Rey is from a Jedi family that the Empire was after, it’s conceivable that she may have been sent to Jakku to keep her safe. If that family fell to the power of the Empire, Rey could be the titular character of Episode VIII. Rey could be the last Jedi. Of course, there was a time when we weren’t concerned with the last Jedi, but the one prophesied to bring balance to the force. I’m referring to Anakin Skywalker. When we met the young Anakin, he was introduced with a mother we had never heard of before. Again, with the new characters. So, it would be in keeping with with the history of the series to introduce a new family to us, in regards to Rey.
Not Another Skywalker
I guess it’s not farfetched to say that Rey could be a Skywalker. It would just be a bit anticlimactic. The series has always been about the Skywalker clan. To have that still be the case may prove to be more in the way of predictable, rather than traditional. As I’ve seen it mentioned so many times already, it would be, “too on the nose.” Maybe Rey’s family could be Skywalker adjacent. I have loads of family that don’t share my name. They’re my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. I’m just saying, there is a way to have Rey be a Skywalker without her being a Skywalker in name, too. A turn like this would satisfy the tradition of the story, as well as carving out it’s own path.
Final Thoughts
That really sums it all up. I tried to be fair and balanced. When you look at all the angles, it really makes sense to have Rey get a family of her own, instead of just recycling characters from the OG trilogy. The only loose end really, is that we never get her full name. Maybe that’s to tease that it means more than we’re allowed to know, just yet. I think it’s just so that we, the viewer, get to experience Rey’s journey as if it were our own. When she learns who she is, we will too. Do you have a favorite theory about Rey’s family? Leave your take in the comments below.
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