That's what I never understood from her character. For Anakin he at least had a motive for his change (even though it was poorly performed and expressed) but for Rey I never understood why that story was about her. At first it was set to be as a mystery I get it, its to get intrigued about the character. But dam after that I was lost why bother with her. I forgot the other dude too, the one that always screams Reyyyyy!
From what I've heard, fans of The Clone Wars say that the series did a much better job of showing the change from anakin to darth vader. I can't vouch for it but hearing it online and from other friends makes me think that's true. I still need to watch it lol.
Its true, the clone wars really fleshes out his character in a way that makes a lot of sense. It really is worth watching, and season 7 is nothing short of beautiful!
I have to step in here and mention two things.
1. The fact a protagonist doesn’t have character development isn’t a mark of a good or bad film or character. How much growth has Hames Bond done in how many decades? What valuable lessons do the Basterds learn about self discovery? Ethan Hunt is profoundly changed how across his adventures? Indiana Jones goes through an entire trilogy and learns some things and picks up some ticks- but how is last crusade Indy different from Raiders or Temple?
2. Rey DOES have character development- you aren’t beat over the head with it, but it is there. Rey already had the juice to be a Jedi more or less. She doesn’t want power for herself. She doesn’t want revenge. She doesn’t want adventure and she doesn’t want adoration. She is happy where she is at more or less when the film starts- but she isn’t a happy person.
Reys struggle is internal. She wants to know why her parents never came back. Rey had to come to terms with who she is- and her change isn’t so much outward as it is to be ok with herself, to accept herself and not need external validation. That’s her balance- she isn’t trying to please Luke or live up to some prophecy or atone for some sin- that’s why she wraps up the Skywalker saga. The events starting with Anakin set in motion the balancing of the force. Rey isn’t a “Jedi” or a “sith” really and nor is she trying to be. She doesn’t have grand designs for the universe or her powers to be corrupted in that way.
So she didn’t need to change any fundamental flaws, she was a pretty balanced person to start with. She just needed to accept herself and reconcile what she thinks she wants with what is, and learn to live in the present a bit more.
I'd honestly say that Rey does have pretty noticeable character development (kind of). She's introduced as this Mary Sue wish fulfillment Star Wars fan stand in in Episode 7, but that's subverted in Episode 8 when she realizes that Luke, the Jedi, her parents, and, by extension, her aren't anybody special. Her character arc is learning that life isn't nice and neat like the stories she was told. Episode 9 kind of undermined this theme, but one could argue that her arc in that movie was coming to terms with her feelings/inner darkness, which does kind of make sense in the context of Episode 8 destroying the illusion of the Jedi's greatness. I still wish that Episode 9 fit more coherently with the rest of the trilogy tho.
@e- agreed. I didn’t want to go too long long as it was already- but yes! The second film does show her most profound revelations when she believes her parents were no bodies and she meets a disinterested and disenfranchised Luke Skywalker/ supposedly the “man”, a burnt out hermit. In that way- the new films are very much a film for young people growing up today. She doesn’t really have any heroes or grand destiny. A bunch of people screwed up the Galaxy before she was born and she’s trying to live in it but is forced to far the legacy of their decay-
Star Wars (original) was watched by kids who’s parents and grand parents loved through a “Great War” against an “evil empire,” an age of “legends” fading away and trying to find their way in that shadow. The new films were made in a time where there was no “great noble war” and media and information has made the “legend” a thing of the past- the truth is ugly and while much of it was myth or propaganda- generations before had “heroes” who were near unimpeachable to the public consciousness. That’s gone. We see the good and bad of people.
So much like the generation the film was made in- Rey is facing challenges that were handed down to her that she doesn’t want to, shouldn’t have to have stake in- and she doesn’t have any real solid guidance she can trust- she’s got to trust herself and those around her.
1. The fact a protagonist doesn’t have character development isn’t a mark of a good or bad film or character. How much growth has Hames Bond done in how many decades? What valuable lessons do the Basterds learn about self discovery? Ethan Hunt is profoundly changed how across his adventures? Indiana Jones goes through an entire trilogy and learns some things and picks up some ticks- but how is last crusade Indy different from Raiders or Temple?