Warning: There are massive spoilers ahead. Do not read on if you have not seen "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Hopefully, by now you've seen the movie everyone is talking about: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." It racked up $1 billion in box office sales in record time.
If you haven't seen it, stop reading this article right now, go buy some movie tickets, and revisit this after.
If you have seen the new "Star Wars," you're likely left with more than a few burning questions. And if you don't want to wait until 2017 to get answers — that's when the next "Star Wars" episode is supposed to come out — then you're in luck. We're impatient, too, so we rounded up the best fan-theory answers to hold you over until Episode VIII is released.
These are the biggest questions we have after seeing "The Force Awakens."
Let's get to it!
Who is Rey and where did she come from? There are two convincing theories.
We made it through the whole movie and still only know Rey's first name.
We know she's Force sensitive and that she's a great pilot. Anakin's lightsaber called to her and she was able to overpower Kylo Ren. One theory is that she's Luke's daughter, but could she be Kylo's secret sister? Maybe she's someone unconnected to the Skywalker clan altogether (Obi-Wan's daughter?).
Still, there are two strong theories about her background: that she's Skywalker's bloodline or that she's the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia.
1. Rey is Luke Skywalker's daughter
The theory that Rey is Skywalker's daughter is supported by how strong the Force is with her and the fact that she's a great pilot, just like her theoretical dad. She's also drawn to Luke's lightsaber in the basement of the cantina.
Rey is almost instantly able to do things that took Luke Skywalker years of training to master — like commanding a stormtrooper to unlock her handcuffs so she can escape from Kylo Ren. This dad theory is also supported by the film's novelization — the book that Disney/Lucasfilm had to sign off on. While the digital version is currently available for purchase, the hardcover won't be available until January 5.
A Redditor transcribed some of the book detailing scenes with General Leia Organa and Rey in them. The transcriptions seem to suggest a more distant familial tie between the two — Leia and Skywalker are brother and sister.
For example, this excerpt:
Standing at the foot of the ramp, an uncertain and uneasy Leia found herself fiddling with the seals on the front of the jacket Rey was wearing. "Foolish nonsense," she told herself even as she continued. Unworthy of her status and position. But it felt so right, and so natural, to be doing so.
"I'm proud of what you're about to do," she told the girl.
Rey replied in all seriousness. "But you're also afraid. In sending me away, you're — reminded."
Leia straightened. "You won't share the fate of our son."
By saying "our son" instead of "your brother," some Redditors believe this implies Rey is not Leia and Solo's daughter.
2. Rey is Han Solo and Princess Leia's daughter
Then there's the "Rey clearly belongs to Han Solo" camp. Business Insider's Steve Kovach makes a strong case:
Here's the theory: Rey is Kylo Ren's sister. We learn relatively early on in the movie that Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. Kylo — his real name was Ben Solo before turning evil — showed early signs that he was strong in the Force, but was leaning toward the Dark Side. So Leia and Han decided to send him off to train with Luke Skywalker, who was working on building a new generation of Jedi.
Why was R2-D2 in low-power mode and why did he conveniently awake at the end of the movie?
Did Luke set R2 to awake when the time was right? Either R2 sensed that Luke's lightsaber was near or Luke let him know somehow that it was the right time for him to awaken.
Or perhaps R2 sensed Luke or the Force within Rey — he did come out of deep-power mode only after Rey made it to the Resistance base. He also conveniently woke up right after Han Solo was killed by his son, Kylo Ren.
J.J. Abrams and other writers of "The Force Awakens" explain why the little droid woke up so late in the movie. They say the new droid in the film, BB-8, led to it.
"BB-8 comes up and says something to him, which is basically, 'I've got this piece of a map, do you happen to have the rest?'" Abrams told Entertainment Weekly at a post-screening for the movie. "The idea was, R2 who has been all over the galaxy, is still in his coma, but he hears this. And it triggers something that would ultimately wake him up."
The directors played with the timing of R2-D2's awakening. At first, they wanted the little robot to appear earlier in the movie with C-3PO. But they felt, after viewers watched the depressing death of Han Solo, that they needed a beloved character to come back to life. And having R2 wake up at the end of the film was more climactic.
Who is Supreme Leader Snoke?
Is the new Sith Lord someone we already know or is he a completely new character? Leia appeared to make it seem as if she may have been familiar with him.
The other thought is that he may be Darth Plagueis, a Sith Lord referenced in "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith."
Though Plagueis died years ago, he was apparently so knowledgeable in the Dark Side that he could prevent people from dying. Plus, when he was alive, Plagueis was studying immortality.
Could he have found a way to bring himself back to life?
Here's how one fan on Reddit thinks it could have happened:
You create an illusion, or do die and self-resurrect, or are just gravely injured and able to heal using the Force. Now, as an injured/resurrected Sith Lord, you know you can't return and face your old apprentice one-on-one because he'll kick the crap out of you. However, youcan watch from the shadows as he eliminates the Jedi Order, builds up the Empire, draws out the Son of Skywalker, and self-destructs, leaving you the perfect opportunity to swoop in, corral the Empire's remnants, and take control of the galaxy without needing to do any real legwork. Then, knowing Luke is the most powerful (and still living) Force user out there, you find a weak point you can exploit to take control of that power--what better than a disenchanted, emo youth of the same bloodline? Turn that youth to the Dark Side, bring down the new Jedi Order from within, and move your pieces into checkmate position.
Seems completely plausible and would tie nicely into the prequels. A thread like that would actually give them some on-going relevance.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
