Now that everyone has seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I think it's safe to say that Rey proved the haters wrong and ended up being the perfect hero for the new Star Wars trilogy. And while we learned a lot about her, like that she grew up an orphan on Jakku and that the Force is very strong within her, some aspects of her character were kept a mystery. Most notably, fans still don't know who Rey's parents are in The Force Awakens.
Right now, there are loads of theories floating around regarding who Rey's parents could be. The most prominent line of thinking suggests that Rey is the daughter of Luke Skywalker. There's plenty of evidence in favor of this for those willing to look for it, and it seems to come to a head with their reunion at the end of the film. But not everyone is convinced of this. Some fans think that Rey is the second child of Han Solo and Leia Organa, and that after their first kid, Kylo Ren, turned to the Dark Side, they abandoned Rey to keep her from suffering the same fate. And still yet another theory puts forth the idea that Rey isn't related to anyone in the Skywalker family at all, and instead posits that she's actually the granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
But I hope that every single one of these theories is wrong, along with any others that tout Rey as being the descendant of anyone else in the known Star Wars universe. Why? Because it's better for the franchise if Rey's parents are characters we haven't met yet, and here's why.
It's Unexpected
Everyone believes that Rey is a descendant of some prominent member of the original trilogy, but what if she's not? A revelation such as this would be far more shocking to fans than if she ends up being what everyone expects her to be, and the franchise should be aiming for surprises.
It's Less Derivative
Perhaps the chief complaint about The Force Awakens is that it mimics the original trilogy too closely, with some critics even calling it a remake of A New Hope. While I think that criticism is a bit extreme, the similarities between the films are plentiful. Therefore, having another secret family connection to a known character revealed in Episode VIII would almost definitely draw comparisons to The Empire Strikes Back, where Darth Vader and Luke were revealed to be father and son. And since that's arguably the most beloved Star Wars film of all, you can bet those comparisons won't be flattering for the new installment.
It's More Interesting
If Rey is a Skywalker or a Kenobi, then I'm sure the new trilogy will end up being solid entertainment — but it could be better. Since fans have heard a version of that story before, you know, the chosen one fulfilling his/her destiny, it's seems like better storytelling to have Rey instead come from nothing to become the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. That's something no one could have predicted.
It's Better For the Character
Rey is off to a great start as a character. She's strong, independent, and has earned everything she has in life. But revealing that she's the way she is because of who her father is seems like it would be cutting the legs off her. Rey still has room to grow, but that growth should come from her experiences, not her family history.
It's Less Repetitive
The big reveal in The Force Awakens was that Kylo Ren was the son of Han and Leia, which made for a nice twist. But if Rey ends up being his sister or his cousin, then what's next? Will Finn or Poe Dameron end up being their third cousin, twice removed? Too much family connection gets stale very quickly, and I think having Kylo Ren connected to the original cast is all the franchise needs.
It Allows For More New Characters
I don't want to see Ewan McGregor impersonating Alec Guinness as a Force Ghost Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode VIII telling Rey she's his granddaughter (does anyone?). And since The Force Awakens is pretty much batting a thousand with their new characters (Rey, Kylo, Finn, Poe, and BB-8 were all perfect), wouldn't it be great to see who else they come up with for Rey's parents? I know I'd like to meet them.
I really hope Rey ends up coming from a new, unheard of family and expands the Star Wars universe, rather than further convoluting what already exists. But regardless of who her ancestors end up being, she's still the hero Star Wars fans deserve.
Images: Disney/Lucasfilm; giphy.com
