Star Wars: 9 Unpopular Opinions About Rey (According To Reddit)

Content Warning: This article contains references/discussions to abuse and violence.

It was never going to be easy becoming one of the new heroes of the Sequel Trilogy, but thanks to a dynamic performance by Daisy Ridley and an inspiring character arc, Rey quickly became a celebrated figure in Star Wars. Resourceful, compassionate, and brave, the scavenger from Jakku proved herself time and again as an ally of the Resistance and a powerful Jedi hopeful, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have detractors.

Like many components of the Sequel Trilogy she’s divisive, and Reddit has no shortage of Star Wars fans debating her character. Whether or not she fits the definition of a Mary Sue (without flaws and weaknesses) or she’s a better character than Luke Skywalker, there are a wide variety of unpopular opinions about her.

9 She Isn’t A Mary-Sue

As one of the new heroes of the Sequel Trilogy, it fell to Rey to rally audiences behind a new era of Star Wars, and for the most part, they welcomed her lowly scavenger origins and embraced her Jedi quest. However, many Star Wars fans believed she was simply a Mary Sue because she didn’t have enough obstacles, always succeeded at everything, and didn’t have enough character flaws.

Redditor brai117 disagrees and believes that Rey being an “inherently powerful force user” was no different than when Luke ” blew up the Death Star after 1 short training session with Obi-Wan,” or when Anakin destroyed the Trade Federation blockade ship after only flying as a passenger on a starship. Rey also had several flaws too – which she worked hard to overcome with her training.

8 Her Taking The Skywalker Name Made Perfect Sense

While some Star Wars fans might not have had a problem with Rey’s origins, they did find it problematic when she assumed the surname of one of the most famous families in the galaxy. There were many implications of her taking the Skywalker name, including it making her less of a unique character, and insulting the memory of the full-blooded Skywalkers who were deceased.

Redditor Mr_freeze___ explains that Rey taking the Skywalker name made perfect sense because she was trying to “move on from an abusive past.” Since both the Solos and the Skywalkers were “the only family she really ever knew,” her choice seemed like a natural fit.

7 Her Force Healing Ability Invalidated Anakin’s Turn To The Dark Side

The Prequel Trilogy focused a great deal on the relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Sheev Palpatine, with the latter grooming Skywalker to be an agent of evil. Were it not for Palpatine’s manipulations, he would never have gotten the idea to save Padme’s life through unnatural abilities derived from the dark side.

Redditor joseconsueko1 postulates that the Force healing ability Rey uses in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker invalidates Anakin’s turn to the dark side, specifically because “Palpatine made it very clear to him that the only ones to master this ability were Sith Lords,” which forced him to betray the Jedi and recklessly follow Palpatine’s tutelage rather than learn the secret from a fellow Jedi.

6 She Deserved To Win Her First Fight Against Kylo Ren

Of the two of them, Kylo Ren was generally favored to win his battle against Rey at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He had been trained to use the Force since he was a young boy under Luke Skywalker, and had much more proficiency with a lightsaber, whereas Rey’s abilities were largely untested.

Redditor sMartix9 believes that despite Rey having never wielded a lightsaber before, it stands to reason she could have won their duel because she trained herself “to fight with the rod on Jakku” as a scavenger and because Kylo Ren “didn’t want to kill her” — he pursued her to offer the completion of her training.

5 She Is The Only One Who Knows How To Use A Lightsaber Properly

Before she ever gets her hands on a lightsaber, Rey wields a staff she made from spare parts scavenged on Jakku. While it helps her in situations requiring combat, it doesn’t rely on any lightsaber forms. In fact, Rey has no formal training with any Jedi before she enters into her first duel with Kylo Ren, making many fans feel her technique is sloppy.

Redditor hazbean42 explains that Rey is the only person who uses a lightsaber as intended like in the Clone Wars era, “always meant as a last resort”, possibly “ceremonial”, or a means of intimidation. She only uses it when necessary and against other Force users, otherwise relying on her staff or the Force.

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3 Hatred Of Rey By Star Wars Fans Is Hypocritical

The Skywalker saga is full of incredibly powerful Force users that seem to accomplish incredible things with little to no effort. This is deceptive, considering that while members of the Skywalker family can maneuver ships they’ve never flown before and use advanced Force abilities as padawans, their high midi-chlorian counts and familial heritage only take them so far; Jedi training fills in the rest.

Redditor bealtimint concludes that hatred of Rey is hypocritical because she’s “no worse than her predecessors” in the famously hypertrophied Skywalker line, with excellent piloting skills and powerful inherent Force abilities. Most fans don’t want to accept the comment because of the inconsistent presentation of Jedi training in the franchise; Anakin Skywalker trained for over a decade, but Luke trained off and on with Master Yoda for only a few weeks at a time.

2 Rey Is A Better Character Than Luke Skywalker

As the hero of the Original Trilogy, Luke Skywalker not only championed the Rebel Alliance, he destroyed the Emperor and restored peace to the galaxy. He went from being a callow farmboy to being an ace fighter pilot and a famous Jedi Knight, but more than that, he became the face of the franchise for many fans. By contrast, Rey is seen as someone who’s been given a similar storyline to Luke but without earning it.

Redditor BitterOptimist asserts that Rey is a better character than Luke because he’s uninteresting, and his character “deliberately [relies] on tropes in place of development,” whereas Rey shows genuine emotions from the trauma of being abandoned, and is generally nuanced.

1 Jar-Jar Binks Is A Better Character Than Rey

Jar Jar Binks is a divisive figure in the Prequel Trilogy because of his clumsy behavior and annoying antics. He’s regarded by most Star Wars fans as one of the most lamentable aspects of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and was noticeably absent from its sequels. Rey, while a divisive character, is given more complexity by the nature of her storyline as the hero of the Sequel Trilogy.

Redditor goldietheswagbear claims that while Rey might be the hero of the three movies, it doesn’t necessarily make her any more important character than Binks, whose deciding vote “gave emergency powers to Palpatine” and sealed the fate of the Republic.

About The Author

Kayleena Pierce-Bohen
(1344 Articles Published)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she’s particularly proud of. When she isn’t writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she’s working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can.

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