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RFR Q&A #57: What Does It Mean To Be A Skywalker? (Patreon)

Published:
2021-03-08 23:17:42
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2026-06
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Content

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER ends with Rey taking on the Skywalker name and carrying it's legacy into the future. RFR VIP Sean Wanty challenges us with his analysis of what it means for Rey to take on the mantle and his conclusions are enlightening. Join us as we navigate through the rough waters of EPISODE IX in this STAR WARS conversation/therapy session. 

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Comments

Jared Cantor

Really looking forward to this! I've had serious doubts about this whole concept

Federico

Great! Always a new Rfr post makes me smile. Starting to listen at the end of this sentence!, thank you Jimmy and have a good one everybody!

w. greg simmons

Can't wait to listen. lol - "therapy session"

Sean W. from Warsaw

Looking forward to what everyone's thoughts are on this controversial subject. This was a super tough one to crack. I'm gonna have to hear it again, for sure, so any analysis from folks out there would be great! Therapy session indeed.... lol

Sean W. from Warsaw

Also, Jimmy, just a head's up. When I click on my name in the list of subjects under the episode name it takes me to a list of only three of my four episodes. It's missing the one called "The Unknown Regions." Just a helpful tip!

Blake Weaver

Shawn you blew my mind dude. I love these shows with you brother. To me Rey taking the Skywalker name was more simple but not as interesting. She never had a family and it was simply her taking her place with them as a adopted member in a way. Which makes it still a story about family. If she wasn’t a palpatine to begin with I’d be ok with it...but because that’s not the case I hate it along with the sequels lol.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55233810

Oh no! Lol Well, glad you liked the conversation, man! This was a fun one, getting to challenge Jimmy and myself with some tough stuff. It's definitely helped me with a better appreciation of it all. At the end of the day, if I can get folks to appreciate it more, at least (the ST), then I've done my job. Lol

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55233810

Also, I think it works pretty well with just the simple idea of becoming an adopted Skywalker. I've thought about that idea a lot. But with all of the evidence we talked about in the episode, it seems clear there is something deeper going on. She's looking for her family, for sure; but I don't think it's "just a choice," either. It seems there was a real, tangible transformation that happened to her. Pretty cool stuff!

Michael McManus

Great show guys! The new ideas dropped about Rey and her Skywalker lineage blew my mind!!

BenR

This is a good conversation! Made me rethink a moment that I felt was pretty cringe inducing. Like it or not, I think there will be a groundswell in the coming years of support of the sequel trilogy— in the same way the prequels went from being popularly reviled to publicly celebrated by a) fans of The Clone Wars, b) those who were children when the films were released, and c) hardcore fans. Personally, I admit the ST did 4 things well: 1) The real Yoda. One of the first things Yoda said back in ESB was “A great warrior! Ha ha. Wars not make one great!” This is the zen monk Yoda who I believe has been overshadowed by the less mature general/ superhero of the Prequel era. TLJ brought back wise Yoda. 2) Weird Force moments. Luke battling Vader/himself in the cave on Dagobah was the kind of surreal, dreamlike sequence that was absent from the Prequels. TLJ had the scene on the island in which Rey described the essence of the Force and saw her lineage in the mirror (I think?) and RoS had Dark Side Rey. Those are cool sequences that inspire discussion. 3) Visuals. The return to puppets, makeups, practical effects. A big improvement over fakeroo CGI. 4) Babu Frik. What a legend.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55254033

The irony about that final scene, for me, is that I actually predicted she would take on that name, thinking the idea was really cool...and then when I saw it, I felt both vindicated and let down! I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, at first. But now that I've had time for it to sit with me, as this episode attests, I can see more to it, for sure. The ST is definitely something I'm owning through growing pains.... Still not sure where I land on the whole, but at least there's some deep things in it on an individual level.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55199252

I found it. I noticed, though, that there aren't any topics links below the episode name, the way there are with the other episodes. So maybe that's why my name doesn't link to it...?

Antonio from NJ

Oh man 15 mins in and I'm loving this. I've got thoughts but have to finish first. Sean W - always a great convo man!

Antonio from NJ

ITS AWESOME TO BE TALKING THE MYTHOS OF THE WARS AGAIN! So many good points...Great convo again Sean and Jimmy. Some quick thoughts: * I love the ben solo essence comment 👏 ❤ 👌 * A lot of your comments made me think about how Gaius Octavius took on the name Caesar August when he became the first Roman Emporer turning Caesar into a namesake. * Also thinking about how Jesus Christ is the name sake of Christianity/Christians and how that relates to the Skywalker as a mantle and Rey taking on the name. * I also see Rey taking it on a massively symbolic and transcending. The Last of the Palatines erased him by "ending" his lineage by taking on the Skywalker name. Easentiql killed of palpatine once and for all and ensured the Skywalkers would continue. * like you I saw it as more of an action tied to Ben and Rey as well a Luke and Leia but not as much. I just hope they lean in the Skywalkers as the next evolution of the jedi. Kinda lke how the Dai Bendu became the Jedi in the EU.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55308702

Really good thoughts, man! I was trying to think of some examples like this from history, but the conversation kept going. Well done! I also think there's probably something more to the whole Jedi/Skywalker relationship going forward. When Ahsoka says "We are your ancestors now," that really gives it away to me that there's a reformation of some sort in the works for the new Jedi to come. It can't be a mere coincidence. So, I could see Rey and her descendants maybe seeking to find out more about both and what they need going forward.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55308702

I feel like this question is especially one for Paul Bateman, but does anyone know of any examples from mythology where a name becomes way more than a name, but something intrinsically tied to something powerful and tangible? I feel like I know some examples but can't quite put my finger on it. Christ and Christianity is a really good example. Any others?

Adam Taylor

Always a great convo. I’m not a Sequel fan per se, (I enjoy parts as a fan of the Galaxy) but the Skywalker essence theory made me tear up 😢 😂 what a great idea. Thanks again

David Fieldsend

Great conversation again, Sean! Work for me has been a little crazy, and RFR keeps dropping so much good Patreon content, so I'm behind on my listening and commenting. I agree with everyone else, that your idea of Ben transferring some Skywalker essence to Rey is pretty inspired. I mean, they do have a force dyad, so it's well within the imagination for a transfer like that to have occurred. I had thought of Rey taking on the Skywalker name to have been more of a light side/dark side choice she was making (like Harry Potter with the sorting hat), as in she was denouncing her Palpatine blood line and embracing the Skywalker name in honor of her masters (Luke and Leia) and in honor of Ben who sacrificed himself for her, like it was a testament to not where one comes from, but how one lives one's life that matters. It seemed like a denouncing of a clan-based mentality, of an us versus them mentality of politics that steered the Jedi into irrelevance as a fallen order, but rather an embracing of the living force and listening to the choices it guided her to make. And it would make total sense if Ben passed some Skywalker essence of living force to her, using their dyad.

David Fieldsend

Also, I thought a good addition to the conversation would be to bring up how the term Skywalker is used in the later Thrawn novels. For the Chiss (Thrawn's species), force wielders are used as hyperspace navigators, and called "skywalkers". In fact, in one of the Thrawn novels, he actually meets Anakin pre-order 66 and is shocked that his last name was Skywalker. I had thought the writer was maybe hinting at or trying to set up some long lost family lineage with Shmi Skywalker being a descendant of some ancestral "skywalkers". And the new High Republic novel also involves a force-wielding hyperspace navigator, which, when I read that, it made me wonder if they're going to explore or try to set up the "skywalker" background of Shmi moving forward, or how super powerful navigation computers become ubiquitous in the galaxy, supplanting the need for force-wielders to chart new hyperspace lanes.

David Fieldsend
>>55308702

Besides John 1:1? There are a lot of examples of rulers embodying a name, like Caesar or Tsar, Popes choosing names to signify whose teachings they want their rule to emulate, and more related to Star Wars influences, in feudal Europe (like with knights) and in feudal Japan (like with samurai), warriors were often adopted into the clan they would join and take the clan name. Or even like in the Marines, where "Marines may die, but the Corps lives forever", like there's some essence that Rey can choose to be part of that is more important than the individual, than the details of her birth. It's almost like Skywalker becomes an updated version of Jedi, with more a focus on the living force and less a focus on political rule? I really think A M is onto something there.

David Fieldsend
>>55254033

I think in some years, a new series that details the evolution of the Jedi after Rey would do a lot to give fans an appreciation for the sequel trilogy, in the way the Clone Wars gave a lot of people (including myself) a better appreciation for the prequels.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55396728

I had completely forgotten about that Thrawn reference! It's been a while since I read the book. Good call! I've always been intrigued by that name and that the Chiss use it. Looking forward to seeing where it goes, for sure.

Christopher Spark

Sean, Jimmy, great episode. A really enjoyable listen and my mind is well and truly blown!

Commander Bly

WOW, guys! Had to stop doing the dishes to write this! Sean - Brilliant thoughts on the diad, brother! I love the idea of Ben’s essence passing into Rey! You just made me appreciate TROS a little bit more.👍 Jimmy - Amazing train of thought on only formerly Vader Anakin could destroy Palpatine. All of the death, destruction, and torment had to occur to reach that end. Side note: We need to get you a better mic, Sean. 👍

Eric from Phoenix

Deep, deep stuff Sean and JMac! My second church service of the weekend. Loved the concept of Rey taking on the spirit of a Skywalker through Ben. Pretty cool and actually makes me feel better about her taking the Skywalker name. Without that “spiritual” change I hated the fact she did this as I didn’t see how she could.

Javier Solorzano

Loved this QA.....you always got me w/ SW mythology which always leads to comparitive religion. My issue w/ TROS is what Jmac stated....they didn't commit. Which means that SW fans have to tease out what they should have "baked into" the Trilogy Arc from day one. It's the same old "read the novels to get what we didn't give you"....I'm just thru w/ that. Lucasfilm/Disney have to be "loyal" to the fans & then the fans will have a reason to reward them w/ our attendance & viewership....until that happens, I'm a skeptical & waiting SW fan.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55454948

I never grow tired of hearing this. Thank you so much. As just a guy communicating some thoughts on the controversial ST, it's comments like this which keep me going and coming back for more. :D

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55584769

Well, truth be told I was actually really sick when I recorded this episode. Lol But duly noted all the same! Anyways, Jimmy had some great thoughts about that that I hope to pick his brain on a bit more in the future. All of the stuff about Anakin, and how Luke fits into the grander scheme of things, etc, has always been fascinating. I think Jimmy is right on this; but I'm also more of the mindset of, Well why couldn't Luke be alongside his father in maintaining a more lasting peace in the Force as father and son? In many ways, that's more compelling due to the intense bond that only a father and son can have. Luke took it to the inevitable next step in TLJ. Anakin had that personal effect on Luke (and maybe Leia), but I don't see him as having such a personal effect on the galaxy so that people follow his example. I don't necessarily see people even knowing about his heroic change and sacrifice. But Luke? Obviously! He's been the galaxy's hero for decades. And even Leia, to an extent. But it couldn't have happened at all without Anakin. It goes back to what Jimmy and I talked about regarding the connectedness between the Chosen One and his descendants--biological or spiritual. It seems clear to me that Luke shares a very special place alongside Anakin that isn't well explored in conversation. So stay tuned!

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55672710

Totally understand that perspective. Even as someone who has been doing these episodes with Jimmy, I'm still not someone sold on the ST, in part for the reasons you just gave. I love being able to find certain things to appreciate and really explore for all they're worth. I really meant it when I said I think there's more that these films can offer and greater conversation that's sorely lacking. Yet at the same time I can't just ignore the problems the ST has in spades, either. Staying focused on the positive is far more rewarding, though. It might not necessarily change the way you feel about these films overall, but at least it manages to keep me challenged and open minded. I'll be surprised if years down the road I'll be a die hard ST defender. But I'm more interested in just trying to bring good conversation to a subject too many are more than willing to speak loudly into an echo chamber already filled with the same content. In the end, it's fascinating to see what comes out!

Commander Bly
>>55584769

You know, I always wondered what, if anything, the average citizen might have heard about Vader/Anakin, after Return of the Jedi. Likely, it’s just too complicated to bother explaining.

Todd “Suds” Sedlacek

Sean - I loved hearing your point of view on this subject and you certainly gave me a lot of food for thought on what it means to be a Skywalker. Most enlightening to me was the concept of Ben transferring his “Skywalker Force Essence” into Rey at the end of TROS truly making her a Skywalker in more than just name.

Sean W. from Warsaw
>>55584769

It is a pretty interesting subject, for sure. I know in the old EU people seemed to know about it; and in the ST, we see that Rey knew about it. If someone on a backwater world can know, one would suppose others would, too. But Anakin wasn't necessarily their hero. Luke was. For everyone who heard about Vader's sacrifice, I'd bet twice that heard about Luke's, and would look up to him more. Might just have to talk with Jimmy about this, now!

Sean W. from Warsaw

So alot of people might not see this note, given how long this post has been up, but I'll try anyways. What's everyone's thoughts on the "mythological Skywalker" concept? Still not entirely sure what to think about it. Thoughts?

Diana Orr

Sean, you bring a solid theory to the table and which made me go back and view TROS with a new perspective. Great episode!

GB7

My goodness! What a chat that was. Excellent topic & I’m glad to say it’s helped settle a little of my own mind canon. Great work Sean!! And well played Jimmy … the Q&A’s rock! Keep up the good work guys. MTFBWY