5 Missed Opportunities in The Rise of Skywalker

Having Ben Appear in the End

We’ve already talked about the ending a couple of times in this article but we’ll touch on it once more. In The Rise of Skywalker, Ben Solo is redeemed and comes back to the light. He fights alongside Rey against the Emperor and in the end, gives his life to save hers. It’s a powerful moment and we see Ben become one with the Force the same moment his mother does.

At the end of the film, Rey is on Tatooine, ceremoniously burying the Skywalker’s lightsabers. She then tells a local her name is Rey Skywalker as she looks off and sees the Force ghosts of her two masters, Luke and Leia. It would’ve been nice to see a redeemed Ben Solo in his Jedi robes join his mother and uncle.

Rey and Ben’s relationship is still up in the air. J.J. Abrams said it was more of a brother/sister kind of thing, but it seems more romantic in nature when watching the movie.

Whatever it was, Ben clearly loved Rey and the feeling appeared to be mutual. Having him show up the way Anakin did at the end of Return of the Jedi, would’ve made a lot of sense. It would’ve put Rey at peace, knowing Ben was one with the Force and with his family. He was just as important to her as Luke and Leia, and really should’ve been in the final shot, and not having him in it felt like a wasted opportunity.