Star Wars: Did Episode VII provide a subtle hint of Rey’s lineage?

While we find out Rey’s true lineage in Star Wars: Episode IX, a slight hint of her heritage may have been provided in Star Wars: Episode VII.

Warning: This post contains Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker spoilers. 

It’s a question that Star Wars fans have had since they were introduced to Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. What is Rey’s lineage? Well, in the final installment of the Skywalker Saga, fans finally got their answer.

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During Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, we find out that Rey is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine. If we were to rewind to 2015 or 2016, this would not be the most popular theory. But, it’s the truth.

In fact, there was a subtle hint in Episode VII that many fans theorized about, and perhaps this was actually a clue at the time as to what Rey’s lineage is.

While getting ready to square off with Kylo Ren in the forest area outside of Starkiller Base during Episode VII, this is the first time we see Rey wielding a light saber. When she goes to make her first move, she pushes the lightsaber towards Kylo Ren in what appears to be a stabbing motion. This is not the first time Star Wars fans saw this fighting style.

During Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, when Mace Windu and several other Jedi confront Palpatine to arrest him, this results in a lightsaber duel. This is the first time we see Palpatine use a light saber, and his first move is that same stabbing motion we see from Rey later on in The Force Awakens. Is it a coincidence that Rey has the same fighting style as her Grandfather?

Maybe Rey’s fighting style in Episode VII was a hint as to what her true origins are. That she had some relation to Emperor Palpatine, and the clue was right in front of us the whole time. Go back and re-watch these two scenes, and you’ll see the similarities.

After seeing The Rise of Skywalker, it’s fun to go back and re-watch The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi to see if there were any slight clues that show she is related to Palpatine.

Either way, it’s nice to have closure on what Rey’s true heritage is. In fact, when you go back and re-watch Episode VII and Episode VIII, it likely will make you look at Rey differently knowing she’s the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine.

Now, questions will emerge about her parents. There’s just so much to discuss about his film.

Let me know in the comments below what your reaction was to finding out Rey is related to Emperor Palpatine.