Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker novel Chapter 4: Deleted scenes
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Chapter 4 gives us new moments between friends
In reading Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Chapter 4 is made up of largely what seem like could be deleted scenes from the movie. They’re smaller moments, but ones that when put together add more context.
Chapter 4 is at the point where Poe comes back with a damaged Millennium Falcon and discovered BB-8 also is a little broken. He and Rey argue, but it’s nothing really more than frustrations getting the better of the both of them.
More from Star Wars Books
- Daniel José Older named a High Republic Adventures character after someone special
- New Star Wars comics this week: The High Republic Adventures and more
- Star Wars books and comics coming in December 2023
- Every time Boba Fett has escaped the Sarlacc Pit
- Vanessa Marshall wants to play Mara Jade in live action
Rey is dealing with her insecurities about training to be a Jedi. Rey clearly notes in her internal dialogue that she isn’t as much of a fighter as she is a survivor. It’s an important distinction, because it’s something she holds on to tightly. So many of her choices are made not to fight but to stay alive.
Once this particular scene is over, we get into new moments that we didn’t see in the movie. They’re small, but important to develop relationships. It makes their choices to fight for each other more believable.
Stream The Rise of Skywalker on Disney+.
Star Wars: Moments between friends
There’s a conversation between Rose and Rey. Though it does lay on pretty thick as to why Rose won’t be joining Rey, Finn, Poe and Chewbacca on the mission to find the Sith Wayfinder.
Some of the most poignant scenes from from Leia. She knows she’s dying. Her trip in space took a heavy toll on her, one that she will not be coming back from. Yet, it seems she needs to live a little bit longer to finish her mission.
Maz also knows Leia is dying, but Maz has lived for 1,000 years. She has seen friends come and go and accepts that Leia’s time is nearly over.
Leia also sees Rey as a daughter. It’s flat out written then there, saying she sees her as the daughter she never had. This is important for the end of the story because Rey certainly sees Leia as the mother she never had.
Their hug — the one we did in the trailer a thousand times — is also written here. It’s as if they both know they won’t be seeing each other again.
But what I also found striking was how Leia has seemingly come to accept Ben’s turn to the dark side. Leia is scared for Rey because she senses the same type of pull in Rey, but realizes that fate may have a role in all that is happening. Perhaps Ben’s path would have always sent him this way because — as we know — maybe it was the only way to eventually defeat Palpatine.
There are a lot of touching moments in this chapter that make it worth while. If these scenes were shot for the movie, they were likely pulled for time. While they don’t add anything to the action, they do add context for characters and solidify the choices they have made and will make.
dark. Next. Star Wars: 4 best and worst moments from The Rise of Skywalker
What did you think of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Chapter 4? Do you think these scenes were better left in the movie?