Star Wars Insider #204 preview: Top 3 life lessons from The Rise of Skywalker

Ready for another deep-dive into all things Star Wars from the people who love it and know it best? Star Wars Insider #204 is on the way, and we have an exclusive preview to share with you all before it’s out on Aug. 10.

Needless to say, this issue is packed with new, exclusive content that only Star Wars Insider could provide. Loving The High Republic series? There’s an interview with Tempest Runner (and The Rising Storm, etc.) writer Cavan Scott. Plus, you’ll get to read part two of Justina Ireland’s short story Hidden Danger. 

There’s so much more in this issue, including a guide to cosplaying, how to collect within the Star Wars community, and an interview with Aunt Beru actress Bonnie Piesse.

For just a taste of what’s to come, read on below for an exclusive excerpt from writer Jay Stobie, who shares the top lessons he learned from The Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars Insider #204 preview

Top 3 Life Lessons from The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

What valuable life lessons can we learn from the final movie in the Skywalker saga? Star Wars Insider explores ten moments from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that might help us navigate our own lives.

Words: Jay Stobie

3. THERE ARE MORE OF US

In dire times, the abundance of evil in our world can feel as if it outweighs the good by a significant margin. The Resistance surely felt this way during the Battle of Crait, when every call they sent out to request assistance in their struggle against the First Order went unanswered. As his squadron gradually succumbed to the Sith fleet’s weapons above Exegol, Poe Dameron surely felt an eerie parallel between that horrific scene and his previous experience at the rebel outpost on Crait. With the galaxy’s future at stake, the Final Order appeared to be unstoppable.

But as Poe’s despair reached its lowest point, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca arrived with an armada of reinforcements drawn from countless worlds. The tide of the battle against the planet-killing Star Destroyers was turned, while the regular citizens crewing each vessel proved that they outnumbered the Emperor’s nefarious forces. Evil may inspire a level of fear that renders the righteous hesitant to act, but decent individuals will eventually stand up for their beliefs once they realize they are not alone.

2. NO ONE’S EVER REALLY GONE

Losing love ones is perhaps the most difficult aspect of our mortal existence, and this also holds true for those living in the galaxy far, far away. Already an orphan, Rey endured even more heartbreak when Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa each passed away in the sequel trilogy. Despite these trials, Rey carried the lessons she received from her adoptive family forward in her struggle against the Emperor. Remembering their words provided Rey with strength during the dramatic confrontation on Exegol, and Rey even proved able to call upon the spirits of generations of fallen Jedi to help her in that moment. During her visit to Tattooine, Rey quite literally saw Leia and Luke’s Force spirits smiling upon her choices.

Ben Solo’s redemption provided two more examples of this concept, as Kylo Ren continued to grapple with having murdered his own father. Han may not have been a Force-user, but his memory lived on in his son’s mind and assisted Ben in his desire to toss away the darkness inside him. On a similar note, the cathartic scene revealed the fact that Ben Solo himself still resided with Kylo Ren. Neither Supreme Leader Snoke nor Emperor Palpatine could erase the good that had previously taken root in the son of Solo’s heart, allowing the seed of light to blossom within Ben again.

1. WE CHOOSE OUR OWN PATHS

With all of the discussion surrounding Chosen Ones and destinies that has occurred in Star Wars lore, one might imagine that Leia and Luke would be hesitant about knowingly training a person from Emperor Palpatine’s bloodline. Fortunately, the pair understood that Rey’s family history did not predetermine her future. Leia’s support never wavered, though Luke expressed concerns over his own abilities as a Jedi Master in the wake of his failure with Ben Solo.

As a result, Rey had the unique opportunity to study under both Skywalker twins, who helped prepare her for the final clash with her grandfather. Even after learning about her heritage, Rey opted to follow the light side, stand against Palpatine’s evil, and bring the Emperor’s reign to an end. In a defining moment, Rey further rebuked her connection to Palpatine and chose to inherit the Skywalker name.

The same can be said of the actions taken by Finn and Jannah, who had their childhoods ripped away when the First Order abducted them from their families and indoctrinated them to serve as rank-and-file stormtroopers. When the moment came for them to do the First Order’s murderous bidding, both Finn and Jannah elected to denounce the oppressive regime and rebel against its status quo. The duo went on to play leading roles in the Resistance’s fight against the Sith. Without the contributions from free-willed individuals such as Rey, Finn, and Jannah, the Resistance could never have overcome the First Order or the Sith.

Learn more life lessons; read the second part of Insider’s exclusive The High Republic story by Justina Ireland; get ideas for your Star Wars Celebration 2022 cosplay; discover how the logistics of mounting adventures for young Indiana Jones led to the return of the Jedi for producer Rick McCallum; and much more, only in Star Wars Insider #204!

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