Introduction
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker may not be the most beloved film in the sequel trilogy, but it perfectly resolves one lightsaber plot point from the previous two movies. Across Star Wars nine Skywalker Saga films, lightsabers have persisted as an iconic aspect of the franchise. From the various Star Wars lightsaber forms to the different colors utilized by Jedi, the iconic laser sword has forever been a constant in a galaxy far, far away.
Luke and Rey Wielding Anakin Skywalker Lightsaber
The sequel trilogy only furthered this fact, introducing an altogether new lightsaber type for Star Wars via Kylo Ren’s crossguard weapon. In terms of iconography, no lightsaber is more recognizable than Anakin Skywalker's which was passed down to Luke Skywalker and subsequently Rey to be used in upcoming Star Wars movies. By the time of the sequel trilogy’s conclusion, the weapon had undergone an arc almost equal in importance to that of its new owner, with the final sequence of The Rise of Skywalker perfectly paying off the lightsaber’s meaningful arc in the Disney-produced sequels.
Luke, Rey, and Anakin Skywalker from each Star Wars trilogy.
The Force Awakens Suggested Rey Was The One Worthy Of Luke's Lightsaber
Beginning with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Anakin and Luke's lightsaber first appeared in the halls beneath Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana. Since then, the film seemed to imply that the lightsaber's crystal had chosen Rey as its next owner. As is known from Star Wars' wider lore, the Kyber crystals used to create lightsabers are in tune with the Force itself. The crystals then use the Force to select who will utilize them for the construction of a lightsaber.
Anakin's First Lightsaber
The first hint that the lightsaber chose Rey was the fact that she was drawn to it. In Maz's castle, Rey could hear elements from her ensuing Force vision emanating from the saber. After Rey touches the weapon and witnesses its vision, Maz Kanata tells her that the lightsaber is calling out to her. Later in the film, Kylo Ren states that the lightsaber belongs to him as it was once Anakin's, Kylo's grandfather whom the villain reveres for his time as Darth Vader. However, upon calling to it, the saber flies past Kylo's hand and lands in the palm of Rey as John Williams' iconic Force theme swells.
Rey and Kylo Ren Force-fighting over Anakin Skywalker's Lightsaber in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
All of these elements found in The Force Awakens suggest that Rey was the one worthy of taking Anakin and Luke's lightsaber. Kylo felt it was his by birthright, yet the Force within the lightsaber's Kyber crystal called out to Rey over him. By the end of The Force Awakens, Rey has the lightsaber in her possession as she attempts to return it to Luke Skywalker.
Daisy Ridley smiling as Rey in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.
The Last Jedi Showed Rey & Kylo Ren As Evenly Matched... & Equally Worthy
Interestingly, Star Wars: The Last Jedi took this storyline with Rey's lightsaber and expanded upon it. At the beginning of The Last Jedi's third act, Rey and Kylo once again find themselves battling over the ownership of the lightsaber. Rey uses it throughout the film, yet Kylo still believes it belongs to him. Kylo makes an attempt for the saber, pulling it out of Rey's belt using the Force. Rey then uses the Force herself to retrieve the weapon, resulting in an intriguing scene that implies both Force-wielders are worthy of the lightsaber.
Rey and Ben Solo wielding their blue lightsabers in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Caught between the Force grips of both characters, the lightsaber remains suspended in the air. As both Rey and Kylo are evenly matched, the lightsaber simply strains against the pressure of being pulled and called to by two incredibly powerful Force users. Eventually, the lightsaber cracks under the strain resulting in an explosion that leaves the Kyber crystal exposed as if to imply both Kylo and Rey are worthy of using it.
Rey trains with her blue lightsaber in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
How Rise Of Skywalker Resolved The Force Awakens' 'Worthiness' Plot
After The Last Jedi's development of The Force Awakens' lightsaber arc, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brings it to a close. In many ways, The Rise of Skywalker can be argued to have walked back different elements of its predecessor. One of the examples of such is Rey's lightsaber being as good as new at the beginning of the film. Rather than use the two halves of the lightsaber and the crystal within it to create a new saber as many assumed would happen, Rey simply binds the cracked weapon together and uses it as normal.
As such, this seemed to restore the idea that Rey was the sole Jedi worthy of using the lightsaber. From training with it to battling Kylo using the weapon and it saving her life more than once, the status quo from the ending of The Force Awakens seemed to be reinstated. Although, the last act of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker proved to have one more twist in store. This twist involved the redemption of Kylo Ren, as the dark-sider once again became Ben Solo and a force for good in the galaxy.
At the end of the movie, Rey confronts Emperor Palpatine with two lightsabers. One of these is Anakin's/Luke's and the other is Leia's. That said, Rey is almost destroyed by Palpatine until a redeemed Ben Solo rushes to her aid. Rey hands off one of her lightsabers to her ally as the two confront the evil Sith Lord, with the lightsaber Ben now possesses just so happening to be the one he has always believed belonged to him.
Rather than the two clash over who is worthy enough to use it, Rey willingly gives it to Ben thus negating the previous competition they had over it. Rey subconsciously embraces the Dyad by giving Ben the lightsaber as the two become one with the Force and defeat Palpatine together. While the sequel trilogy is often criticized for its lack of depth regarding storytelling, the arc of Star Wars' most iconic lightsaber and how it wraps up beautifully in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in tandem with the concept of the Force Dyad may be proof that Disney's films have more storytelling merit than first thought.
