As the decade comes to an end, so does the Star Wars saga for now. The story of a galaxy far, far away closes with Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
J.J. Abrams took the wheel once more in directing in order to tie the knot on this franchise. The Rise of Skywalker is crafted the same way as Episode VII – The Force Awakens, mixing action, adventure, and iconic characters that fans all love and know. This film was well-executed, bringing back the nostalgia and atmosphere from the originals. Whatever you thought of The Last Jedi, this instalment restores the satisfaction among fans and completes a series that spent over 40 years in the making.
Without spoiling too much, the film joins Rey and the gang once more on a final mission; a mission that is worth everything. If they fail, everything they had fought for would be for nothing. We meet characters once again that fans are all too familiar with, as well as new ones such as Zorii who plays a role in a nice sub-plot with Poe. Rey’s heritage is finally revealed, and the truth about her parents and family is shockingly unexpected.
One of the most memorable scenes was the compelling lightsaber fight between Kylo, Rey and the Knights of Ren. To avoid spoilers, I’ll keep it fairly vague, but this scene jumps back and forth between Kylo and Rey in different locations, as they both battle with the enemy. Both are still connected through the force, as was seen in the previous film, but in this scene, they use it to their advantage to fight the newfound threat in The Rise of Skywalker.
To conclude, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a thrilling adventure that is worth watching if you’re a fan of the saga. For now, the force is gone, but who knows when it will awaken once more.
Written by Natalia Hirabe, Nower Hill High School
