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Post #1147355

Author
Shopping Maul
Parent topic
The Last Jedi: Official Review and Opinions Thread ** SPOILERS **
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1147355/action/topic#1147355
Date created
22-Dec-2017, 2:58 PM

I think there’s a key difference between ESB Luke and Rey here, and I believe you can transfer what you liked about TFA’s Rey to this film. Back in the days I also defended Rey’s progression in TFA, I pointed out that Rey developed a skill more valuable than combat prowess. What was that skill? Patience. All those years spent in isolation on Jakku, that meant many days and nights of being alone. She was also willing to wait hard long years for her supposed parents to return. So with this skill, this served as a trait that allows Rey to really soak in her surroundings, to open herself up to the light, the darkness, the life, and decay, as seen in that mediation sequence. Even in TFA, she paused for that brief moment with Kylo Ren in that duel in order to form a close bond with the Force.

So as it stands, I still don’t exactly have issues with Rey’s fast Jedi progression. Luke was pretty impatient for two movies. You could tell he wanted the Jedi Knight status NOW. Yes, Luke grew up a on a nearly desolate desert planet, but his life was much ‘easier’ in comparison to nearly every day being survival for food and shelter, alone, that Rey faced.

I agree, Luke’s life was easier, and his journey was very linear - he went from being a basically normal guy (with a gift for piloting) to learning about this Force thing to levitating small objects (with difficulty) and so on. However compressed it all was in TESB, it still followed a kind of logic. Yoda’s X-wing trick was a clear demonstration of where Luke’s abilities could lead down the track.

I had no problems with Rey learning fighting skills on Jakku, as well as developing enhanced cognitive skills via her need to survive and read people’s intentions (hence her leap to ‘mind tricks’). In fact when I first saw TFA I thought Rey was ‘sensing’ BB8 rather than hearing him. And you’re right in saying that she had a sense of patience that whiny Luke and his Dad never had!

I think TLJ may have just pushed it too far for me, but I could use another viewing at this point. Did she struggle with the rocks at all? All I recall is her holding a zillion rocks in the air and looking rather surprised.