The ending ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkersees Rey burying Luke and Leia’s lightsabers on Tatooine, begging the question of what this moment signified. It has been five years since the ending of the Skywalker Saga, and while many are turning their attention toupcomingStar Warsmovies, rewatches of the original nine movies will always be popular. When watching theStar Warsmovies in order, the final entry isThe Rise of Skywalker, the defining installment of the sequel trilogy, and the last in the mainline Skywalker Saga.
The Rise of Skywalkeris certainly an interesting movie regarding its reception. Upon release, critical reviews saw itranked as the worstStar Warsmovie, yet general viewers seemed to react well to the epic, if somewhat muddled, conclusion. WithRey’s new Jedi OrderStar Warsmoviepromising to take the franchise beyondThe Rise of Skywalker, it is worth exploring the ending of the latter and how it symbolically teases what is to come. The ending in question sees Rey returning to Tatooine, burying the lightsabers of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa in the sand beneath the iconic twin suns.
The Burial Of The Lightsabers Signified The End Of The Saga
The Age Of The Skywalkers Is Coming To An End
The primary symbolism of Rey burying the lightsabers was the ending of the Skywalker Sagaitself. Since the sequel trilogy was created as a continuation of George Lucas' six-movie arc, the nine films have been dubbed the Skywalker Saga. Of course, the reason for this is the heavy focus on three generations of Skywalker, from Anakin in the prequels to Luke and Leia in the original and Ben Solo in the sequels.
The Complete Star Wars Skywalker Family Tree
The Skywalker family is one of the most iconic and powerful families in Star Wars, but what does their family tree actually look like in canon?
The two lightsabers held by Rey at the end ofThe Rise of Skywalkerbelonged to the Skywalkers primarily, with one being the weapon of Anakin, Luke, and briefly Ben Solo, and the other wielded by Leia. As of the end of the sequel trilogy, Ben is killed, while Luke and Leia become one with the Force as two ofStar Wars’Force Ghosts. Despite being able to manifest in this way, the ending ofThe Rise of Skywalkersignifies that they can rest in peace and their saga is now over, typified by the burying of their lightsabers.
Rey Now Embodies The Skywalker Legacy
The Skywalker Name Continues Through Rey
The burying of Luke and Leia’s lightsaber connects to another thematic element ofThe Rise of Skywalker’s ending. While their lightsaber burial signifies that the Skywalker Saga is over, there is a way the film proves the legacy of the family will live on. This comes in the form of Rey herself, with the apprentice of both Luke and Leia taking on the name Skywalker to usher the galaxy, and the iconic family, into a new era.
Now, the future of theStar Warstimeline will be defined by the Skywalkers again, only this time through new means via Rey and the Jedi Order she will inevitably rebuild…
While not a Skywalker by blood, a theme of the sequel trilogy - especiallyStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker- explores Rey’s choice to move beyond familial connections, and not letting a bloodline define her. In taking on the Skywalker name with Luke and Leia’s approval, this theme is fulfilled. Now, thefuture of theStar Warstimelinewill be defined by the Skywalkers again, only this time through new means via Rey and the Jedi Order she will inevitably rebuild to spread light across the galaxy once more.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Cast
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concludes the Skywalker saga with Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron leading the Resistance against the First Order. As the final battle unfolds, they draw upon the wisdom and strength of previous generations to confront their adversaries. Released in 2019, the film concludes the sequel trilogy.
