Like the entire sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will continue to divide fans for years on end over whether director J.J. Abrams capped the series properly. But while we can nitpick the plots, one thing stands out: As much as it's the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga, this new set of movies is actually a story about Rey's journey from a junker on Jaaku to the savior of the galaxy. However, as interesting as it was seeing her as part of the Force Dyad with Kylo Ren and rebuking her Palpatine lineage, it's evident the Dark Rey teased in leaks from The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker would have made a much more intriguing character.

Rey's journey in the sequel trilogy feels like that of a Skywalker. Like Luke, she went from being a nobody to someone whose bloodline was linked with the balance of the cosmos to a messiah who decided to fight for justice. It's why she made it clear this was her name at the end of the film, as "Skywalker" was more than just a name to her -- it's a philosophy of fighting for freedom.

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But while it's not exactly a carbon copy, the influence of Luke feels like her journey isn't that unique. She turned on Palpatine the same way Luke refused the Dark Side himself, but what the pieces of art in the book illustrate is that Rey could have been more torn and emotionally conflicted, especially after her master told her how the Force has been misappropriated by both Jedi and Sith.

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Seeing Rey using her double-bladed lightsaber in the movie's vision of darkness did worry fans but it would have been thought-provoking if she did give in and take Kylo's hand -- as the art indicates could have been the case. At the end of the day, like Darth Vader, Kylo wanted to take his place as the new Emperor and Rey be his Empress. This would have created an interesting dichotomy because she wasn't lost like him and could have been the anchor or moral compass of this new mission, ensuring justice from within the belly of the beast similar to what Luke wanted to do in the Expanded Universe as Palpatine's apprentice after Return of the Jedi.

Rey did have that watchdog feel to her and this could have also slowly brought Ben Solo back out, making their romantic turn feel a bit more organic. More so, the idea of Rey as this Empress wielding her double-blade is downright scary. We've seen her powers evolve greatly so she could have become more a more powerful Force user than Luke or Vader ever were. In other words, fans could have gotten a cerebral and physically powerful Rey, making her the ideal queen of the galaxy.

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As for the warrior aspect, while we did see her stab and heal Kylo, everyone knew she wasn't going to succumb to the Dark Side at that point. But in this book, Dark Rey is seen levitating and choking Kylo, with Luke's green saber in hand. This alone is a duality we've never seen before from a Jedi of the Light, committing what seems to be a Sith move. Then the image of her defeating Kylo and holding his own double-hilted saber to his throat is even more frightful, painting her not just as a badass warrior but a merciless fighter who could be ready to kill for the greater good.

In other words, Rey as a Skywalker might just have fought the good fight long enough to see herself become the villain. And that's what would have added so much spice to her as a Skywalker. Luke hinted this might have been the path he could have walked as the Jedi and Sith were both skewed religions. In fact, this Dark Rey may have been the closest we'd ever have come to a Grey Jedi on-screen, using both the Light and the Dark to protect all worlds. Thus, she could have broken the wheel that Luke wasn't ever able to.

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The movie could have shown Rey's friends, Leia included, rising up against her as well, making her another problem for the Resistance to take out to restore order to the galaxy. Like Luke told her Rey Ahch-To, if you do want to build a better galaxy, sometimes you have to tear the old one down. Rey he could have been the middle ground between good and evil and the enforcer the galaxy needed to maintain order for years to come.

Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong' o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film is now in theaters. The Art of the Rise of Skywalker will be out this March.

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