Palpatine has eclipsed all other discussion of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It is impossible to discuss the film following that first trailer without bringing up that laugh, the vision of the Death Star dish laying broken on a planet's surface or Ian McDiarmid appearing on stage at Star Wars Celebration, cryptically smirking at the audience.

It is not unreasonable to assume that Palpatine's return is somehow Disney trying to make up for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Many fans see its themes as antithetical to the Star Wars saga as a whole. They feel the idea of letting the past die runs contrary to everything the series stands for.

These people also are objectively missing the point of The Last Jedi... and, indeed, might be missing the point of what Palpatine's return represents in the greater Star Wars mythology.

"Let the Past Die" Isn't The Last Jedi's Message

Rey and Kylo Ren fighting Imperial Elite in The Last Jedi

There are two core themes at play in The Last Jedi. It seems apparent that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will build upon both themes, but in different ways.

The first theme is that we learn from failure. Yoda very bluntly says this in his small, memorable scene. It is the mentality that guides the whole plot.

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Everyone in The Last Jedi fails in some way, and the characters are forced to develop beyond that failure. Finn and Rose fail to complete their mission, thus putting the Resistance at risk. Poe fails to be a worthy leader and helps almost ruin the Resistance. Rey fails to realize that Kylo cannot be saved, thus putting a worse madman in charge of the First Order. Luke fails in his inability to resist the pull of the Dark Side that has been tugging at him all his life.

These failures result in everyone becoming stronger characters in their personal journeys. When The Rise of Skywalker starts, these characters have emerged from their lowest points as better people, capable of defeating the First Order once and for all.

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The second theme, however, is that the past isn't great. We can't keep repeating the cycle of the past. In order to truly grow, we must move beyond it. But at the same time, the theme isn't "let the past die," so much as it is "grow beyond the past."

It's very telling that the only characters who speak about ending the past are either Kylo Ren (who is the villain) or Luke (who realizes he was wrong). Yoda, again, states this theme perfectly: "We are what they grow beyond."

So, how does Palpatine tie into this?

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The Villains Never Move Beyond the Past

Ironically, for all his talk about moving on beyond the past, Kylo Ren clearly cannot. His character remains obsessed with proving the past wrong. This desire to conquer the past, to defeat it, leads us to the first way Palpatine can enrich the message of The Last Jedi.

Palpatine is what Kylo Ren can never conquer, and, thus, represents what he will try to eradicate.

The simple fact is that, symbolically, this idea was already stated in The Force Awakens, when Rey strikes back at Ben Solo's obsession with his evil overlord granddaddy, Darth Vader.

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If Palpatine plays a role in the events of this film, that means that Kylo will still be trying to strike back at the past. Which means that, while the heroes will no doubt work to end whatever plots he may be involved with, Kylo will probably play into them, if only to prove he is more powerful than Sidious. It's all a matter of power and control for Kylo and Palpatine, and, by playing the Emperor's games, it shows the futility and shortsightedness of his earlier statement to "let the past die."

But more than that...

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Remembering the Jedi Texts and Evolving Beyond

Luke Skywalker and Rey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Yoda seemingly destroys the Jedi texts. However, Rey, as we see at the end of The Last Jedi, holds onto them so she can study and learn from the past in order to create a brighter future. In this sense, Palpatine represents the Jedi's greatest failings. Luke very noticeably cites the Jedi's failure to stop Darth Sidious as a core reason he seeks to end the Jedi Order, to die and take the knowledge of a prior era with him.

But Rey is... less afraid of the light and dark as separate concepts. She explores the Dark Side, but recognizes it as not in the least bit tempting to her. After all, it holds no answers. It only torments.

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The only character who seems to love the Dark Side in the whole saga is Palpatine. Darth Vader is tormented by his darkness. Kylo is driven into obsession over it. But Palpatine represents the sheer joy and evil of the Dark Side. He represents the greatest failure of the past.

Rey is looking to grow beyond the Jedi texts to make a new Jedi Order, or whatever she hopes to bring to life after reading all those texts. In the prior film, Rey grew beyond Luke's failings. Now, Rey has a chance to grow beyond the Jedi Order's failings.

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Does it Matter How Palpatine Returns?

In a word, no. Palpatine can exist in flashbacks only, appear as a Force Ghost, include old transmissions of himself, be a master planner plotting beyond his death or come back to life. It really doesn't matter, because, in the function of the theme or plot, his role will be the same.

He is the worst of the past, returning to spite the heroes. Will they grow beyond it? Will they try to kill it and thus be consumed by it? Or is the solution some evolution upon the themes established by The Last Jedi?

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Regardless of how the conflict is resolved or how Palpatine returns, he represents a core theme that has existed throughout the sequel trilogy, of which The Last Jedi is just a piece. How do we deal with the past? Do we glorify it as in The Force Awakens? Move past it like in The Last Jedi? And will the final position of the sequel trilogy's themes end up being tied in a Palpatine shaped bow? We shall see this December.