Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was meant to pay homage to all three trilogies of the Skywalker Saga. The film contained many callbacks and easter eggs from throughout the franchise's storied history, including one that many fans may have missed. The Rise of Skywalker contained a musical homage to Padmé Amidala, the wife of Anakin Skywalker and mother to Luke and Leia.
The melody in question was hidden in an orchestral forest, and it wasn't until recently that a fan caught the easter egg. It can be heard in the Throne Room duel, while a reborn Emperor Palpatine is draining the Force out of Rey and a redeemed Ben Solo. The theme that sounds is an epic, fast-paced orchestral arrangement that highlights the danger that the young battle couple is facing. However, stripped from the epic instrumentation, the melodic phrase left is a throwback to a much more quiet scene in The Attack of the Clones. This melody was first heard when Padmé and Anakin are on Tatooine as the Jedi is about to go off in search of his missing mother.
Twitter user Braddington indicated that this might be a direct reference to "Anidala" -- the fan theory that argues that Rey and Ben Solo were supposed to fix the tragedy of Anakin and Padmé. While the creators of The Rise of Skywalker have neither confirmed nor denied this theory, the visual analysis of both scenes, which were both composed by John Williams, could hint at a "Reverse Anidala."
For instance, in The Attack of the Clones, Padmé and Anakin's shadows are seen embracing -- visually, this represents their darker selves taking over, oblivious to Palpatine's influence over their destinies. In The Rise of Skywalker, the couple is lit up and facing their enemy, having shed their shadow-selves (Dark Rey and Kylo Ren). The scene from Episode II is an ominous prelude to the first truly evil act of Anakin, while the scene in Episode IX is a dramatic but hopeful introduction to Ben Solo's ultimate goodness. Even the costumes that Rey and Padmé wear are reminiscent of each other, with the fluid crossed top and hood.
John Williams, the composer of the entire Skywalker saga, is a master of leitmotifs. For instance, every Jedi's theme always starts with a fourth interval, or "the fourth of the Force," followed by their specific melody. Luke's theme includes the "heroic jump" of fifth, something usually associated with heroes. Darth Vader's theme is Anakin's in minor key, superimposed to the military rhythms of the Empire, while Kylo Ren's melody is, purposedly, a discount fan-boy version of his idolized grandfather's theme.
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 available now on Digital HD, and March 31 on Blu-ray and 4K UHD.