The Unique Mentorship Opportunity in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

A Fresh Perspective on Rey's Mentor

The Star Wars sequel trilogy presented a captivating narrative canvas for Rey Skywalker, offering a chance to break away from traditional mentorship dynamics. However, the trilogy's reluctance to explore unconventional paths hindered the potential for a truly innovative storyline.

Daisy Ridley as Rey and Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars The Force Awakens

Rey, a character with a mysterious lineage and exceptional piloting skills, was poised for a mentorship that could redefine the typical Jedi guidance. Instead of embracing this opportunity, the sequels opted for a familiar mentor archetype, falling short of delivering a truly groundbreaking narrative for Rey.

Rey (Daisy Ridley) points a gun while a stunned Han Solo (Harrison Ford) watches in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.

Departure from Conventional Mentorship

In a galaxy rich with possibilities, the sequel trilogy mirrored the original trilogy's mentor-student dynamics, particularly evident in Rey's relationship with Han Solo. While Han's role as a mentor seemed promising, it veered towards traditional Jedi training paths, missing the chance to showcase a unique mentorship dynamic for Rey.

Rey Skywalker looks concerned in The Force Awakens, superimposed over Obi-Wan Kenobi also looking concerned in A New Hope.

The potential for Rey to be guided by a non-Jedi character like Han Solo would have injected fresh perspectives into the Jedi narrative. Han's unconventional nature and distinct moral compass could have offered Rey a different lens through which to view the Force and her place in the galaxy, paving the way for a truly original storyline.

Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo inside the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars

Unexplored Narrative Possibilities

As the sequels unfolded, Rey's journey took a predictable turn towards Jedi training under established figures like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. This narrative choice limited the exploration of what a Jedi Order shaped by Han's influence could have looked like, missing a golden opportunity to redefine the Jedi philosophy.

Rey Skywalker on Tatooine next to the symbol for the Jedi Order

Han Solo's unconventional approach to life and morality could have offered Rey a path to a more nuanced and adaptable Jedi Order, challenging the rigid dogmas that had characterized the Jedi in previous trilogies. The absence of this exploration left a significant gap in Rey's character development and the evolution of the Jedi Order in the sequels.

Harrison Ford's Han Solo reacts to getting impaled by a lightsaber in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.