Darth Rey: What If Rey Turned to the Dark Side?

Ever since hints of her darker side appeared in the trailers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the idea of "Darth Rey" has enthralled Star Wars fans. Rey's dark-robed vision with a double-bladed red lightsaber prompted a lot of ideas and conjectures, even though she eventually stayed on the light side of the movie. What would have happened, though, if Rey had totally accepted the dark side? Let's discuss the character's potential journey, motivations, and symbolism in this alternate form.

Who is Rey?

A Force-sensitive human female Jedi Master who served with the Resistance, Rey Skywalker was also known as Rey during the First Order Resistance War. She began her life as a scavenger on the planet Jakku, but in the latter days of the New Republic Era, her life took a significant turn.

Rey found the Force within herself after deciding to assist the droid BB-8, which prompted her to seek Jedi Master Luke Skywalker's instruction. Her secret origins are revealed, she undergoes Jedi training, and she plays a pivotal role in the Resistance's conflict with the First Order. Because she conflicted with Ben Solo, also known as Kylo Ren, Rey fought with anger and felt pulled to the dark side of the Force, despite her commitment to the Jedi and the light side.

Rey chooses to take the last name Skywalker in remembrance of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, who taught her the ways of the Force. Even after learning that she is Emperor Palpatine's granddaughter, she rejects her dark ancestry and creates a Jedi identity of her own.

The Temptation of the Dark Side

There are multiple instances throughout The Rise of Skywalker where Rey's struggle with the darkness is evident. Her experience with a Sith dagger, which acts as a key to opening a vision of her potential as a dark side wielding, is among the most important. This vision offers a terrifying look into what might have been, with a double-bladed crimson lightsaber and a version of herself dressed in dark robes.

The notion of being tempted to join the dark side is not new to Star Wars. Similar to how promises of power tempted Anakin Skywalker, Rey had to deal with the attraction of her family, her fear of losing her friends, and her resentment of her roots. This psychological struggle is embodied in Dark Rey's vision, which depicts a way for her to accept rather than resist the power of her ancestry.

The Visual Symbolism of Dark Rey

Shadows It is remarkable to see Rey's visual portrayal in her vision. Fans had grown accustomed to her cheery, hopeful personality, which contrasts sharply with her dark robes and pale face. In contrast to the more simple lightsabers of conventional Jedi, the double-bladed red lightsaber she wields mimics designs like Darth Maul's.

This metamorphosis is full of symbolism. It symbolizes the Force's ongoing tug-of-war between light and dark and Rey's internal conflict. The dark side has always stood for ease, domination, and power, but it comes at the expense of empathy and equilibrium. Dark Rey's appearance provides a potent visual reminder of what Rey may become if she succumbs to these temptations.

The Motivations of a Darth Rey

What would Rey have been motivated to embrace the dark side? Similar to Anakin's terrible journey as Darth Vader, Rey might have had a dark side and sought power to stop loss. Instead, she might have sought to alter the galaxy, thinking that only power and control could create a new order, possibly defending her acts as a means of bringing about peace, albeit one that involved Force and terror.

Her Palpatine ancestry would greatly influence Rey's dark metamorphosis. She had the option of accepting her grandfather's history and pursuing her destined path instead of rejecting this lineage. This would completely change the dynamic between her and Kylo Ren, putting her in direct opposition to his struggle. Darth Rey would embrace the weight of her ancestry and become a dark side wielding, while Kylo would try to escape his light-side pedigree.

Possible Story Paths and Conflicts

When one imagines a situation in which Rey turns to the dark side, many different narratives become possible. How might Rey and Kylo Ren's relationship change? Their connection, which is frequently called a Force dyad, was essential to maintaining the harmony between light and dark throughout the main story. Would Rey's embrace of darkness push Kylo back toward the light to stand against her? Due to the reversal of roles, there may be a compelling struggle as each character battles the identity that the other once stood for.

The potential for a dark Rey to develop into a powerful foe who would have undermined the Emperor's authority and turned the Resistance's hopes against them was real. In such a plot, she might have clashed with old pals Finn and Poe, making them face the heartbreaking truth of their friend's decline. Due to the emotional weight of these conflicts, the plot may become more profound and intricate.

The Symbolism of Darth Rey

In Star Wars mythology, Darth Rey stands in for a more prominent theme of temptation and the perils of unbridled power. She embodies the dark side's alluring qualities, which provide strength but require the giving up of empathy and hope. Many Jedi stories revolve around this subject, especially Return of the Jedi's Luke Skywalker's brief struggle and Anakin Skywalker's demise. Rey's story, however, adds a new dimension by highlighting the fact that even for those who appear destined for the light, choosing between light and dark is a never-ending battle.

Darth Rey might advocate for a character who embraces darkness for a sense of purpose, thinking it's the only way to defend the people she loves. This would contrast with Anakin's fall, which was motivated by a fear of loss. This would explore the fine line between heroism and dictatorship and produce a complicated tale of moral compromise and self-justification.

Fan Interpretations and Theories

Fans have been speculating about what this dark version might mean ever since the Darth Rey-starring Rise of Skywalker teaser was released. While some have developed complex ideas about parallel realities in which she turns into a real Sith Lord, others view her as a "what if" scenario, a vision of the route not chosen. As a result of this idea, fans explored art, stories, and conversations regarding the deeper ramifications of a dark side Rey, which inspired creativity within the Star Wars community.

The idea of watching a character grapple with actual decisions and possible outcomes rather than merely following a predestined path is what many find appealing about Darth Rey. It echoes the larger interest in "What if?" scenarios in Star Wars—the idea that even the most innocent characters could become evil in certain situations.