The Star Wars saga has always revolved around powerful connections, legacies, and the struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force. Daisy Ridley portrays Rey, the central figure of the sequel trilogy, while Hayden Christensen brought Anakin Skywalker to life in the prequel trilogy. Though separated by decades in the timeline, Rey and Anakin Skywalker share a deep, symbolic, and metaphysical connection that ties their destinies together in the Star Wars universe.
The Force: A Shared Destiny
The Force binds all living things, but certain individuals become its central conduits. Both Rey and Anakin Skywalker are exceptional wielders of the Force, standing apart from others in their respective eras. Anakin, born of the Force itself, was prophesied to bring balance. This unique origin placed immense pressure on his choices and actions. Rey, though born into obscurity, demonstrates raw power that rivals Anakin’s.
Palpatine’s influence weaves their stories together. Anakin was manipulated by Palpatine to embrace the dark side and become Darth Vader. Rey, as a Palpatine by blood, inherits the same potential for darkness. The parallels between their struggles with light and dark reveal their intrinsic connection to the cosmic balance of the Force.
Mirrored Journeys: From Isolation to Power
Anakin grew up as a slave on Tatooine, far removed from the galaxy’s power struggles. Similarly, Rey spent her early years scavenging the barren deserts of Jakku, believing her family had abandoned her. Both characters longed for belonging and purpose. The galaxy thrust them into roles far larger than they could initially comprehend.
When the Jedi discovered Anakin, Qui-Gon Jinn saw unparalleled potential in the young boy. Years later, the Millennium Falcon carried Rey into the midst of the Resistance, where her connection to the Force awakened fully. Each became a pivotal figure in the fight against tyranny. Anakin joined the Jedi Order to combat the Sith. Rey became the last hope of the Resistance against the First Order.
Despite these parallels, their decisions set them apart. Anakin fell to the dark side under Palpatine’s guidance, while Rey resisted it, even when confronted by Palpatine himself in the throne room of Exegol. This divergence highlights their shared but ultimately opposing destinies.
A Family Legacy of Lightsabers
The Skywalker lightsaber connects Rey and Anakin physically and symbolically. This iconic weapon, constructed by Anakin during the Clone Wars, became a representation of the Skywalker legacy. Luke Skywalker wielded it during the Galactic Civil War, and later, the saber called out to Rey during the events of The Force Awakens.
Rey claimed the lightsaber as her own, using it to train as a Jedi and confront her enemies. When it broke in her battle with Kylo Ren, she repaired it using the tools of a scavenger, proving her resourcefulness and determination. Anakin’s lightsaber, once a symbol of his fall, became an emblem of Rey’s triumph over darkness.
While Anakin wielded a single blue-bladed lightsaber, Rey’s path led to the creation of her own yellow-bladed lightsaber after defeating Palpatine. The yellow blade symbolizes balance and new beginnings, marking Rey’s emergence as the first of a new generation of Jedi.
Visions and Force Echoes
The Force often uses visions to reveal connections across time and space. Rey experienced vivid Force visions when she first touched Anakin’s lightsaber in Maz Kanata’s castle. These visions included scenes of Anakin’s fall to the dark side, Luke’s isolation, and Kylo Ren’s rise.
The connection deepens in The Rise of Skywalker when the voices of past Jedi guide Rey in her final confrontation with Palpatine. Among these voices is Anakin Skywalker, who urges her to restore balance. This moment symbolizes the passing of the Skywalker legacy and their shared role in the eternal struggle between light and dark.
Palpatine’s Role in Their Connection
Emperor Palpatine serves as the shadow behind the lives of both Rey and Anakin. As Darth Sidious, Palpatine orchestrated Anakin’s fall to the dark side, manipulating him with promises of saving Padmé Amidala. Decades later, Palpatine’s return as the true leader of the First Order brings Rey into his plans.
Palpatine reveals Rey’s lineage during their confrontation on Exegol, hoping to exploit her as his new vessel of Sith power. However, Rey’s choices mirror what Anakin could not do. Where Anakin succumbed to the temptation of power, Rey rejected it, embracing the light and the teachings of the Jedi.
This dynamic creates an interesting contrast between the two. Both were pivotal to Palpatine’s schemes. Both were shaped by his manipulations. Yet Rey’s refusal to follow his path ultimately redeems the Skywalker name.
Rey Skywalker: Carrying the Legacy Forward
Rey adopts the Skywalker name at the end of The Rise of Skywalker. This moment cements her connection to Anakin Skywalker and the Skywalker bloodline. Despite being a Palpatine by birth, Rey aligns herself with the ideals and legacy of the Skywalkers.
Anakin’s arc ends with redemption as he destroys Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. Rey, on the other hand, finishes what Anakin started by defeating Palpatine once and for all. The balance Anakin sought is finally achieved through Rey’s actions, fulfilling the prophecy of the Chosen One in a way that transcends bloodlines.
Legacy of Rey and Anakin Skywalker
The connection between Rey and Anakin Skywalker is more than just a shared link to the Force. Their stories echo each other, with themes of isolation, temptation, and redemption tying them together. The legacy of the Skywalker family, symbolized by Anakin’s lightsaber, passes to Rey and continues through her actions.
This connection highlights the enduring struggle between light and dark in the Star Wars saga. Anakin’s fall and redemption and Rey’s resistance to the dark side are two halves of the same story. Together, they embody the timeless conflict and balance that define the Star Wars universe.
