10 ‘Star Wars’ Twists No One Saw Coming
Image Source: Independent
WARNING: THIS LIST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FILMS AND ANIMATED SERIES
For many movie fans, the one thing they look forward to most is a good twist, especially if that twist is expertly executed and takes the audience by surprise. Blockbuster films and large movie franchises are not typically known for their twists since most of them follow a specific formula. Thankfully, there is an exception to this, and that is the Star Wars galaxy. Whether we are talking about the original films, the prequels, animated content, or the Disney+ series, Lucasfilm has been known for throwing in twists that the audience never saw coming.
I have compiled a list of my top 10 twists from all of the Star Wars content currently available that took audiences by surprise.
10. Palpatine Is Still Alive- Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Image Source: IMDb
I did not say that every twist on this list would be a good one. This was one of the worst twists in Star Wars history, in my opinion, but it was one that no one saw coming. When Palpatine was revealed, the entire theater reacted with shock since we had all believed that Vader had successfully killed him in Return of the Jedi. While the twist was a terrible choice, it was pulled off successfully.
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9. Qi’ra Abandons Han- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Image Source: StarWars.com
This twist hurt because I was a huge Qi’ra fan. It was obvious to those who had seen the original trilogy that Han would not be with Qi’ra when we meet him in A New Hope, but that did not keep us from hoping that Qi’ra would be good to her word and would leave with Han at the end of Solo. Unfortunately for fans and Han Solo, she left him on Savareen and took on Dryden Vos’ role as she headed to a meeting with Maul. This was a great twist because it not only left the window open for Qi’ra to appear in other Star Wars projects, but it also helped fans to understand why Han was so pessimistic when we first meet him.
8. Luke Is A Force Projection- Star Wars: Episode VIII- The Last Jedi (2017)
Image Source: Inverse
Of the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi is by far my least favorite, but the film does have one of my favorite twists. The battle between Kylo Ren and his uncle Luke Skywalker was stunning visually and heart-pounding. The Resistance was attempting to escape while Luke distracted his nephew. When it was revealed that Luke was actually just a Force projection, Kylo Ren was not alone in his shock. This twist had the entire theater audience gasping as we watched Luke disappear the way Obi-Wan had in A New Hope.
7. Barriss Offee Is The Killer- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
Image Source: StarWars.com
In the Season 5 finale of The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano was on trial for bombing a Jedi Temple hangar and the murder of Letta Turmond and countless clone troopers. During her trial, Anakin discovered that Ahsoka’s friend Barriss was the true culprit and that she had lost faith in the Jedi Order and framed Ahsoka because she knew she could make her look guilty. This was a great twist because Barriss had been a recurring character, and up until the discovery of guilt, she had played her role as Ashoka’s best friend perfectly.
6. Luke And Leia Are Twins- Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi (1983)
Image Source: StarWars.com
This was one of the greatest twists to come out of the original trilogy. Fans that had not seen the prequels prior to viewing the original films were not expecting to learn that Luke had a sister. Obi-Wan’s decision to keep this a secret from Luke plus the kiss that the pair share in Empire Strikes Back made the discovery that the two are twins even more jarring. It was certainly a twist that no one saw coming.
5. Kanan Jarrus’ Death- Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018)
Image Source: StarWars.com
Kanan’s death is one of the most heart-wrenching deaths of the franchise, in my opinion. He was a Padawan that survived Order 66, saw the murder of his master, helped build the Rebel Alliance, and lost his sight during a battle with Darth Maul. His character quickly became a fan favorite within the Star Wars galaxy. What made Kanan’s death especially sad was that he and Hera had just proclaimed their love for each other earlier and planned to finally have a life together. Then, Governor Pryce ordered the troops to fire on the fuel container they were standing on. In a last act of love, Kanan used the Force to throw Hera onto the ship while simultaneously holding back the explosion. In his last moment, he got his sight back and was able to see Hera before he was killed by the explosion. The scene still makes my heart hurt when I think about it.
4. Ahsoka Leaves The Jedi Order- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
Image Source: IMDb
After her trial in the Season 5 finale, Anakin asked Ahsoka to rejoin the Jedi Order now that she had been cleared of her crimes. Unfortunately, Ahsoka felt betrayed by the Jedi Council and their decision to cast her out rather than stand by her side, so she chose to leave the Jedi Order and go out on her own. This twist was shocking and hard-hitting, especially since it was used as the final scene of the season. Some fans have also theorized that this choice was part of the catalyst for Anakin turning to the dark side.
3. Vader Is Luke’s Father- Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Image Source: Entertainment Weekly
One of the most iconic twists in film history is the revelation that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. “No, I am your father” will forever be one of the best and most misquoted lines in a film. For fans that have not seen the films, this revelation is still a huge twist that they did not see coming. Unfortunately, I could not give it a higher spot on this list because I think there are two twists that were more unexpected.
2. Agent Kallus Is The New Fulcrum- Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018)
Image Source: IMDb
After learning that Ahsoka was Fulcrum, the confidant that had been helping Hera and the Ghost team, fans were introduced to a new mysterious presence later in Rebels. The presence was still using the codename Fulcrum, but no one knew their true identity. In Season 3, Episode 9, fans discovered that the new Fulcrum was their old enemy Agent Kallus. After being stranded with Zeb on one of the Geonosian moons in Season 2, Kallus learned more about both the Rebels he was fighting and the Empire that he was fighting for. Realizing that he had been fighting for the wrong side, he took on the identity of Fulcrum and began helping the Rebels from behind enemy lines. It was an amazing twist that no one saw coming!
1. Order 66- Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Image Source: StarWars.com
This has to be the biggest twist in the Star Wars galaxy, in my opinion. Fans did not learn until Revenge of the Sith what truly happened to the Jedi. In the original trilogy, Darth Vader, the Empire, and the dark side were blamed for the massacre of the Jedi. The twist that not only was Palpatine behind the plan from the beginning but that this was Anakin’s first true step into the dark side created a jaw-dropping twist that no one saw coming. What made this twist even better is that no matter how many times Order 66 had been portrayed in video games, books, or animated series, the outcome was still a twist that no one expected.
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