The Star Wars sequel trilogy reintroduced us to the galaxy far, far away, with the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order. Little did Disney know, however, that there would be a much greater conflict that was about to take place, a conflict amongst the fans. Though everyone accepted The Force Awakens for the most part, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker left behind fan debates that still continue to this day, made Rian Johnson one of the most controversial names in Star Wars, and appeared to make the Resistance’s fight against the First Order look quaint in comparison with the battles within the fandom.

At the center of this debate was one character in particular. This character, who was to become the main star of the trilogy, invited much debate about whether or not she was overpowered. Even her last name and family, without going into details, can bring up a long argument about George Lucas’s original vision and whether or not Disney or J. J. Abrams had “perverted” it. I am of course talking about Rey, as played by Daisy Ridley, and though the character has become the subject of debate, Kathleen Kennedy has teased that she might return in future projects. One question on everyone’s mind is this: should Rey return, or is she better left forgotten?

While I don’t claim to speak for everyone, I think that the return of Star Wars' most divisive character is far from a bad idea. Ms. Ridley is a fine actress, and she doesn’t seem to have any regrets about the role, so what’s preventing her from returning of her own free will? It’s not like the initial anger surrounding the prequel trilogy has kept Hayden Christensen from appearing in the Kenobi miniseries. Besides, it’s not like Daisy Ridley is the reason for all the debates.

Besides, even if Rey’s detractors are right about her, that just gives the next team to take on writing her character a chance to “do her right”, or flesh out her character at the very least. Just because an idea is poorly executed, doesn’t mean it’s a bad one, and there’s nothing preventing them from fleshing her out, and giving her a character study. After all, sometimes the best way to fix something is to take it apart and see what makes it tick, and then put it back together again to see if it still works. If Rey works after that, then it’ll all be worth it.

Of course, someone like me definitely remembers similar debates happening in the 2000’s with the Prequel Trilogy. I also remember something that redeemed the prequel trilogy in the eyes of many fans, at least partially. Something that, despite initial hesitation, soon began to be embraced by the fandom at large. I am of course talking about Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Does Rey need a Clone Wars-like event to save her in the eyes of the fanbase? I’m not sure, but it would certainly be a good idea, as it worked for Jar Jar.

Of course, the debates surrounding Rey will likely never go away entirely, but that doesn’t mean she should just be forgotten and left behind. She has her fans, and her detractors could get used to her in time, as they have with Anakin. From a certain point of view, Rey is just as part of the saga as Luke and Obi-Wan, and she needs all the help she can get for the fanbase to embrace her. Regardless of your thoughts on the sequels, you can’t deny the impact Rey has had, both good and bad.

Note: These are the opinions of one Culture Slate writer and don't represent the views of all our staff or the company as a whole.

Source(s): Screen Rant

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