Is Rey the chosen one?

Rey is not the "Chosen One" in the traditional sense of the Star Wars mythos, as established in the prequel trilogy with Anakin Skywalker. However, her story in the sequel trilogy shares some thematic similarities with the Chosen One prophecy, and many fans have debated whether Rey could be considered a "new" kind of Chosen One.

Here's a breakdown of how Rey relates to the concept of the Chosen One and why she is not explicitly defined as such:

1. The Chosen One Prophecy:

• The Chosen One in Star Wars is a Force-sensitive individual foretold to bring balance to the Force. The prophecy was initially thought to refer to Anakin Skywalker, who was believed to be the Chosen One.

• Anakin's journey ultimately leads him to fall to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader, but in the end, he fulfills the prophecy by redeeming himself and defeating Emperor Palpatine, thus bringing balance to the Force (by destroying the Sith, even though this balance is left in a somewhat ambiguous state).

2. Rey’s Role in the Sequel Trilogy:

• Rey's story arc in the sequel trilogy involves her discovery of her Force abilities, her training as a Jedi, and her eventual confrontation with Emperor Palpatine, who is revealed to be her grandfather.

• In The Rise of Skywalker, Rey defeats Palpatine and ensures that he will no longer be a threat to the galaxy. In this sense, she brings an end to the Sith, which parallels the balance that was sought by the Chosen One prophecy.

• However, Rey’s defeat of Palpatine is not framed in the same way as Anakin’s moment of fulfillment. Rey’s lineage is shown to be the key factor in her power, as she is the granddaughter of Palpatine, but she ultimately rejects her dark heritage and embraces the Skywalker legacy.

3. Is Rey the New Chosen One?:

• Rey’s journey does involve themes of balance. While she is not technically the Chosen One (since the prophecy specifically refers to Anakin), Rey does become a symbol of balance and hope, especially by rejecting the Sith lineage she was born into and embracing the ideals of the Jedi, which is similar to the Chosen One’s role in bringing balance to the Force.

• Some fans argue that Rey represents a new hope for the galaxy, as she not only defeats the Emperor but also embodies the strength to rise above her lineage and forge her own path—defeating the darkness within herself. This could be seen as a symbolic continuation of the Chosen One's mission.

4. Rey and the Balance of the Force:

• While Anakin Skywalker brought balance by destroying the Sith, Rey brings balance in a different way—by restoring hope and rejecting the dark legacy of her grandfather. She ultimately shows that balance is not just about destruction, but about choosing one’s own path and embracing the light.

• Rey's connection to both the Light and Dark sides of the Force, particularly through her family heritage (Palpatine) and her adoption of the Skywalker name, can be seen as a form of balance, where she represents both the possibility of darkness and the strength to overcome it.

5. The Power of Choice:

• A key theme in Rey’s journey is the power of choice—even though she is the granddaughter of Palpatine, she chooses to embrace the Skywalker legacy and align herself with the light. This is in contrast to the idea of destiny and prophecy that surrounded Anakin.

• The idea that Rey is not bound by prophecy but instead chooses to create her own future could be viewed as her way of fulfilling a different type of "Chosen One" role, one not dictated by fate but by personal choice and self-determination.

Conclusion:

Rey is not officially the Chosen One in the strict sense that the prophecy defined in the prequels applies to Anakin Skywalker. The prophecy was about the restoration of balance by destroying the Sith, which Anakin ultimately fulfilled. However, Rey shares thematic parallels with the Chosen One in her ultimate battle against darkness (Palpatine), her rejection of a dark legacy, and her role in ensuring hope for the galaxy.

While Rey might not be the Chosen One as traditionally defined, she emerges as a powerful force for balance, hope, and redemption in her own right—effectively becoming a new kind of hero for the galaxy, free from the confines of prophecy.