A new star war is on the horizon, everyone. Take deep breaths. In…and out. In…and out. This has been my mantra ever since I watched the new trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker because, frankly, I still can’t calm down.
While we still have two months to wait until we see the final product on December 20th (I already have my ticket), we can continue to bask in all of the trailer’s beauty and glory. Let’s take a closer look at my favorite parts of the trailer.
The Music
Star Wars wouldn’t be Star Wars without its breathtaking music, and of course, we have John Williams to thank for that. I would trust that man with my life. His talent is practically unhuman. The trailer’s music brings in threads from many themes we know and love, such as Leia’s Theme and Yoda’s Theme. The most spectacular part of the trailer’s score, though, is undoubtedly around the 1:28 mark when a new rendition of the classic Star Wars theme plays with a strong, hopeful and triumphant tone. Commence full body chills.
Finn’s Voiceover
Finn, oh how I love thee. The trailer opens with a voiceover where he says, “It’s an instinct… a feeling. The force brought us together.” This made me smile because I immediately remembered a specific Force Awakens scene. You know the one.
Gif by Lucasfilm via Reddit
I loved this subtle nod to how much Finn has grown throughout the trilogy. The force was a complete mystery to him, a conundrum, and now he’s explaining it to us. The Last Jedi took him on a journey where he was able to fully grow into the “rebel scum” that he is, and I cannot wait to see where Finn will go in The Rise of Skywalker.
Mr. Darcy 2.0
My favorite line in the trailer comes through a Rey voiceover where she says, “People keep telling me they know me. No one does.” Ben Solo responds, “But I do,” as he walks through a wall of water and mist while looking like a space version of Mr. Darcy. I mean, it truly is a spot the difference game.
Photo by Lucasfilm via Twitter
Photo by Focus Features via Twitter
The relationship between Ben and Rey is one of the most intriguing things to me about this trilogy, so it’s no surprise that this was one of my favorite moments of the trailer. I am 100% aboard the Reylo ship; these two might appear to be complete opposites of each other, but deep down, they are so fundamentally similar. They can understand each other like no one else can. That “But I do” rings almost like a wedding vow. Rey and Ben are like yin and yang; their relationship is like poetry—it rhymes!
“Your coming together will be your undoing”
This is a line from Palpatine over shots of Rey, Finn, Poe and Chewie. The trailer then cuts to a shot of Rey and Ben, mid lightsaber duel. This line likely addresses Ben and Rey as they face down Palpatine during a showdown. I can’t wait for them—and all of our characters—to prove him wrong.
Space Horses
We got a glimpse of a new character, Jannah, being incredibly fierce atop what the internet has deemed a “space horse.” Watching her ride into battle put chills on top of my chills. Yes, it’s possible.
Photo by Lucasfilm via The Mix
“The story lives forever”
Even though we’re about to say goodbye to the Skywalker saga and so many characters we love dearly, this quote reminds us that this story and these characters are timeless. The Skywalkers will always be there when we need them, and the lessons they have taught us will stick with us forever. The placing of this line over Rey and Ben has also sparked discussion. There’s a lot of deliberation on whether Ben Solo, the last remaining Skywalker, will end up surviving this trilogy. The popular belief is that no, he won’t; he’s gone down too dark a path and has committed too many wrongs. I couldn’t disagree more. I’m calling it now: I don’t think Lucasfilm will kill off its remaining Skywalker in the finale of the saga. Star Wars is a fairytale about hope, love and redemption, and I truly think The Rise of Skywalker will have a happy ending that follows those themes. The placing of “the story LIVES forever” over Rey and Ben could be a clever way of alluding to that.
Photo by Lucasfilm via Twitter
Ben and Rey Destroying Vader’s Helmet
It’s not confirmed that this is what they destroy in the trailer, but many believe it to be, and I agree. In any case, this was such a powerful moment. Ben has had such a strong desire to continue the legacy of Darth Vader, so to see him finally throw that aside is such a huge, poignant moment for his character arc. Also, to see him do this with Rey, someone who against all odds he has found a connection with, someone who understands who he is, the good and the bad, is especially powerful.
Gif by Lucasfilm via Giphy
Let the countdown to December 20th begin!