Welcome one. Welcome all. I have brought all of you here today to say that YOU WERE LIED AND DECEIVED BY THE FORCES OF HOLLYWOOD AND UNCHECKED CAPITALISM. 'How?' You ask. And yes. I shall answer. It is simple:
The ending of the Rise of Skywalker was wrong
Wait. Excuse me. WHAT THE FUCK?
You read correctly, dear friends. Someone fucked with the editing of Rise of Skywalker and it changed the entire ending of the movie. It changed the characterization of three key characters and it's clear this was against the creator's wishes. I'll be breaking this down into a few key sections. What were the changes, Why I believe these changes were made (and made last minute), and do I consider this ending more or less canon then the theatrical ending. So. JOIN ME ON THIS ADVENTURE FRIEND
The plot changes/editing change
It's fairly simple. They changed Leia's role in the plot, this changed the entire direction of the last few minutes of the movie. Let me break the timeline down
โ Deathstar fight on the ocean still happens, Ben is distracted by Leia reaching out to him. She either still enters her "disappointment son" coma here, or perhaps simply just reaches out to him.
โ From here, the plot continues as normal. Ben and Rey both get to the sith rave separately.
โ Rey Dies
โ Ben Revives her and dies.
โ Leia chooses THIS MOMENT to die and give her life to her son
โ Ben is revived. He and Rey kiss.
โ Move to conclusion
WHAT EVIDENCE DO I HAVE THESE CHANGES WERE MADE (and at the last moment)
Take in note, my evidence is circumstantial, but circumstantial evidence still counts as proof
โ Leia's final role in the movie is insanely unclear. She also takes 12 hours to actually die or something. Again. Confusing
โ Ben's final words, as of this moment, are "OW". Adam Driver said he was nervous about his final dialogue in the movie to the point he stressed about it on the flight over. And. Man. IDK about you but OW seems a little unstressful to say
โ There was no Force Ghost Ben, a decision that is baffling story wise. It would take any competent VFX team hardly any effort to throw a ghostly adam driver next to Leia and Luke. And this would be advantageous to add to the plot if Ben was going to die, give that final bit of closure to the Skywalker fam.
โ Rey's near LACK of emotion over his death. Go watch her realize she has to leave Ben behind in TLJ and tell me that the difference isn't noticeable. It's completely against her character.
โ The weird beats of Leia going into her disappointment son coma and the other strange beats of Ben's death. Especially the fact that you only see him disappear in like. one shot.
โ None of the cast thought he was going to die
โ Wow I wonder why Adam Driver is adamant about never wanting to do star wars at this point?
โ Wow, why does disney keep resetting the character poll of who is the most anticipated character of this movie????
โ The prophecy about Ben's death is completely unnecessary at this point. If it was brought up during TFA, it's understandable to put that thread there. Instead it's in the last movie when his death seems to be a foregone conclusion???
โ So Rey's fine for Luke and Leia even tho she's palpatines kid, but Luke and Leia don't seem all that bothered by Ben's death??????
โ This was supposed to be Leia's film and complete her arc. And while I understand that there was a lack of footage to use for her, it's odd that she ended up not playing much of a role beyond "Distract Ben so he gets stabbed ig"
โ Every single hole in characterization for Luke, Leia, and Rey, every strange beat that didn't really make sense in Ben and Rey's fight on the ocean and during their ??? Mutual deaths???? and the some how rushed and dragged on ending can be solved by a simple solution. Occam's razor, Ben was never meant to die permanently.
โ The fact that there was no final dialogue for Ben after his talk with his father suggests he had something significant to say after his resurrection
โ The fact that they didn't have a cut of Rey absolutely LOSING HER MIND over losing to, what amounts to, the other half of her soul suggests that she was never supposed to lose him permanently
โ The fact that there is no Ben Ghost means that they didn't have the time to slip that in before pushing it out to theaters
โ The way the final scenes with Rey are shot and edited are, again, weird, off balance. It seems like it ends WAY TOO QUICKLY and far too on the nose.
โ no but really guys. His final words are "OW"
โ As for WHO changed it, because of the fact that this is clearly an edit job done at the last minute? I'm putting my money on a CEO that is above Kathleen Kennedy and JJ Abrhrams. I think their hands are tied ATM. This is the ending that had been planned for, this is the ending they wanted, otherwise there would not be such big holes that felt weird and dishonest to the characters. And, like, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo was JJ's child, he wouldn't have done him dirty like this.\
THEATRICAL ENDING/TRUE ENDING
I'm sure opinions would be divided on which ending is canon depending on the person. The theatrical ending will be what's considered canon in the universe of star wars at large. For myself, I find it hard to deny the creators and filmmakers the right to present the story they wanted to tell. So, in that way, both endings are true for me. Though, I am biased-- both as someone who is an artist myself and someone who adores Kylo Ren's/Ben Solo's character-- I like the story the film team were trying to tell over the agenda that whoever pushed for these changes had. Personally, I believe it pushes Star Wars as a universe forward into new territory rather than keep it stagnant in the same old same old that it's always been. Plus. this maintains the integrity of Luke, Leia, and Rey's characters, Ben was never forgotten, far too gone, or unloved. Leia gave him one final gift, a second chance.
That said, I'm not pushing this ending on anyone. I won't be playing it by default. I would rather ask permission or have someone else bring it up.
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literaldumpsterfire2020-01-04 09:58 am
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Losing Leia, it was losing a part of himself. Han, Luke, Leia-- all of them hadn't been entirely at the center of his world, but were like gravitational forces he couldn't escape.
After Ben... he'd distanced himself. Kept away because he'd been so angry and disappointed. But Leia... she'd found him. And he couldn't help but aid her.
A deep breath as Chewie comes by to squeeze him
'I know,' what more was there to say?
So, when Rey lights up on his comm. He isn't surprised. He's trying to steel himself for this along with Chewbacca who seems. Wary. Neither of them knew if this could even work? Sure, Leia wasn't to be underestimated, but... it just seemed far-fetched. Like a storybook.
But when had the Skywalkers been anything less?
Chewbacca is the first to rush forward. Over bearing and large-- it's hard to know where to go first. Ben? Or Rey?
Rey takes precedent for the moment. Chewie wraps her up and tries to comfort her and...
Yeah.
yeah Lando wasn't really prepared to see his best friend's kid dead. He looks so much like Han and Leia... He's not even sure the last time he saw him. He's remaining a bit further back because, well. His grief is a little more private, his heart is dropping because did Leia give her life for nothing?
They can't tell Rey.
He'll give her some space as they all just... try to figure out what to do. ]
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All the losses stack up to create a haze that makes Rey want to give in to the darkness she feels within her. She doesn't, of course. She's found the balance. She can maintain that balance. It's her focus on keeping the balance that helps with the numbness she feels, and enables her to board the Falcon while Chewie and Lando take care of the rest.
She doesn't tell them where to put the body. She can't bring herself to look at him yet. She busies herself with unnecessary ship repairs in the cockpit. When they rejoin her she's ready to pilot herself, engines started and Rey in the pilot's seat. They let her fly, and she feels an eerie sense of calm that enables her to ignore the emptiness inside her head.
On autopilot at that point, she heads for the resistance. She needs to see Finn for herself, to ensure that her friend is safe and alive. It's an impatient anxiety that eats at her until finally she passes the reins over to Lando. Rey withdraws and breaks down in peace in a dark corner of the Falcon.
When they arrive, the others are celebrating. Forcibly numb at that point, Rey leaves the Falcon with no mention to the others on what to do with Ben. She has absolutely no idea what she's doing at this point. She finds Finn and Poe and after ensuring their safety, she's grateful for the opportunity to retreat with BB-8.
It's with the darkness of late night to cloak her movements that she enlists the droids to help her with Ben's body. He's been gone for hours at that point, and she knows that something must be done. And given that all her hope feels gone at the moment, she knows she needs to do the next right thing and ensure Ben is at rest before Finn or Poe ever find out he's there. Still ompletely oblivious to Leia's master plan (thanks Lando), she figures that carrying him to the forest and using a fire is the best solution. No matter how painful it may be.]
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But that's not how Rey looks.
'Something's wrong,' is how she starts the conversation with Finn and Poe. And it devolves from there.
First they want to say she was fine. Because they are dumb and drunk on success. And then they say that maybe what she saw hurt her. But Rose points out they've gone through some SHIT and nothing has shaken Rey to her core like that. Leia's death? A fear that they'll leave her?
They all have to make the concerted decision to discuss it later as Poe gets asked to take another shot of whatever battery acid they are passing off as alcohol.
Finn tries several times to find Rey and drag her back to the crowd. It fails. BB-8 tries to twirl around her to get her to smile... that doesn't work. And Rose tries being straight forward and asking if she's okay. Rey just gives her a smile that doesn't reach her eyes and says she's fine.
Lando and Chewie are off as well. But that makes more sense, at least. Leia had been such a pivotal part of their life, they wanted to stick to the sidelines and confide in one another. It didn't explain why they refused to let anyone go into the Falcon, but it would have to do.
Chewie is the first to wake after Rey's run off with Ben's corpse. He trills in alarm (That wakes a few porgs) and he and Lando are scrambling. They assume it has to be someone found the body. Or maybe he disappeared??? Force users do that, right? And they're caught in this strange place of wanting to raise the alarm, but also realizing that action would be a bad idea given they have no way of explaining why they had Kylo Ren's body.
There's just a whole lot of panic going on right now. They aren't really equipped to figure out what to do.
But around Rey, there's a thick haze of grief. It's blinding her, clear as day to see when you're a part of the Force-- but no less aggravating for the twins.
'Rey,' Luke or Leia's voice? It's hard to tell. But there's no real manifestation of them quite yet. Just a quiet whisper. ]
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I don't know how to take care of this.
[It's a very broad response, and comes out flat.]
Your loss, Ben's. Luke's. The people that are left behind.
[She's terrified of ending up alone. What if she isn't enough to bring hope to them all? What if Finn and Poe leave? What if she's left with nothing after the remains of the resistance scatter?]
I can't do this alone.
[Her voice cracks, numb armor chipping away and breaking. Tears build in her eyes and finally she allows them to fall openly. That whisper was meant to calm her. It's only brought out her emotions to make her face them. Luke would tell her that makes her brave. She feels like a coward, running off with Ben Solo's body well past midnight.]
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Leia wants to apologize to Rey... to her son. To the entirety of the galaxy. She'd been assured that it wasn't her fault, that there was nothing she could have done to prevent it. But Leia isn't a fool. She had chances, she had many. She was just so absorbed in her own ego and legacy that she hadn't taken the chance to look back at her son in the times he needed her most.
'You're not alone,' She says.
She wants to comfort her, try to bring her more peace. Even in this half formed haunting she wants to break through. ]
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No one is ever truly alone.
[She's not looking for Leia to apologize. She can't accept an apology from her master, from someone she cares for so greatly. She wants guidance, to be told how Leia prefers this be handled. She's his mother. She should be the one who gets to decide. After the decisions she's had to make the past year of her life, Rey is tired of being the one that carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She desperately craves closure and rest.
She glances down at Ben before crouching down next to his body. Her hand goes to cup his cheek, eyes sliding closed.
Please, she asks of Leia. Be with me. Show me what to do.]
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A gentle hand will rest at Rey's back. More like a chill than an actual touch.
'Rey,' She begins there, wanting to pull Rey's attention to her and keep this connection strong. 'I'm sorry.'
It's hard to articulate but Leia knows too well what it's like to be twenty and at the end of a war which had uprooted the entire life you knew. And once it was over? There were celebrations and happiness, but also a profound emptiness at finding the right path. It was too much for her to handle and she can only start to grasp what Rey feels.
'We asked too much of you,' She means that sincerely, her eyes sliding to Ben's face. He looks so old, is her first thought. She's not even there anymore, but she can feel a breath catch in her throat at the sight. ]
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Don't apologize. We both failed him.
[They both saved him in the end, ensured that he turned away from Kylo Ren and came home. But they couldn't keep him alive, and that's the part where she feels like a failure.]
But I want you to know. Ben, he - [Her mouth feels dry and she swallows a lump that's formed in her throat.]
He left knowing he was loved.
[Or at least she hopes he did. She feels a sense of peace at having said that out loud.]
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The princess kneels as best she can next to Rey. In one sweeping movement she lays her hand over where Rey has grasped at her son's.
'Can you promise me something?'
One final request. ]
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You know all you have to do is ask.
[It's a final request. A way for Rey to honor Leia's memory. She latches onto that idea and manages a slight smile.]
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'Take care of each other,' She takes a moment to gather her thoughts and speak with conviction. 'That is what living is about, loving others and standing with them.'
A regret spoken out loud as she begins to fade. ]
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[She assumes Leia must mean Finn and the others. Her found family.
But then another meaning sinks in. Rey's face contorts in confusion, and she feels her breath catch as she tries to reach out through the force to keep Leia with her. It doesn't work, of course, and within moments she's alone.
Surely she meant Finn and the others. They'll need her, just the same as she needs them.
She stands there for a few moments before turning and once again crouching down next to Ben. He's been gone for so long now that it feels wrong to do, but she still dips in close to press a kiss to his forehead.]
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One beat. Two.
Only Leia could do this. Wade into the river Styx and drag her hulking child out of it. She doesn't ask the Force, she demands it. Their family has been cursed for as long as she can remember. Tragedy beget tragedy, they'd ran away and thought that could fix things. But they'd been fools. She'd been a fool. Her son shouldn't be allowed to suffer any longer for the sins of his family. The Force could just give her this one thing.
Three... Four.
She feels the connection in her hand. Threadbare, weak. It makes her ache, how much he'd been ready to die. She can't stop thinking that she did this to him. She'd kept things from him out of fear and thus he believed he was doomed. Alone. But she grabs the line and yanks. This isn't a gentle wake up call.
And with the next heartbeat, Ben gasps for air. ]
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Positioned at his side, crouched over him, she shifts to try and cradle him in a way that supports his head. As it turns out, his hulking body is impossible to move without using the force. She winds up sprawled out with his head half on her leg, and her hand pressed firmly over his heart. His beating heart.
Tears fall from her eyes and down onto his face as she lets out a laugh of sheer disbelief. Leia's by far the strongest person she's ever known. Nothing's impossible for her. Finally, the full meaning of her words sink in. She swears that she'll always take care of him. He's Leia's last gift, her final mark in the galaxy. Ben Solo has a second chance, an opportunity to be more. She just has to guide him back to living first.]
Ben? [She watches him closely, eyes scanning his face. She'll wait to see his reaction before saying much more.]
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His hands are the next things which move, some blind searching and confusion as his eyes open and... ]
Rey. [ God his throat hurt. He needs some water. But his eyes are wide as he sees beyond Rey and sees the night sky. ] Wh-
[ He attempts to sit up but his body feels exceptionally weak right now. So he sputters and coughs and gives up trying to sit up. Was being dead supposed to hurt this much? Maybe this is just what death is for him.
He gives up on trying to move and collapses back on Rey. Breath still uneven as he tries to speak. But boy, his voice is rough right now. ] What happened?
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She lets herself continue to cry, to the point where she can't speak clearly.]
You died, saving me.
[It's all she can say, until everything clicks all at once and she jumps into action. She shifts so she can move to help him sit up. This laying in her lap thing is quickly getting uncomfortable and awkward.]
But your mother, she brought you back.
[Don't ask how, Jedi magic she guesses? It's probably a good idea not to question it now.]
How do you feel?
[Because he sounds like shit. Which is concerning, but understandable.]
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But Rey is a flurry of activity, her nervous and anxious tension breaks through the bond and into him and somehow it helps him. Soaking all that excess up as she pulls him to sit up and he... well. He's still dealing here, so he has to lean on her.
He can't even compute what Rey said about his mother right now. He can't even compute the fact that he's... alive? He was brought back? This is just a lot to handle this this moment. He'll have to get to that later.
Also. He stops himself from saying "Like death" because even though it sounds HILARIOUS in his head. He somehow doubts Rey would appreciate the quip right now. ]
Sore. Tired. [ .... that's probably more related to being thrown off a cliff rather than the whole Death thing. ] Where are we?
[ He's saying all of this casually as if he wasn't dead just a few seconds ago. He'll have to deal with this in stages. ]
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[Which is a lot to unload, but she's not going to lie to him right now so...they can deal with their location later. All that matters is they're far away from immediate danger and he's not dead.
She's going to have to deal with his being dead and then not being dead and find a way to process her emotions later. Right now, he needs her to take charge.]
Do you think you can get on your feet? I'll help you walk.
[She's impossibly tiny next to him, but sure, she can help him walk to a hiding place. They're not exactly out in the open, but it's still not safe. She wants to touch him, to hold him. To kiss him again. But the need for practicality wins out and makes her try to hurry him.]
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But he gives her a curt nod. Eyes closed as he pushes away from her and has to take a minute before being able to push up into a standing position. Which is still wobbly like a new born baby giraffe ]
You got me here by yourself?
[ He, too, noticed Luke's X-wing and that it is WAY too small to carry the corpse of the supreme leader in it. ]
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I tried, but had to wait for the Falcon. I wasn't in the best shape after...well, you were there. You know what happened.
[That's hopefully answer enough.]
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....But shit wait-- ]
Who was piloting?
[ If it's poe dameron Ben is goin straight to his quarters to MURDER HIM. ]
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[And that's all she has to say about that. She hugs him tighter, but only long enough that she can press her face against his shoulder and give herself time to let her tears dry up. When she feels like she's good she pulls back just enough that they can start walking. She'll support him the rest of the way, so he can hobble along safely.]
Chewie was there too. He's probably looking for us now, actually.
[Which is great. Really. Given the eye Finn keeps on her, she's sure he's not far behind. This will be fun to explain.]
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But the name Chewie does make him a little nervous. Last time they saw one another the wookiee shot him. So. That he's not sure if Chewbacca even wants to see him. ]
I don't supposed you have a plan for all of this.
[ Like Cool. Chewie and Rey know about him. But that doesn't account for the Resistance as a whole. Some may even want to see him executed.
Okay a lot of people want that.
But, most importantly, they needed to figure out the next steps from here. What do you do with a former supreme leader? His mother can't be a shield any longer and they were just left to their own devices.
A terrible idea in retrospect. ]
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[Which means no, there is no plan. She just knows she has to hide him, and fast.]
We have to get to a ship, and leave.
[She's firm on that, her voice clipped and not leaving room for argument. The last thing they need is for Finn to go looking for her, and see her with him.]
Unless you're willing to risk staying in my quarters here?
[She feels like she's talking a lot. It's definitely out of anxiety.]
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He stumbles over a root and grips onto her a bit more tightly. He's trying not to lean too heavily on her, but his body is still rebooting and he needs a drink of water. And then maybe something alcoholic because this is a lot to handle in one day. ]
What ever you think is best.
[ He's not in the right state of mind to decide anything right now. He hadn't even known about the location of the rebels or what their base may look like. He hadn't had time to pour over recon reports or intel to try and pinpoint their location. He'd been too laser-locked on finding Rey.
Another step before there's a distinct rustling in the foliage ahead. They'll hardly have a moment to react before Chewbacca bursts through the green with-- a bowcaster? What the heck did he think happened with Ben????
A beat of silence follows. It seems to stretch on for infinity before Chewbacca howls and rushes forward, dropping his weapon, to grab the both of them in his arms.
Rey, Ben is so confused right now. Help him. ]
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fun fact. currently drawing half naked mans back so this tag is perf