Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker divided fans when it arrived in theaters last December, and one of the biggest issues with the movie was the fact it failed to answer so many questions. Those related to both previous instalments in the sequel trilogy
and this finale, so does the new novelization expand on any of those lingering mysteries?
Yes and no.
While it certainly clears up a few different moments, there are things that Lucasfilm still need to explain. However, we have now managed to round up some intel on Kylo Ren's return to Mustafar, whether the movie ever included Force Ghosts in the final battle, Ben Solo's final words, and more on that cloned version of Emperor Palpatine.
To take a look at these biggest reveals and changes to
The Rise of Skywalker in the book, all you guys need to do is hit the "Next" button below to check them out.
Ben Solo's Final Words To Rey
In
The Rise of Skywalker's final battle, Emperor Palpatine is defeated, and Ben Solo sacrifices himself in order to being Rey back to life. They shared a kiss, but no words, and the novelization reveals their final exchange (helping the scene land a more powerful emotional punch).
"A voice came to her through the Force, clear and strong," it reads.
"'I will always be with you,' Ben said. She smiled. Let the truth of it wash over her. 'No one's ever really gone,' she whispered."
Some fans aren't happy with what appeared to be a very sudden romance between Rey and Ben, but the novelization definitely leans heavily into that.
No, Rey Didn't Stay On Tatooine
There's been some speculation that the end of the movie was supposed to point to Rey calling Tatooine her new home, but this book adds a little more context...and a different final line!
After Rey reveals her name, the following takes place:
"'Ah,' the woman said, unsurprised. 'See you around?' And she hobbled off without saying her own name." What that's supposed to be alluding to is hard to say, but a later paragraph sees Rey crediting her friends, the Jedi of the past, and Ben Solo for giving her the strength to overcome The Emperor.
"Rey Skywalker headed toward the Falcon to return to her family...As she approached, BB-8 warbled that he'd had enough of desert planets." Something tells us they weren't sticking around.
Kylo Ren Meets Darth Vader's Oracle
After tearing his way through Mustafar, Kylo Ren meets "the Eye of Webbish Bog." It's revealed that Darth Vader left his Wayfinder in this creature's possession, and because the Sith Lord's grandson defeated its protectors, he had now earned this mysterious Sith device which will lead him to Emperor Palpatine.
'"It will guide you through the Unknown Regions,' the Eye said. 'To the hidden world of Exegol. To him.'"
This definitely points to Vader and Palpatine having some sort of plan to find each other on Exegol, and perhaps the latter was hoping his apprentice would find him there had Luke Skywalker struck him down on the Death Star. Honestly, it's all very confusing, and something which definitely needs to be addressed.
No Force Ghosts And The World Between Worlds
Before
The Rise of Skywalker arrived in theaters, rumours swirled about Force Ghosts making an appearance during the movie's final battle. Instead, we just got some disembodied voices, and this novelization does
not include them making their presence felt when Rey rises up to battle Emperor Palpatine.
That debunks claims they were cut at the last-minute, but there's an even more intriguing reference to the wider Star Wars canon which is bound to be of interest to fans.
As the Jedi from the past rise up to help her, it's said that,
"it was like she was staring through a window to somewhere else, a place between places..." That's an obvious nod to the World Between Worlds, a mystical plane within the Force serving as a collection of doors and pathways that existed between time and space, linking all moments in time together.
Emperor Palpatine Was A Clone
As expected, the novelization sheds a little light on Emperor Palpatine's return, and confirms that the version of the villain we cross paths with in
The Rise of Skywalker was indeed a clone of the original.
"All the vials were empty of liquid save one, which was nearly depleted. Kylo peered closer. He'd seen this apparatus before, too, when he'd studied the Clone Wars as a boy."
"The liquid flowing into the living nightmare before him," it continues, "was fighting a losing battle to sustain the Emperor's putrid flesh." The next paragraph adds that, "Kylo could feel in his very bones that this clone body sheltered the Emperor's actual spirit. It was an imperfect vessel, though, unable to contain his immense power. It couldn't last much longer."
Unfortunately, there's no explanation regarding how his followers resurrected the Sith Master...