Star Wars Fans Discuss Palpatine’s Son in The Rise of Skywalker
Years after the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars enthusiasts continue to unravel the tangled web of Emperor Palpatine’s unexpected return and his erased lineage, spotlighted by the cryptic line, ‘Somehow, Palpatine returned.’ Amidst heated Reddit debates sparked by user Will_da_Thrill12, fans grapple with the baffling narrative gap regarding Palpatine’s son, Rey’s father, whose story remains a ghostly shadow in the film’s background. Theories abound, from cloned progeny at Exegol to whimsical visions of Palpatine in pursuit of kinship at a cosmic tavern, igniting a firestorm of critique on the trilogy’s overlooked storytelling depths. With the lineage question overshadowing the saga’s grand finale, fans demand more than mere outside references to fill the void left by the saga’s omission. Dive into the fervent discussions that challenge the legacy of Star Wars’ iconic villain saga.
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Quick Takeaways:
- Fans are still debating the logic behind Emperor Palpatine’s sudden return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
- A Reddit thread revived interest in the unexplored backstory of Palpatine’s son and Rey’s origins.
- Many feel that the film failed to explain a key piece of the storyline within the story itself.
Debate Rekindled Years Later
More than five years after its release, The Rise of Skywalker continues to fuel heated discussions among Star Wars fans. One enduring point of contention is the confusing and unclear explanation for Emperor Palpatine’s return—and more specifically, the origin of Rey’s parentage. A recent Reddit thread by user Will_da_Thrill12 reopened this conversation, focusing on why Palpatine’s son, who turns out to be Rey’s father, was never shown or explained in a meaningful way.
The Line That Launched a Thousand Memes
A major frustration stems from the now-infamous line, “Somehow, Palpatine returned.” The lack of follow-up or clarification in the film left many viewers puzzled, prompting memes, parodies, and lingering criticism. Fans continue to question how this crucial plot development was left so vague.
Clones or Children?
In the Reddit discussion, theories resurface about Palpatine creating Force-less clones or secretly starting a family. One explanation that caught attention came from user NerdHistorian, who wrote: “One of the clones made at Exegol was genetically viable but not able to use the Force. He got off Exegol and had Rey, who Palpatine tried to take but was unable to.” Another user jokingly offered an image of Palpatine “hitting the local bar for the longevity of his empire,” poking fun at the lack of clarity.
Missed Opportunities for Storytelling
Much of the frustration centers on how such a major backstory was either cut or relegated to outside materials. While some fans suggest that runtime constraints may have limited what could be included, others argue that the lineage of a central character like Rey should not have been glossed over. For a film meant to wrap up the entire saga, the gaps in storytelling continue to be a sore spot.
Ongoing Criticism of the Final Entry
This renewed discussion reflects broader concerns over how The Rise of Skywalker handled its plot and characters. Details critical to the story’s internal logic were either omitted or left vague—leaving fans to piece together meaning from supplementary content or fan theories. As time passes, the lack of answers continues to fuel online debate and disappointment over missed opportunities to develop one of the franchise’s core families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Star Wars fans upset about Palpatine’s son reveal?
Many Star Wars fans were confused and frustrated by the sudden reveal of Palpatine having a son, as it felt inconsistent with established lore and lacked prior setup in the saga. The twist seemed to come out of nowhere, leading to criticism about poor storytelling.
Who is Palpatine’s son in Star Wars?
Palpatine’s son is revealed to be a non-Force-sensitive clone or “strand-cast” of Emperor Palpatine, introduced off-screen as the father of Rey. This character was not previously known or explored in earlier Star Wars movies.
Was Palpatine’s son ever mentioned before The Rise of Skywalker?
No, Palpatine’s son was never introduced or mentioned in any Star Wars films or official materials before The Rise of Skywalker, making his sudden appearance confusing for many fans.
How does Rey being Palpatine’s granddaughter affect the story?
Rey’s connection to Palpatine redefines her origin story and attempts to tie her into the Skywalker saga’s central conflict. However, many fans felt it undermined previous themes about self-made identity and added unnecessary complexity.
Is Palpatine’s son a clone or a real biological child?
According to expanded materials, Palpatine’s “son” is actually a failed clone or genetically engineered creation, not a naturally born child. This attempt to create a new dark side vessel led to the character being non-Force-sensitive and eventually going into hiding.
Why do some fans joke about Palpatine having a son?
Fans often joke about Palpatine having a son because the idea of the villain having a secret family life seems absurd and out of character. These jokes highlight how unexpected and awkward the twist felt within the Star Wars universe.
Filipino Translation:
Grabe, ang daming Star Wars fans ang naiinis pa rin hanggang ngayon sa hindi klarong kwento tungkol kay Palpatine at sa anak niya sa The Rise of Skywalker, kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas simula nung narelease yung movie. Marami talaga ang napo-frustrate, lalo na dun sa return ni Emperor Palpatine na parang bigla na lang nangyari — tapos yung sikat na line na “Somehow, Palpatine returned,” hanggang ngayon meme pa rin sa fandom kahit lampas lima taon na yung pelikula.
May isang thread sa Reddit na sinimulan ni Will_da_Thrill12 na bumuhay ulit ng discussion tungkol dito, specifically sa backstory ng anak ni Palpatine — siya yung tatay ni Rey, pero never pinakita sa movie.
Sa thread na ‘to, pinag-iisipan ng fans kung gumawa ba si Palpatine ng clones or may tinago lang siyang pamilya. Yung theory ni user na si NerdHistorian ang medyo nagkaroon ng traction: “One of the clones made at Exegol was genetically viable but not able to use the force, he got off Exegol and had Rey, who Palpatine tried to take but was unable to.” Tapos may isang user na tumawa na lang at in-imagine si Palpatine na naghahanap daw ng date “at the local bar for the longevity of his empire.” Sobrang lost ng mga tao kasi importante sana yung plot na ‘to, pero parang na-skip entirely sa pelikula.
Itong conversation na ‘to ipinapakita lang kung gaano ka-disappointed yung maraming fans sa kung paano hinarap yung lore sa final movie ng trilogy. Ang dami kasing crucial info na hindi man lang nabanggit sa movie — either tinago sa mga books or napabayaan completely. May iba na nagsasabi na wala naman talagang tamang timing sa movie para i-explain lahat ‘to, pero karamihan sang-ayon na dapat lang talagang binigyang pansin yung about sa family line ni Palpatine. Sa totoo lang, malaking sayang talaga na hindi nila binaon pa nang mas malalim yung part na ‘yun ng story, lalo pa’t supposedly, pang-wrap up na ‘to ng buong saga.
Star Wars fans roast Palpatine’s son reveal, and we get it was first published here.
