Who is the Chosen One?

For decades this question was an easy one to answer…. Anakin Skywalker. However, It wasn’t until recently that a discussion even had to be made. With the animated show Rebels and new Trilogy of films, the answer hasn’t been as clear as we may have once thought.

With the Rise of Skywalker do to release this December. Fans are hoping to get a much clearer understanding of not only who Rey is, but if Anakin’s journey through the first six films was him fulfilling the chosen one’s destiny or not.

If you are someone who rolls their eyes at this question, then maybe you don’t realize why it has been debated as of late.

The Prequel/Sequel Trilogy Connection

Since our introduction to Rey in The Force Awakens the storyteller’s have been adamant about putting her raw untamed power on display. And while we have yet to be told who she is or where she came from, we might be able to determine it on our own.

Now, the Prequels gave us a better understanding of the Force explaining that…

 Midi-chlorians are intelligent microscopic life forms that live symbiotically inside the cells of all living things. When present in sufficient numbers, they could allow their host to detect the pervasive energy field known as the Force 

The more midi-chlorians a person has, the stronger with the Force they may be. Something that was alluded to in The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn tested Anakin’s blood and determined that he had the highest midi-chlorian count recorded.

Anakin was touted as the Chosen One. The One who would bring balance to the Force. For a number of years it was believed that he accomplished this at the end of Return of the Jedi when he defeated Darth Sidious. However, with the fact that Palpatine is returning in Episode IX the question is…

Did Anakin fulfill his destiny as the Chosen One?

Insert Rey.

Rey has raw power. Only seen once before by Luke Skywalker in his nephew Ben Solo.

But, WHY does she have so much power?

Star Wars REBELS Connection

In Season 3 of Rebels an episode titled “Twin Suns” we were given the conclusion of Maul’s story but more than that we were given a better understanding of the confusion Obi-Wan Kenobi had in regards to Anakin, Luke and The Chosen One.

In the episode Maul and Obi-Wan have a final confrontation that to many was a little underwhelming. And while you may be one who didn’t see the beauty in this scene it helped clear the air as to why Kenobi was reluctant to leave Luke by himself on Tatooine.

Prior to the two facing off, Ezra, the main protagonist of the show, and Kenobi have an interesting conversation about the Force. During this conversation Ezra is adamant about the Holocrones being what led him to Kenobi. And importantly and how the Holocrones only tell the truth.

Obi-Wan, assuring Ezra that it was Maul who actually led Ezra there by twisting his perception says a line that has much more meaning later in the episode than it did at this point in time.

"The truth is often what we make of it..."

It is after he tells Ezra this that Maul arrives and Kenobi rushes Ezra off. The Showdown begins.

Both Maul and Kenobi face each…

Maul: Look what has become of you. A rat in the desert.
Ben Kenobi: Look at what I’ve risen above.
Maul: I’ve come to kill you, but perhaps it’s worse to leave you here, festering in your squalor.
Ben Kenobi: If you define yourself by your power to take life, the desire to dominate, to possess? Then you have nothing.
Maul: [igniting his lightsaber] And what do you have? Why come to this place, not simply to hide?… Oh, you have a purpose here. Perhaps you are “protecting” something? No… protecting *Someone*

It’s when Maul says those words that Kenobi finally ignites his lightsaber and prepares to battle. He must do everything he can to make sure the one he is protecting stays protected.

Maul quickly lunges at Kenobi making a few moves before being sliced by Obi-Wan.

He falls into Ben’s arms.

It is these next few lines of dialogue that shocked and confused many.

Maul: [Dying] Tell me… is it the chosen one?
Ben Kenobi: He is.
Maul: He will… avenge us.

It’s immediately obvious that Maul is questioning if the one Kenobi is protecting is “the chosen one.” The fact that Obi-Wan quickly responds with a yes may have been confusing to some, but below I will better explain what it all means.

At this point in time we have to believe Anakin was and IS the Chosen One….But, it isn’t hard to believe that the truth which Kenobi believes to be TRUE is simply what he made it to be.

Ben believes completely that Anakin Skywalker died in that confrontation on Mustafar. Thus becoming Darth Vader.

According to the prophecy “The Chosen One” is the Jedi who would destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force once and for all.

In Kenobi’s eyes Anakin failed at this. To him his Hope now relied on a young boy from Tatooine, Luke Skywalker.

We as fans of the franchise know, or believe, that Anakin is eventually the one who destroys the Sith at the end of Return of the Jedi. But, it is in this moment during this time that none of these characters are aware of what is to come.

So, in Kenobi’s eyes, Luke, being the Last Jedi MUST be the chosen one the prophecy spoke of.

Anakin, Luke, Rey…WHO is the Chosen One?

Anakin

Without a doubt Anakin was the Chosen One. However, the manipulation by Palpatine and Anakin’s eventual fall to the Dark put him on a path that would see him not fulfill the destiny as many had hoped.

Luke

Was never the Chosen One. But he was the catalyst in what redeemed his father, Anakin, thus helping put an end to the Sith. Even if just temporary.

Rey

Could she be the Chosen One? OR at the very least a New Chosen One?

The Force, through it’s mysterious ways, realizes that there is a need for another powerful being like Anakin to defeat and bring balance once more.

Rey could very easily be this being. The more you think about it the more it begins to make sense. No, she isn’t a Skywalker….No she isn’t a Solo. But she is just as much connected to the characters we grew up with as anyone could be.

So what do you think, Who is the Chosen One?