Rey, Kylo, Snoke and a Twist in the Throne Room

The Last Jedi

Well, the biggest blogging project I’ve ever taken on is at an end. 49 articles over 49 days, 19,600 words and a whole lot of Star Wars memories along the way, it’s time for me to write about my favourite scene in the entire Skywalker Saga.

Maybe tonight’s midnight screening of The Rise of Skywalker will deliver a new scene that eclipses my current number one, but for now, the greatest moment from a galaxy far, far away comes from Rian Johnson’s masterpiece The Last Jedi and involves Rey, Kylo Ren, Snoke and a throne room.

One of the driving factors behind why Episode VIII is my favourite Star Wars movie is the fact that it constantly circumvents expectations and showcases the imperfections amongst our heroes and villains.

Heading into the movie, fans including myself were intrigued to learn more about Supreme Leader Snoke, having only seen him in Goliath hologram form in The Force Awakens. Just how powerful was he?

Well, the answer was very – for a while at least. Snoke managed to bridge Rey and Kylo Ren’s minds, allowing force projection to bring the two closer together and stoke Kylo’s conflicted soul. He managed to draw information out of Rey’s mind where Kylo had failed and he was able to manipulate her every move around the throne room.

However, hubris has so often proved a fatal flaw in Star Wars canon and just because Snoke was seemingly powerful in the force didn’t make him invincible to his own arrogance. He fails to see that Kylo is about to betray him – so convinced of his control over the Master of the Knights of Ren. Kylo turns the lightsaber perched on the arm of his master’s throne to kill his true enemy and removes Snoke – the supposed ‘big bad’ of the sequel trilogy – from the board just halfway through the second movie of the set.

I’ll never forget the reaction on opening night. Audible gasps in the cinema – one of which came from myself. Star Wars had never been this bold before and with Snoke dead, all bets were off. Would Kylo join the Resistance? Would Rey join a freed Kylo? Who would assume the Supreme Leader status? This was Star Wars unshackled like never before.

But before all of those questions would be answered, we were about to witness one of the most aesthetically pleasing action sequences in the Star Wars saga. Kylo pulls the Skywalker blade towards him and Rey’s arm flies into shot, catching the lightsaber once again as she gets to her feet.

The two stare at each other as Kylo’s face lights up red as he fires up his own lightsaber. Turning to stand back to back to make for one of the best frames in Star Wars history, the pair have to fight off eight of Snoke’s Praetorian Guards who are determined to avenge their master.

It’s a frenetic battle that more than makes up for the absence of a lightsaber duel in the movie, (with The Last Jedi being the first film in the saga not to include a conventional lightsaber tussle.) The hero and the villain instead teaming up was something I’d not expected to see going into the movie – another first for Star Wars in the film that took risks and stuck the landing.

The choreography is superb. Just the right amount of spectacle without turning into a flashy over-the-top prequel tussle. The setting is one of the most distinctive in the franchise, with red armoured soldiers in a red throne room. The characters fighting for their lives while their respective and perspective futures are in flux.

It’s a scene with weight, gravitas, dripping in Star Wars goodness and featuring the boldest writing decision since Kasdan and Lucas decided to announce Vader as Luke’s father.

The greatest moment in the Skywalker Saga – at least until later on tonight.

And with that, the circle is now complete. My top 50 Skywalker Saga moments. You probably don’t agree with them – in fact, if you have an identical list to me, well, I’d be both astounded, concerned and freaked out in equal measure.

If you’ve read just one of these pieces or all 50, thanks a lot – I’m glad that someone got something out of them. I certainly had a blast touring the galaxy.

Whenever it is that you’re watching The Rise of Skywalker, wherever in the world, I hope you have a great time at the movies. I’ll have my first spoiler free reactions up on the site tomorrow evening.

May the force be with you, always.