Breaking Down Every Single Shot Of The Final 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Trailer
There’s been an awakening. In my pants. Have you felt it?!
During Halftime of the Patirots/Jets massacre last night, we got our final trailer for ‘Star Wars – Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker’, and it absolutely blew my socks off. I made some predictions for what we’d see, and spoke on what I hoped to see, beforehand, and I actually went 3/4 too! We got more of that space battle from the TV spot, got to see Babu Frick in the flesh, and of course, got some lightsaber fighting! What we didn’t get, however, was a good look at that old fuck Sheev. The Emperor had narration in this trailer, and we even saw an over-the-shoulder view of him, but never did we see that geezer’s gross ass face.
As always, I’m here to break down this trailer frame-by-frame and point out some things you may have missed while giving my commentary on what this could all meeeeaaaan!
Let’s not waste any more time and just get right into it!
Note: I know there’s allegedly some plot leaks already out there, but please don’t share anything with me that will spoil this movie. Literally any aspect of the movie, no matter how small. I’m always trying to stay as far away from spoilers as possible. Thank you.
We begin with a shot of Rey doing some training on a grassy, foresty planet. Maybe Endor? Probably not, though. Endor looks like Global Warming hit it or some shit.
She’s got a blast shield helmet that she just threw to the ground, similar to that of Luke’s from ‘A New Hope’…
…and I believe I see a Marksman-H Training Remote (that little training ball) in the distance. This is the same terrain that she’s seen in later on in the trailer, hugging Leia as a tear rolls down her cheek, so I’m going to have to assume that Rey is getting some last minute training in before embarking on a dangerous journey, and The General comes in with some words of wisdom. Excited to see it, and excited to see how much Rey has progressed as a Jedi since ‘The Last Jedi’, given the time jump between Episode VIII and IX!
Rey is seen taking a leap of faith during said training, and transitioned beautifully with a leap she must take on the Death Star later on (I’m assuming that’s late in the movie, I could obviously be wrong but seems more likely than not). This mirrors Rey’s introduction from ‘The Force Awakens’ extremely well.
We see Rey doing some more sprinting, and a push-in on a Resistance base – Lando Calrissian present. Certainly looks like the legend of Luke Skywalker has spread and inspired a ton to join the good fight.
Gang’s all here! Rose, Poe, Finn, and Chewie? Ain’t NOBODY fuckin with that clique. I know people hate Rose or whatever, but I don’t care. I think her character was fine, and I absolutely love Kelly Marie Tran, so I’m excited to see more of her. Dominic Monaghan and Billie Lourd (daughter of the late, great Carrie Fisher) can be seen behind Rise as well.
Holy shit! That’s the Tantive IV, isn’t it?! It’s gotta be!
If that don’t ring a bell…
They’re bringing it alllllll the way back to the very first shot of the saga! I love it!
Looks intense. I wonder how the Death Star got caught up in all them waves, almost Mustafar-style (but with lava), you know? Is it constantly just sloshin around on the Forest Moon of Endor or did Rey/Kylo Ren do something to fuck it up? Speaking of Kylo…
This shot of Kylo Ren coming out of the mist from the waves is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Imagining his theme BLARING as this is happening sends shivers up my spine. I cannot wait for this duel.
That is…A LOT of TIE fighters. Too many for me to feel comfortable.
OUR VERY FIRST LOOK AT THE EMPEROR’S NEW THRONE. WOW.
I think this thing looks gorgeous, and extremely villainous and terrifying and all that, and that is all thanks to legendary concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. Why, you might ask? Well, take a look at this unused sketch for ‘Return of the Jedi’, when George Lucas was toying with different Throne Room designs…
I bet The Emperor is legitimately lifting these Star Destroyers out of the sand/snow/dirt/whatever they’re in with the Force. Kinda mirrors Yoda showing his strength by pulling Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing out of the swamp on Dagobah but times a million skillion. Shit’s metal.
Lando and Chewie are leading the Resistance Fleet against the First Order if ya look closely into that cockpit! This is gonna be INTENSE!
I’m sure this space battle is going to be dissected for years to come with how many ships can be seen there, and I’ve never been good with identifying ships, but Han/Chewie’s freighter from ‘The Force Awakens’ is in there, as well as the ‘Ghost’ from ‘Star Wars: Rebels’, which is exciting the hell out of a lot of people.
Lando and Chewie better not go down with the Falcon in some sorta noble sacrifice. I want both of those mothafuckas and this ship back at the base in one piece after it’s all said and done.
SQQQUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!
Other than on the Millennium Falcon at the very end of ‘The Last Jedi’, this is the first time we’re seeing all of these characters together! How neat!
What’s Star Wars without a little fightin? I love it.
Some sorta skidder in the eye of a storm INSIDE the Death Star? What could POSSIBLY be in the Death Star worth risking this for? Also, who do we think is on this ship? Gotta be Rey, right? This scrap metal skidder certainly doesn’t look like something the First Order would be using. Jeez.
BB-8 and D-0! So D-0, the new wheel/cone droid next to our guy BB-8, is made by BB-8 out of junk from Babu Frick’s place. At least that’s what Hasbro told me. He acts/operates like a dog to BB-8, and very much considers the little ball droid his dad. Adorable.
BABUUUUUUU!!! We’ve been waiting a long time to see this guy in action, and here we have it. I love that Babu Frick is a practical effect (or at least looks like one). He already feels SO Star Warsy.
Going to a planet that requires our main characters to put on some cool jackets is always a good thing.
I’m sure Babu Frick’s droid repair shop (or whatever that is) will also be that of an ‘I SPY’ book as soon as this movie is released, being we already spotted a Battle Droid behind Threepio in this shot…
Alright, what’s going on here? THREEPIO is gonna make the noble sacrifice in this movie? Why? Not like – “Why make that story decision, JJ?!”, but more like, “What chain of events could possibly lead to C-3PO going out a martyr?!”
I’ve got a theory about this scene, though, so have no fear. I think it’s a total fake-out. Maybe C-3PO is starting to break down and malfunction all the time, being he’s a super old droid make by a child, and they bring him to Babu Frick for “surgery” of sorts. Threepio is a total glass half empty kinda soul, so he’s not optimistic about the surgery being a success, and that’s why he says he’s taking one last look at his friends. Just when you think he’s dead for good, however?!
COMBAT MODE ACTIVATED. Like when Buzz Lightyear accidentally got reprogrammed as a Spanish toy.
We’ve already seen stills of him holding Chewbacca’s Bowcaster and Rey’s staff…
…so maybe they’re running back the ‘Attack of the Clones’ gag and having Threepio be the unlikely sharpshooter the Resistance needs?! I dunno. Makes sense in my head.
Love to see my boys just WREAKING HAVOC on Stormtroopers, jumpin over dead bodies, just shutting it down. Absolute savages. I love it.
Above is that shot of Leia and Rey on the forest planet I mentioned before. I’m assuming they reused this Leia shot from the last trailer either because she’s not in the movie a ton, and this is one of her only scenes, or because the CGI is already done on this shot, and a work-in-progress on the others.
BB-8 setting off some explosions! Count me in! Homeboy is gonna be a PROBLEM for all those Jet Troopers.
Nice shot of Billy Dee Williams back in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, as well as a Y-Wing tearing through space. Been a minute since we’ve seen one of those bad boys.
Space Horses…on the side of a Star Destroyer. WHAT?! HOW?!
People are freaking out about this already. People hate it. I think the horses are giving half the audience Canto Bight flashbacks, and everyone else is just wondering how everyone is breathing. I’m sure they’ll explain it just fine come December 19th, though, so how about everybody just takes a big deep breath, eh? It’s Star Wars. It’s fake.
For me, this is the shot of the trailer. Gorgeous cinematography paired with the emotional weight the Death Star’s Throne Room has? It doesn’t get any better. JJ Abrams reeeaaally knows how to make a beautiful flick. I’m curious to see how this scene plays out, as well, because while Rey has her saber ignited, it doesn’t look like she’s in any hurry to attack Kylo. She’s listening to whatever he has to say. Hmmm.
Here we’ve got Finn running out onto the wreckage of the Death Star, screaming to Rey (as he always tends to do), and I’ll tell ya what – it worries me. I’ve seen this guy fight Kylo Ren before, and it wasn’t pretty. He’s out of his realm there. I’m gonna need him to leave the lightsaber dueling to Rey.
I’m so glad we finally got to this shot, because it’s the one that has been driving me the craziest since last night. What could possibly be going on here?
Rey and Kylo Ren (a MASKED Kylo Ren, might I add) are destroying Darth Vader’s burnt helmet, but how? Are they working together, or is the helmet just a casualty of war? Why would Kylo Ren still have his helmet on if he were working together with Rey? Wouldn’t you go for some symbolism with that thing if Ben’s being drawn back towards the light? Helmet On = Kylo Ren, Helmet Off = Ben Solo? Also, what in the fuck is Rey holding in her left hand? Looks like a giant Rambo knife or something. She fighting with a lightsaber AND a knife just for shits and gigs, or is there something more to that?!
I NEED MORE OF THIS GIANT SPACE BATTLE AND I NEED IT RIGHT NOW. THIS LOOKS INSANE.
We have pretty much no idea where The Emperor is or what he’s up to, but I’m going to assume everything from this dark/stormy planet we’ve seen is wherever he is. I’m guessing this shot is bitchboi Ren serving his orders or something.
Uh oh. Rey on the back-step. Does NOT look confident. I don’t like to see that. Not one bit.
What do we think is going on with The Emperor’s floaty chair? I’ve got a theory that it’s some kinda life support device. He was old and decrepit in ‘Return of the Jedi’ almost forty years ago, and that was BEFORE Vader threw him down that shaft, so he’s probably on his last legs in this movie. Maybe you get him outta the chair, he dies? I’m not sure.
I do think they’re hiding something with Palpatine, though, being we didn’t see him in the flesh in this trailer. He probably looks even grosser and more fucked up than ever. If he looked the same as he did in ‘Jedi’, I think we would’ve been shown a glimpse, at least, in this trailer.
Alright, I take back everything I said about Rey’s confidence. I’ve got all the faith in the world in Rey now. She’s gonna spice Palps’ fuckin head clean off. She was born for this. It may just be the most intense battle in the history of the Wars, too, with the SAGA on the line!
As far as narration goes…
We hear Poe Dameron saying, “Good people will fight if we lead them!”, rallying the troops, obviously.
Rey says, “People keep telling me they know me…but no one does”, to which Kylo Ren responds, “But I do.”
Troubling, for sure, but I really don’t think Rey is going to fall to the Dark Side in this movie, so I ain’t worried. I think it’s a hell of a lot more likely for Kylo to finally give in to the Light. That quote shoes they’ve definitely still got that bond like none other, though, so Reylos, rejoice!
The Emperor goes, “Long have I waited. Your coming together will be your undoing.”
Which COULD refer to the Resistance/Galaxy coming together to stop him once and for all, or it could be directly referring to Rey/Kylo. I wouldn’t be shocked if defeating Sheev could bring those two kids together, would you? Dude’s a menace.
Luke Skywalker than remarks, “Confronting fear…it’s the DESTINY of a Jedi”, which is just a classic Force Ghost comment. Go confront that fear, Rey!!!
Finally, we hear Luke tell Rey, “The Force will be with you…”, and Leia finishes it, “…always.”
Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. December 19th can’t get here soon enough.
Let me know if I missed anything major on Twitter, and again, please just make sure ya don’t spoil anything that might have leaked! I don’t wanna know!
Thanks for reading folks.