Is Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker woke?

Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.

Wokeness Analysis

The Rise of Skywalker features prominent diversity in its cast, including a Black lead actor John Boyega as Finn, Asian-American Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, and strong female protagonists like Rey (Daisy Ridley) and General Leia. The film includes a brief same-sex kiss between two minor female Resistance members in the final celebration scene, marking the first explicit LGBTQ representation in a Star Wars theatrical film, though it is fleeting and involves unnamed background characters with no plot relevance. Director J.J. Abrams publicly emphasized the importance of representation for marginalized groups, including women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community. While the core narrative remains a space opera focused on the battle against Emperor Palpatine and the First Order, these elements appear intentional and draw attention as part of broader Disney-era efforts to update the franchise. Critics and fans from conservative perspectives have noted the casting and the kiss as forced inclusion that prioritizes messaging over organic storytelling, with some characters like Finn and Rose receiving diminished roles compared to prior films. The diversity feels more shoehorned than in earlier entries, contributing to perceptions that ideology influences character prominence and plot service. Entertainment remains the priority, but the prominent ideological signals push it into heavily message-driven territory without fully dominating the adventure.

Plot

Following the events of The Last Jedi, Rey, Finn, and Poe lead the Resistance remnants against Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and the resurgent First Order. They discover that Emperor Palpatine has returned from the dead and is building a massive fleet known as the Final Order. Rey learns she is Palpatine's granddaughter and must confront her heritage while training with the Force. The heroes embark on a quest across the galaxy for a Sith wayfinder to locate the Emperor on Exegol. Alliances form, old friends return including Lando Calrissian, and a climactic battle ensues involving lightsaber duels, fleet combat, and personal reckonings. Rey ultimately defeats Palpatine with help from Ben Solo (Kylo Ren), who redeems himself before dying. The Resistance triumphs, restoring hope to the galaxy.