The Rationale Behind Palpatine's Plan Reveal

In Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, the strategic and ambiguous plot choice of revealing Palpatine's entire plan to Rey serves as a pivotal moment in the film. Palpatine's decision to share his strategy is rooted in multiple layers of ambition and manipulation.

Confidence in Control

Palpatine is a master manipulator, and revealing his plan to Rey demonstrates his confident control over the narrative and the characters within it. By vesting his power and foreknowledge, he solidifies his status as an omnipotent figure. This move can be interpreted as a form of mock humility, where he presents himself as the puppeteer pulling all the strings, putting himself at the center of every action and decision.

Seduction to the Dark Side

Another plausible motive for Palpatine's revelation is his desire to seduce Rey to the dark side. By sharing his heritage and lineage, Palpatine attempts to entice Rey with the power and prestige that come with being a dark jedi. He presents the idea of embracing her heritage as a Palpatine as a seductive allure, hoping to draw her into the dark side, thereby fulfilling his ultimate goal of regaining his power.

The Rule of Two

In alignment with the Sith tradition of the The Rule of Two, Palpatine's strategy aims to orchestrate a conflict between Rey and Kylo Ren (Ben Solo). He planned on using both individuals to his advantage, hoping that their conflict would lead to the drain of their combined life force, which he anticipated would allow him to restore his power. This tactic also serves to satisfy his need to maintain a master and apprentice dynamic, a cycle he meticulously continued throughout the series.

Was Palpatine Predicting Ben’s Arrival?

The inference that Palpatine might have known about Ben’s arrival can be drawn from his historical propensity for manipulation. Palpatine has consistently shown that he is adept at predicting the actions of others. Given his understanding of the force and the intricacies of the conflict between light and dark side, it is plausible that he anticipated the potential for conflict between Rey and Kylo Ren, ensuring that he would be the power vacuum awaiting potential dominance.

Critique of the Plot Choice

One of the main criticisms of The Rise of Skywalker centers around Palpatine’s plan reveal. The scene, while intended to be a powerful moment of tension, is often seen as overly simplistic and less impactful than the original trilogy’s Return of the Jedi.

Unlike the confrontation with Darth Vader, where Luke’s emotional stoke was used purely for emotional leverage, Palpatine’s revelation in Episode IX is accompanied with the threat that he will possess Rey and become even more dangerous. This approach feels self-defeating and somewhat anticlimactic, given that the central conflict was a ritualistic sacrifice that should have given Rey an opportunity to recognize the trap and act accordingly.

The narrative fails to provide a seamless transition from a pivotal moment of choice to action. Instead, it ends up reducing the potential for tension and depth, leading to a situation where Rey's decision to disobey seems more of a missed opportunity than a inspired plot twist.

A Visualization of Possessed Rey

Imagining a scenario where Rey becomes possessed by Palpatine’s dark presence could have been a fascinating turn in the plot. The idea of a vengeful and powerful Rey could have led to a series of intriguing possibilities, such as Rey taking command of the Final Order. However, the scene as presented in The Rise of Skywalker ultimately falls short of tapping into this potential.

One could only imagine the chaos and intrigue of a possessed Rey attempting to command the forces of the Final Order, with lines such as, “It's me, Emperor Palpatine,” leading to awkward exchanges like, “Um, you sound like a woman. Is this a joke?”

This concept, though initially disruptive, could have added an interesting twist to the narrative. It would have demonstrated the power and psychological impact of Palpatine’s influence, driving the plot forward in a manner that resonates more deeply with the themes of control and the force's influence.

In conclusion, Palpatine’s decision to reveal his plan to Rey is a strategic move entrenched within the Sith tradition and his role as the ultimate manipulator. The potential for deeper narratives and more complex character development is overshadowed by the film’s structural choices, leaving room for a more engaging and potentially thrilling alternative.