Rey: Clone or Granddaughter of Darth Sidious?

The identity of Rey's parentage in the Star Wars saga has sparked much debate among fans. Was Rey a clone of Darth Sidious, or is she his granddaughter? Let's delve into the details and explore the nuances of her origin.

Dissecting Rey's Parents

Rey's father, according to the Disney Canon, was an imperfect clone of Sheev Palpatine, more commonly known as Darth Sidious. This clone somehow managed to lose control, exhibiting some kind of defect. However, Rey herself was not a clone, but was born naturally from the union of that imperfect clone father and a normal human woman. This reality might make some fans question the allure of Rey being a clone instead of her current status as a granddaughter.

Disney Canon vs. Pre-Disney Canon

In the Disney Canon, which is the official storyline for Star Wars after the acquisition by Disney, Rey’s lineage is straightforward. She is a granddaughter, a literal offspring of the Emperor through her father, Sheev Palpatine.

However, in the pre-Disney canon, which includes books and other media from before the Disney era, the story takes a different turn. In the Dark Forces: Swarm War and Dark Forces: Jedi Knight novels, Palpatine has clones. This suggests that the idea of Rey being a clone, albeit an imperfect one, was part of previous continuities.

Genetics and Force Sensitivity

The genetic aspect of Rey's birth is particularly intriguing. If Rey were a clone, there would be a significant chance that she would have inherited more of the Emperor's traits, including Force sensitivity. However, she doesn’t exhibit these traits as strongly as Side RegExp](pattern)(nature)(fit)(pointy nose)(locating/trace/default)(referring to bad smell eww)(for exactly this reason)(fertile)(traceability nh?m ?BSCL)(traceABILITY), which suggests that she is not a clone.

Further, Rey's appearance does not align with that of a clone. She has a different physical appearance, especially her nose, which tells us that her DNA is a mix from multiple sources. This genetic diversity makes it more difficult to trace her through the Force, as her connection to the Emperor is less direct due to intervening generations.

Force Tracing and Genetics

The idea that a clone might be easier to locate through the Force due to greater genetic similarities is an interesting hypothesis. However, this doesn't seem to be a point of concern for the Emperor. Rey’s mother and father appear to have produced her in the traditional way, raising the question of whether her father was truly a clone or if he was more a construct from the Emperor’s DNA and a selected woman's.

Theoretical Considerations

I would lean towards the idea that Rey is a granddaughter because, as a clone, there would be a higher probability that the Emperor could locate her. Clones share more genetic material, making it easier to identify and locate through the Force. As a result, the idea of her being a grandchild with a more distant genetic connection might be more in line with the safeguards and unexpected events that seem to plague the Sith lineage.

Conclusion

Despite the numerous theories and speculations, the official Star Wars literature and film portray Rey as the granddaughter of Darth Sidious, born through the union of Palpatine's clone father and a normal woman. While the idea of Rey being a clone would be intriguing, the existing evidence and storyline suggest that she is indeed a granddaughter. This identity introduces a layer of complexity to her character and her journey in the saga.