Star Wars fans think they’ve spotted another example of accidental incest in the franchise, and this time it’s taken place in Disney’s Sequel Trilogy. Luke and Leia would be proud.
In case you missed it, yesterday I went over how Luke and Leia snogged way more times than we actually remembered in the original trilogy of Star Wars films.
Well, I’m back again with a new Star Wars incest story. Please, god, let this not be the niche I’m remembered for writing about when I’m dead.
Over on the r/MawInstallation subreddit, one user has a pretty straightforward question: “Kylo and Rey are cousins?”
Advert
“I always assumed [Anakin] just appeared out of nothingness, but how "The Acolyte" seems to be describing force-impregnation that means Anakin could very literally be Palpatine's "son." And as we all know, Anakin and Padme had Leia who in turn had Kylo Ren (the Skywalker formerly known as Ben Solo),” writes user SacredMuffins.
“Now, Rey is revealed to be the grandchild of Palpatine in TROS. She adopts the Skywalker name at the end of the movie… And that means when Kylo and Rey kissed, they were kissing 2nd cousins!”
Ok, firstly, you’ve put way too much thought into this, chief.
Secondly, is this actually true?
No. But, well, kind of yes. But mostly no. Let me explain.
So, Rey is indeed sort of the grandchild of Palpatine. Palpatine’s clone, Dathan, is Rey’s father. Regardless of whether you want to say that makes Palpatine her grandfather or her father, the blood connection is there.
But now, what’s the deal with people saying Anakin is Palpatine’s son?
This has been a popular theory for a while now, but it picked up a lot more steam a few years back following the release of the Darth Vader comic in 2017.
In said comic, Darth Vader is shown a vision of Palpatine creating him. This would mean that Palpatine is his father, and would indeed mean that Rey and Kylo are related.
Except… it’s left ambiguous as to whether or not Anakin’s vision in the Darth Vader comic is true. Also, this is pre-Disney canon we’re on about here, so even if it was true, it isn’t now (thankfully).
Topics: Star Wars, Disney, Lucasfilm, TV And Film