“The Last Jedi” hints at a love triangle, and I have really mixed feelings about it
From Han and Leia, to Anakin and Padmé, we’ve had our share of romance in that galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is no exception, and it might have hinted at more to come. Now, if you don’t want to be spoiled about all the ~luv~ going around, then AVERT YOUR EYES BECAUSE SPOILERS FOLLOW. Don’t care about spoilers, or saw it already? Great, let’s jump right in…
If you thought there was a ‘lil sumthin’ sumthin’ going on between Rey and Finn in The Force Awakens, it seems you were partially right. Because in The Last Jedi, Rey appears — this is only speculation, but it sure as hell came off this way — to have some feels for Finn.
Whereas in The Force Awakens, Rey and Finn spend most of the film together — working to save the galaxy and developing a deep friendship, and maybe more in the process — they spend most of The Last Jedi apart. Rey is off training with Luke, learning the ways of the Force so she can stop the First Order in its tracks. Elsewhere in the galaxy, Finn is also combating the dictatorship — this time with Rose by his side.
Finn and Rose’s relationship doesn’t seem romantic at first.
They team up to track down the Master Codebreaker — played by Justin Theroux, ICYMI — so they can get through the First Order’s defenses and stop them from tracking the Resistance through lightspeed. But after Rose saves Finn’s life in a climactic final battle by knocking him out of the way of fire and stopping his suicide mission, the pair have a *real* romantic exchange…
Finn: “Why would you stop me?”
Rose: “I saved you, dummy. That’s how we’re going to win — not fighting what we hate, saving what we love.”
Right after that, she plants one on him. Then, she passes out from her injuries.
When everyone is reunited after the battle, Rey sees the pair together.
Rey just had her big reunion with Finn; they shared a passionate hug — more passionate than the Finn-Rose kiss, if you ask me — when she lifts a bunch of rocks using the Force like a boss, allowing what’s left of the Resistance to escape their mine hideout. Pretty soon after, Rey spots Finn tending to a still-passed out Rose, and while Rey doesn’t say anything explicitly, the look in her eyes suggests she’s a bit sad to see Finn with someone else (again, speculation).
Also worth noting? Right before this moment, Rey “meets” Poe, and there appeared to be a bit of a spark there. Because, hello, he said “I know” to her, and we all know the significance of those two words (also, the Force Awakens novelization hints at Rey and Poe being a thing). So to recap, Rose likes Finn; Finn appears to like Rose back; Rey seems to like Finn too, but might also be interested in Poe; and looks like Poe likes Rey. Okay, so yes, this is more of a love SQUARE than TRIANGLE. #MATH
Here’s my issue…
I am all for women having it ALL. Because why can’t women have room for a career, love, family, friends, and so on in their lives? We are fully dimensional human beings with many interests off-screen, so that should be represented on-screen. That said, sometimes one of the aforementioned needs to take priority.
And in the case of Rey, work (sure, let’s call it that) *needs* to take priority, because the fate of the galaxy is literally at stake. That’s not to say she shouldn’t have any room for romance. (Maybe she and Poe will fall for each other while participating in Poe’s favorite pastime: Blowing stuff up.) But so help me, if Rey turns into a jealous cliché or if these boys (or others) in any way distract her from saving everyone, I’ll throw a tantrum so intense that Kylo Ren will look zen.
Do I think that will happen? No, because so far, the latest batch of Star Wars films have been feminist as hell. In The Last Jedi alone, Rey, Leia, Holdo, and Rose each have their big, badass moments, and are total equals to their male (and alien) counterparts. Not to mention, Rose makes a good point about love being a motivating factor in the Resistance’s efforts. And let’s be honest, shipping is fun.
But if these characters, Rey in particular, are about to get some romance in their lives, it should support their hero journeys — not overpower them. Got that, J.J. Abrams?
