The Rise Of Skywalker Scene That Had Fans In Tears

It's fair to say that "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" was met with a mixed reaction when it hit theaters in 2019. Perhaps expectations were too high regarding the mystery of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and her force-sensitive lineage. Whatever the reason, there were many fans and critics alike who felt, as Stranger Harbors' Jeffrey Zhang put it, "The Rise of Skywalker is filled with narrative dead-ends, aborted character arcs, and generic fetch quests, all designed to please as many people as possible."

But the film isn't without its merits, even if only for some of the stunning visuals across the various planets the heroes and villains travel to throughout the adventure. It also made good use of the "Star Wars" universe, as Rey, Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) travel to one of the moons of Endor, where the wreckage of the second Death Star lies in a vast ocean. It's an interesting idea, even if it does retread some nostalgic beats from "Return of the Jedi."

But there is one surprising scene during the Death Star trip that had fans in tears.

One of the most dramatic moments in "The Rise of Skywalker" sees Rey fighting Kylo Ren across the Death Star wreckage in a pretty acrobatic battle. The will-they-won't-they chemistry between the two creates an interesting dynamic for the fight because even when Rey strikes a killing blow to the wannabe Sith Lord, she ultimately saves his life by healing the wound with the Force. Her resolve to do the right thing pushes Kylo to re-examine his place in the universe, and he even ends up imagining a conversation with his late father, Han Solo (Harrison Ford).

The conversation between father and son brought fans to tears, as a Reddit thread points out that Kylo goes from calling his father "Han Solo" in "The Force Awakens" to calling him "Dad" in "The Rise of Skywalker." Redditor u/EvanMG24 said of hearing Kylo use the word, "[It] Really brings out Ben's emotional state and the underlying affection in this relationship." It's a sentiment echoed by u/Tanis8998, who wrote, "I think on its own [it] manages to tell us so much about Ben and Han's relationship. In like one word and the way he says [it] you learn so much."

Rey's influence obviously softens Kylo's steely exterior, but it's seeing his father again which turns him towards the light. He even hurls his iconic red lightsaber into the murky depths of the Death Star wreckage. It's a brilliantly emotional story beat, and it ultimately helps Ben Solo shed his Kylo Ren identity to help Rey defeat Emperor Palpatine on Exegol.