As a dedicated Star Wars enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the galaxy far, far away, I find the complexities of the Skywalker saga to be nothing short of captivating. One character whose journey particularly resonates with me is Princess Leia Organa, a woman of unwavering resilience and determination who rose from the ashes of Alderaan to become a beacon of hope in the Rebellion.
In the galaxy of Star Wars, I found myself stepping into Luke Skywalker’s boots, leaving my humble beginnings to explore the unknown. Along the way, I stumbled upon the man who seemed to be the root of all galactic turmoil – Darth Vader, a name that sent chills down my spine. As the story unfolded, I discovered that this masked figure was once Anakin Skywalker and that I had an unexpected relative, Princess Leia Organa. But how did she react to this shocking revelation? Well, most of the classic Star Wars tales don’t delve too deeply into that, until more recent times at least.
In the newest Marvel Comics Star Wars series titled “Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising,” some long-awaited questions are addressed. The narrative unfolds post-Battle of Endor, as depicted in “Return of the Jedi.” This comic book chronicles the ongoing endeavors of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and their companions, working tirelessly to solidify the New Republic across the galaxy. As our heroes venture into unexplored territories, Princess Leia revisits the forest moon for a poignant goodbye to her biological father.
It is known that Luke played a role in Anakin’s salvation, who appeared at the conclusion of the trilogy as a Force spirit alongside Yoda (performed by Frank Oz) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (portrayed by Alec Guinness). However, while Anakin found serenity in Vader’s redemption, Leia reacted quite differently.
When and how Leia learned Darth Vader was her father
At what point did Princess Leia discover that Darth Vader was her father? That revelation came at the same time as she found out Luke Skywalker was her brother. The Star Wars saga is deeply rooted in family ties, so it’s not unexpected that in “Return of the Jedi,” they learn they are siblings. When Luke discloses this to Leia, he says, “It won’t be easy for you to accept, but you must.” To which she responds, “Somehow I’ve always felt it.” (Although they share two kisses in the series, let’s ignore that peculiar detail.)
Although Leia rejoices upon learning that Luke is her sibling, we don’t witness her grappling with the realization that Darth Vader could be their father. It isn’t until the conclusion of “The Empire Strikes Back” that Luke uncovers his lineage, and he informs Leia afterward. When she eventually learns the truth, it’s clear that she’s deeply affected by this startling revelation.
In Beth Revis’ 2022 novel “The Princess and the Scoundrel”, we delve deeper into Leia’s thought process following the revelation. Though she swiftly acknowledges Luke as her brother and feels grateful, the disclosure that Vader is her father proves too much for her to handle. As Revis portrays through Leia’s perspective, this might be because Luke had never endured the torment at the hands of their biological father like she did. This response seems understandable, as does her struggle to reconcile with her distant parent.
Unlike Luke, Leia’s last message to Darth Vader was not one of forgiveness
Despite the tragic loss of his aunt and uncle, as well as his own hand being severed and years of torture at the hands of Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker managed to find it within himself to forgive his father, Darth Vader. Remarkably, he persisted in seeing the good in Vader when no one else seemed able to do so. His unwavering love for his father, Anakin Skywalker, played a crucial role in restoring Vader to the Light Side of the Force and inspiring him to turn against his master to save Luke. This poignant tale of redemption in the Star Wars universe saw Darth Vader making amends for his past transgressions by aiding Luke in destroying the Empire he had once pledged to create. However, unlike her brother, Leia was unable to forgive their father.
In the comic “Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising” #1, written by Alex Segura, Leonard Kirk, and Stefano Raffaele, Leia goes back to the pyre where Luke cremated their father’s remains. Since she never had a chance to talk to him as father and daughter during his life, this was her only opportunity to express her feelings about the truth. She tells Vader’s damaged helmet, “I’m not like Luke; forgiveness comes naturally to him, but I struggle.” Afterward, she throws the helmet away and vents her anger towards her biological father for all the lives he took and destroyed with his Order. It’s important to mention that Leia’s adoptive parents, Senator Bail Organa (portrayed by Jimmy Smits) and Breha Organa (Simone Kessell), were probably on Alderaan when the Death Star obliterated it in “A New Hope.
In the end, Leia chooses not to take Vader’s remains with her, instead rejoining her newly found family for a celebration. Over time, she manages to put thoughts of her biological father aside. Despite spending years trying to make amends for her parent’s misdeeds, Leia later confronted the Dark Side inclinations in her son, Ben Solo (portrayed by Adam Driver). As per “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: A Junior Novel” by Michael Kogge, Leia eventually finds acceptance towards her father, even encountering the spirit of Anakin Skywalker shortly before her own passing.
Leia and Darth Vader’s final meeting felt familiar to a divisive Star Wars scene
If you find it surprising that Leia casually discarded Darth Vader’s helmet, there’s no need to be. This action can be compared to Luke Skywalker abandoning his lightsaber in “The Last Jedi,” but these scenes are fundamentally different. When Luke left behind his former life as a Jedi Knight, he no longer wished to wield his weapon or save the galaxy; this is why Rey found him on Ahch-To with his lightsaber discarded. Contrarily, Leia’s action is much more fitting for her character and doesn’t contradict anything we know about her.
It’s easy for fans to forget that Leia was actually tortured by Darth Vader in “A New Hope,” but the princess likely never. Not only was Leia abused by the Empire, but she watched in horror as her father destroyed everything she fought for. More than that, Vader continually haunted Leia and her friends during the Galactic Civil War and took Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from her the very moment she confessed her love. It’s no wonder Leia never changed her name to Skywalker. Vader’s ruthlessness, anger, and overall disregard for anyone who got in his way wasn’t something Leia could ignore, and while Luke should be applauded for seeing the man behind the mask, it makes sense that Leia couldn’t bear to do the same.
Eventually, Leia reconciled with her father’s true identity, Anakin Skywalker. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” she donned an attire similar to that worn by Anakin during “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Significantly, both Leia and Anakin share a presence together in the film, particularly when Rey confronts her own grandfather, Palpatine. It appears that Leia ultimately forgave her father; she simply needed more time to reach that point.
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2024-11-23 22:32