STAR WARS: A CHARACTER STUDY OF ROSE
HOW CANTO BIGHT SETS AN IMPORTANT SCENE.
Resistance numbers are dwindling, and every contributor is precious. Mechanic Rose Tico is no exception. After the death of her sister, she rises to the occasion. Once a behind the scenes player, she eagerly follows Finn to the front line on an impossible mission to infiltrate the First Order's most powerful ship, the Supremacy, in order to save the resistance from annihilation.
The combination of her mechanic skills and Finn's inside information make them an ideal pair for the job. With so many lives at stake, they cannot afford to make mistakes or waist a single moment. Yet, their mission takes them on an unexpected and informative journey. Most importantly, Rose helps Finn find his purpose.
One of the major plot holes of the original trilogy is explored in a beautiful way thanks the the guidance of Rose Tico. How did the empire affect the day to day lives in the galaxy? Why should people hate the Empire? Why should people hate the First Order? What is the true purpose of their discontent? Why rebel at all?
Rose and her sister Paige are two of many people from many systems that suffer at the hands of the First Order. They grow up in terrible conditions, enslaved and impoverished. Their once beautiful home is stripped of its resources and destroyed. Their people suffer and die.
The injustice of their circumstances give them enough passion to join the Resistance in order fight back and salvage what is left of their home. The Tico sisters share a rare and inspiring passion for their cause, enough to die for it.
Rose is a guide through the first hand suffering of the galaxy under the sheer tyranny of the first order. She shows us the horrors of child slavery, animal cruelty, the offensive profit of the rich, the pain of the poor, and destruction of worlds. She gives Finn a reason to fight. She is a motivator.
Finn: "I was raised to fight. For the first time I have something to fight for."
Their time together does not only evolve Finn, but it also evolves Rose. She finds someone other than her sister to love. Finn gives her a friend. He gives her hope for a future past the war. She learns that she does not need to be alone.
Here inlies her most confusing and complex decision in The Last Jedi.
She feels so passionate about defeating the First Order and freeing the galaxy from its tyranny. She spends many years devoting her life to the cause. She walked into enemy territory without a second thought for the chance to sabatoge their most powerful ship. She almost fails to walk back off of the Supremacy. She is nearly killed.
Why then would she risk the entire Resistance to save one man?
Her sister sacrifices herself for the cause. She should be willing to support Finn's decision to do the same... shouldn't she? The trauma of losing her sister is fresh. Her entire support system dies with Paige. She comes dangerously close to losing everything and she is forced to reevaluate her priorities.
What kind of post war future is there without friends and loved ones with whom to share it?
How many people must the war take from her?
Not Finn.
The most important and telling line in the film:
This declaration bares a much deeper truth than the delusional ramblings of an injured woman. It is the summary of her evolution. It is a foreshadow for Episode IX. The rebellion should focus more on saving people than killing them.
It is sad that such a charming, informative, and adventurous subplot managed to get lost in the hustle of an otherwise tense and hostile story. It gives the day-to-day life in the galaxy far, far away the screen time it deserves. Above all, it foreshadows a better future for the downtrodden, forgotten people. It reminds us why the galaxy NEEDS hope.
