Star Wars has hinted that Qui-Gon Jinn should really be considered a Skywalker, although not by blood. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker extended the idea of what it truly means to be a Skywalker, in a key scene where Rey chose to adopt the surname. The idea to make Rey a Skywalker was planned back in 2014, with the Lucasfilm Story Group's Pablo Hidalgo explaining why he loved it. "I like the idea that she's going to be our Skywalker, but she's not a Skywalker," he observed. "Then, for our purposes, 'the Skywalker' is really a metaphor. It doesn't have to be something that's directly connected to blood."

This has profound implications for the entire Star Wars franchise. By this definition, a Skywalker is simply an agent of balance, sworn to stand against the darkness. Strangely, this suggests the Prime Jedi himself - the founder of the Jedi Order - should really be considered a Skywalker under this expanded definition. As subtly confirmed in the recent tie-in book Secrets of the Jedi, the Prime Jedi served the balance of the Force, not the light side. The Jedi Order subsequently lost their way, and forgot the true importance of balance.

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Secrets of the Jedi is an in-universe fact-book written by Luke Skywalker before his death in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Amusingly enough, it includes a subtle hint Luke Skywalker was beginning to understand that legacy of the Force as well; his description of Qui-Gon Jinn suggests he considered the Jedi Master part of the same tradition, even though he had died in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace before getting the chance to train Anakin. "While he may not be a Skywalker by blood," Luke observes, "Qui-Gon Jinn shares a deep connection to my family's history through the Jedi Order." Note his differentiation between Skywalkers by blood and by Force philosophy, which is the same one suggested by Hidalgo.

Qui-Gon In Tatooine

Although Qui-Gon Jinn only appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the Disney era has developed him into a fascinating, well-rounded character. He had a deep understanding of the balance of the Force, and was aware that darkness and light were both needed; for all that's the case, he still believed a Jedi's duty was to stand against the darkness. Qui-Gon's familiarity with the ancient Jedi prophecies meant he alone understood he lived in the time of the Chosen One, explaining why he swiftly realized what Anakin Skywalker was when he encountered the boy on Tatooine.

All this raises one interesting possibility; although Anakin Skywalker was the only Chosen One, it is possible there is a servant of balance in every generation. If that is the case, then it has profound implications for future Star Wars stories. The franchise is about to explore the High Republic era, set 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, and there may well be a Skywalker of sorts there as well.

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