Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker featured the Holdo maneuver in the scene that took place on Endor toward the end of the movie. The tactic was named after Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern), a character first introduced in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Here's how it was used once again to fight the First Order and why it was so significant.
When the First Order attacked the Resistance's navy in The Last Jedi, Vice Admiral Holdo made the brave decision to put her own life on the line in order to save the surviving members of the Resistance. While transport vessels carried the Resistance to Crait, Holdo stood behind to go on a suicide mission. She sent the Resistance cruiser Raddus at lightspeed and rammed directly through the Supremacy, which served as the First Order's mobile headquarters. The sacrifice cut the ship in two and presented a big enough distraction so that her allies could escape.
The Holdo maneuver was a game-changer in giving the Resistance the chance to fight another day. If it wasn't for Holdo's sacrifice, the First Order would have shot down every remaining evacuation transport. During the war against the First Order in Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance faced the threat of the Sith Eternal fleet, an armada of Final Order ships serving Emperor Palpatine. The military forces set their sights on the fleet during the Battle of Exegol in the third act of the film. As pointed out by a Twitter user, someone among the Resistance used the Holdo maneuver to take out a Star Destroyer stationed about the forest moon of Endor. The vessel could be seen split in half with a bright white light, indicating lightspeed was involved.
The Significance Of The Holdo Maneuver In The Rise Of Skywalker
Before the Holdo maneuver was used during the climactic battle in Rise of Skywalker, Beaumont Kin suggested using the tactic against the Sith fleet, but it was deemed a "one-in-a-million" shot at working. Someone obviously took it upon themselves to try the risky move in a last-ditch effort and wound up defying the odds. The use of the tactic was also a clever nod to the former Vice Admiral considering her courageous act inspired the rest of the Resistance to continue fighting. Had this Resistance member not used the Holdo maneuver, Endor could have been destroyed.
The scene wasn't only a nod to a hero of the Resistance but a callback to Endor's involvement in taking down the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi. Beloved Ewok, Wicket W. Warrick, could be seen watching the destruction of the vessel along with his son, Pommet Warrick. Wicket's appearance was one of many surprise cameos throughout Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Many viewers may have been focused on Wicket's return to the point that they completely missed the second successful Holdo maneuver.