Uploaded March 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A video essay on the history of the Mary Sue and why Rey is anything but.

Note that I honestly believe Rey's journey in the sequel trilogy is more akin to a Heroine's Journey (written by Maureen Murdock) but I wanted to make the comparison to Luke's journey as that does seem to be what people do when arguing that Rey is a Mary Sue. I want to make a future video in which I use the Heroine's journey to discuss Rey's journey thus far.

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Jump over to “I Love You, Mary Sue” for more info about Mary Sues in fanfiction and a short read of A Trekkie’s Tale by Jill Bearup if you are interested:
youtube.com/watch?v=LLqrLo9aC7Q

Interview with Paula Smith, 2011: journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/243/205


Joan Marie Verba - Boldly Writing, A Trekker Fan and Zine History 1967 - 1987:
ftlpublications.com/bwebook.pdf

Vanity Fair story on George Lucas’ original ideas:
vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/star-wars-the-force-awakens-vanity-fair-cover


Follow my tweety bird - twitter.com/black_tym

Video at 1:19 is from Beyond the Trailer (analysis of why Rey IS a Mary Sue): youtube.com/watch?v=BSdf4kMvSyA&t=32s