Afterthought: Daisy Ridley Doesn’t Believe in Weaknesses in People

Original Video: Why Are So Many SJW Characters Mary Sues?

 

Back in March, Daisy Ridley gave in an interview where she infamously outed Rey as a Mary Sue by suggesting that she had no weaknesses. To quote:

“I don’t really believe in weaknesses in people,” Ridley said. “Because I think you can’t decide what’s good and what’s bad in a person because everything makes the whole and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we know. I for sure think people can work on themselves, with things like anger and jealousy, maybe things like that, but that’s workable, that’s not something that’s fixed that can’t be changed. You can work on that. And I don’t think she’s those things.”

Sequel detractors and Anti-SJWs have jumped on this as proof that Rey, and by association the entire Sequel series, are products of hack writing and talentless diversity hires…and they would be correct. HOWEVER…sequel defenders would likely also defend Rey and Ridley by pointing out that the actress’ opinion doesn’t mean Rey lacks weakness, but more that she doesn’t see weaknesses as weaknesses. While most of us can’t know the truth behind her strange politician-eque word salad that ultimately meant nothing – I have a theory.

Her words come off as someone who’s under the gun. Like she’s trying to walk the line between upholding a corporate mandate to sell Rey as a strong independent woman while trying not to give haters any ammunition to use as criticism. Basically, trying to push Rey as a Mary Sue while winking and saying – no she isn’t.

Ridley’s answer was an obvious copout. As I explained in the video, anything less than a Mary Sue would be considered sexist or bigoted. I mean, let’s look at her answer a bit more closely.

Ridley’s Answer Analysis:

“I don’t really believe in weaknesses in people…”

Already we’re starting off with some safe space culture nonsense. What do you mean you don’t “believe in weaknesses in people?” This is a touchy-feely everyone gets a trophy kind of answer. It’s in the same vein as

• “You’re not fat, you’re just big boned.”
• “You’re not handicapped, you’re handi-capable.”
• “You’re not here illegally, you’re just undocumented.”

It’s an attempt to make the harsh reality softer. You’re not big boned, you’re fat. Ridley couldn’t say Rey had weaknesses because Rey has no weaknesses. She’s an SJW Sue.

“Did you smoke pot?”

“I did not inhale.” (i.e. “Yes I did.”)

“Does Rey have weaknesses?”

“I don’t believe in weaknesses in people.” (i.e. “No, she doesn’t.)

 

“Because I think you can’t decide what’s good and what’s bad in a person because everything makes the whole and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as we know.”

This line…what does this even mean? You can’t decide what’s good and what’s bad in a person because everything makes the whole?

This somehow supports the assertion that she doesn’t “believe in weaknesses in people.” It’s obvious she’s reaching for any positive sounding fluff to distract from the “weaknesses question.” Everyone has weaknesses. Just because you don’t believe in them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It’s kind of the opposite way people view Wakanda.

To put it another way, the whole is made up of parts, but everyone also has a mix of good parts and bad parts. The good parts give the whole strength and the bad parts give the whole weaknesses. Rey can have bad parts (i.e. weaknesses) and still be a strong character.

 

I for sure think people can work on themselves, with things like anger and jealousy, maybe things like that, but that’s workable, that’s not something that’s fixed that can’t be changed. You can work on that. And I don’t think she’s those things.

I guess she couldn’t keep all those plates spinning forever. She had to make up a politically correct lie on the fly and it didn’t work. It immediately came crashing down. Right after saying that she doesn’t believe in weaknesses, she immediately points out a few things that she considered weaknesses. (Anger and Jealousy.) They are things that need to be worked on. Sounds like she’s describing weaknesses to me. That last line, in particular, sounds like she realized that she just named two weaknesses and that people might link them to Rey. Not good. So, then she ends it with: “And I don’t think she’s those things (Angry and Jealous) – guess Rey can’t be a feminist then.

So yes, Rey is clearly a Mary Sue. Ridley’s was clearly given a mandate to push Rey as strong without pointing out her fatal flaw that the has no flaws. It’s nothing new, however. If you look at the actors talking about their characters in the prequel, you’ll see similar cop-outs. The point is, it isn’t the fault of the actors. That’s not what this article is about. I’m not saying to blame Ridley for anything. I’m saying that Disney’s writers are so busy pushing an agenda that they’ve seemingly forgotten to write.