2) Rey
As overjoyed as I am that this new Star Wars trilogy has a female lead, it’s important not to overlook the fact that Rey is much more than a cardboard cut out female version of a male hero thrown into the movie just so Lucasfilm can boast about diversity.
It’s clear from the moment the terrific Daisy Ridley appears on screen that a lot of thought has gone into making Rey a role model and someone that fans can root for as they did with Luke Skywalker so many years ago, and her journey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is extremely compelling.
The second it becomes clear that Rey is the Jedi in this story, dozen of doors are kicked open for new and exciting storytelling possibilities. She’s definitely a stand out in this incredible first instalment, and out of almost every other character in this new trilogy, we’re most excited to see where she ends up going.