If you’re anything like us here at That Hashtag Show, you’ve already watched the new Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer about a dozen times. From a tearful Threepio scene to an epic shot of the Resistance fleet, the trailer was packed with lots for fans to eagerly devour. After now having seen it a few times, however, we’ve come to a stark realization. The trailer is as notable for what we don’t see as for that which we do.

First, let’s start with Palpatine. Yes, he hear him. And yes, we see his cloak draped across what appears to be a Sith throne. There’s even a brief shot of Rey facing what we believe is the emperor…. But we never actually see the Sith senator from Naboo, do we? Lucasfilm and JJ Abrams have been very careful in not revealing exactly how the emperor returns. The new Rise of Skywalker trailer doesn’t give us any further insight, either. How Palpatine survived, and comes back, continues to be a mystery.

Rise of Skywalker Trailer
Daisy Ridley is Rey in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

What the Rise of Skywalker trailer doesn’t show us

Again conspicuously absent from promotional video for the film are the Knight of Ren. Sure, the studio released new, high resolution images of the Knights recently. Notwithstanding, we still have yet to see much of Kylo Ren’s infamous Knights of Ren in action. One wonders why, considering this Rise of Skywalker trailer would have been the perfect opportunity to showcase them. We really hope that they won’t go the way of Phasma and end up being all hype and little substance.

Rise of Skywalker trailer
No X-wings. Where’s Wedge? (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Also missing from the trailer, despite a slew of outlets reporting his return? Wedge Antilles. From what we’ve heard, original trilogy actor Denis Lawson changed his mind and is returning to Star Wars, after all. In a Rise of Skywalker trailer full of emotion and nostalgia (welcome back, Lando!) why no Wedge?

Lastly, we go a full two minutes and twenty seconds without a single glimpse of perhaps the most-hyped new characters in the film. That’s right: we got a new Rise of Skywalker trailer, but not one Sith Trooper. Not even on the new poster:

Rise of Skywalker poster;

I suppose they couldn’t show us everything. Still, what we saw was more than enough to entice fans. Tickets sales at one retailer shattered its previous pre-sale record for, you guessed it, Avengers: Endgame.  While the Marvel film may currently sit atop the all-time box office list, something tells me that the record may very well be short-lived.

Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker arrives December 20, 2019. Tickets are on sale now.