Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

“Understand, Frodo. I would use this ring from a desire to do good….But through me, it would wield a power to great and terrible to imagine.”

Social media can be a lot like the One Ring. Its vast power and influence being utilized as a vehicle for hate by trolls of all creeds, colors, and genders. But sometimes, the interwebs can be used as a force for good. It’s not often, but there’s a sublime feeling felt by all when it is.

Vader, Kylo Ren, Finn, Luke, and…..where’s Rey?

If you haven’t been following the outpouring from fans via the hashtag “#WheresRey” on Twitter, what transpired in order to cause such an annoyance amongst us Star Wars fans is this: Hasbro released a special edition Star Wars: The Force Awakens-themed Monopoly set; and Rey, one of the most important characters in the film (and some would argue in any significant film to-date) was conspicuously missing. Why, you ask? Hasbro’s excuse was “to avoid revealing a key plot line” – which is, obviously, a triple-weak-sauce excuse. The fact that they included Vader, who only makes an appearance via his charred remains from Return of the Jedi, only adds insult to injury. I’ve spoken about this before in a previous post – this habit of toy companies, as well as studio executives, intentionally disregarding the female portion of Geekdom simply because, in their small, underdeveloped brains, girls aren’t a viable investment. Today, in the 21^st century, such an idea is as outdated as a VHS tape.

But fear not, true believers, Hasbro has heard our cry, and has acquiesced to our call for justice! In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, they have confirmed that Rey will indeed be included in an updated version of the classic board game. If the gods be merciful and just, perhaps we’ll soon have a reason to inaugurate the social media trend “#ReyBeEverywhere”.