Another day, another 5POA.  Amazingly, Rey was not part of the final wave of Walmart exclusive Black Series figures, and as such, we need to determine if this figure is worth a look in lieu of a super-articulated version.

The pros:  Rey has a reasonably complex design, with her mostly separately sculpted (non removeable) cross-body robes and belt.  The different fabric textures are well done.  The various colors don’t exactly “pop”, but are way more appealing than many of the other characters we’ve seen in the sequels.  Paint is applied well, although my sample has some stray marks around the head and neck.  The likeness isn’t terrible; she has a stern look on her face that seems suitable given the few short bits of promotional media we’ve seen so far.  Three accessories are included.  Rey tightly grips her magic pistol, and it fits snugly in the holster.  Her staff has two colors and she can grip it in either hand.  Her lightsaber can be held tightly, and it includes a sculpted loop at the base of the hilt. 

The cons:  The staff is a bit awkward when slung over Rey’s shoulder because it doesn’t fit well, and it also drags on the ground.  She does not have a hook on her belt, nor does she come with an unlit saber hilt, so the loop on the lightsaber hilt seems superfluous.  While the limited articulation can occasionally be tolerated, in Rey (Jedi Training)‘s case, it’s an egregious limitation.  Rey comes with not one, but two melee weapons, and she cannot use both hands to grip either.  She cannot be posed in any kind of dynamic training or fighting stance.  It would have made more sense if she was named “Rey (Jedi Training Spectator)” or “Rey (Jedi Training Equipment Manager).”

With our base score of 5, she gets some credit for the costume, extra accessories, and Force Link, but loses it all and then some because the lack of articulation is truly detrimental to what should be a dynamic and awesome figure.  The only reason to buy this is because there is no TLJ Rey known to be coming in the foreseeable future in the SA line, unless Hasbro surprises us all with a holiday wave.  Rey gets a 4 for lack of desperately needed articulation.