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Star warfare : The Last Jediallowed Kylo Ren to have more agency as a villain , butStar Wars : The Rise of Skywalkerreversed all those changes . As the most prominent scoundrel in theStar Warssequel trilogy , Kylo Ren had big horseshoe to occupy . Not only is Darth Vader still one of the most iconic villains in democratic refinement today , but Kylo ’s background signal per se linked him to the Skywalker family and all the luggage that comes with it . As the child of Leia Organa and Han Solo , Kylo needed to have an arc of his own in the sequel trilogy , one that would explain how someone born from the light could turn to the darkness .
WhileStar Wars : The Force AwakenspaintedKylo Ren as Darth Vader ’s heir , even go so far as to have Kylo simulate his grandfather ’s character reference design unnecessarily , his character still showed wonderful villainous potential . He was a menacing presence , certainly , expert with the Force and angry beyond belief . AsThe Force Awakenshas often been lamented for treading the familiar ground of the originalStar Warsmovie , both in full term of plot and its character , it fell to Rian Johnson ’s endeavor withThe Last Jedito truly divulge Kylo Ren ’s potential . DespiteThe Last Jedilargely win in this endeavor , The Rise of Skywalker , unluckily , undid most of it .
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The Last Jedi Gave Kylo Ren The Chance To Escape Darth Vader’s Shadow
DespiteThe Last Jedi ’s divisive nature , it did allow Kylo Ren to escape Darth Vader ’s tincture . InThe Force Awakens , Kylois prove to be trying to emulate his granddad ’s sorry bequest – something the redeemed Vader likely would n’t have wanted for his grandson – by using a similar helmet and part modifier to restrain those beneath him . While Kylo being whelm by his category ’s heritage is understandable , the picture ’s trust on Vader ’s legacy to make Kylo a menacing villain was unnecessary . The Last Jedi , on the other hand , gave Kylo the chance to become a scoundrel in his own rightfulness , with his own motivation , instead of those put in his question by his victor .
When Kylo destroyed the helmet and killed Snoke , he last took controller of his personal story . By ditchingthe masquerade party inThe Last Jedi , Kylocould no longer hide behind his granddad ’s legacy . or else , he took possession of his hatred and his power and allowed the galaxy to see his on-key self . And , while at first coup d’oeil , Kylo ’s putting to death of Snoke parallels Vader ’s betrayal of Palpatine , their need were completely different . Vader killed Palpatine to economise his son , while Kylo kill Snoke because he matte he did n’t need him any longer . Vader ’s actions were part of his redemption , while Kylo ’s put him on an even colored path , especially once Rey rejected him .
By the end ofThe Last Jedi , Kylo ’s future is spare and clear . He could do whatever he want and become the darkest presence in the beetleweed to iron boot . Kylo was no longer an learner , and he was n’t someone ’s master , either . He was n’t beholden to anyone , unlike Vader before him . Unfortunately , astheStar Warssequel trilogywasn’t mapped out , there was no path to know how the next squad of creatives would go on Rian Johnson ’s history , and Kylo Ren ’s development inThe Last Jediwas undone by Palpatine ’s gratuitous resurrection inThe Rise of Skywalker .
Kylo Ren’s Arc In The Rise Of Skywalker Made Him Another Vader (Again)
Palpatine ’s return inThe Rise of Skywalkeris a convoluted plot point for many cause – it showed that the final pic in the subsequence trilogy was too reliant on fan service and nostalgia , especially . Perhaps even more egregious is the damage it did to Kylo Ren as a standalone villain . As soon as Palpatine returned , Kylo became a puppet once more ; the movie ’s insistence that Kylo was merely following Palpatine ’s orders to gain the upper manus was n’t enough to counteract his regression . Ren was nowPalpatine ’s lackey , just as Vaderwas before him , and this set up Kylo ’s sudden , yet inevitable salvation . Once again , Kylo was being forced to follow in his granddad ’s pace .
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The Rise of Skywalkereven went so far as to reconstruct Kylo ’s helmet , the very thing that he himself had destroyed just one flick earlier , forcing him to unnecessarily hide behind a mask once more . As Yoda enjoin inThe Last Jedi,“we are what they grow beyond . That is the incumbrance of all Masters . “Kylo Ren did n’t need a master any longer , he did n’t need to force himself to live up to his grandfather ’s bequest , and yetThe Rise of Skywalkermade it impossible for his fictional character to move in any other counsel . Kylo wanted to"let the past die,“butThe procession of Skywalkermade his entire account a repeat of the past , instead .
The Last Jedi ’s arc for Kyloworked , in part , because it did n’t set up a redemption – in fact , it seemed to say that Kylo would refuse to be redeemed out of maliciousness . Though buyback and pardon are an integral part ofStar Wars ’ DNA , particularly when it comes to character relate to the Skywalkers , Kylo did n’t necessarily need to be redeem , or even deserve to be . In fact , his redemption made Kylo ’s parallels with Vader come full roundabout , to the hurt of his character . They were both manipulate by Palpatine , they both became his lackeys , and they were both subsequently redeemed by sacrifice themselves to save someone they care about .
How Kylo Ren’s Star Wars Arc Could Have Been Much Better
Parallels can be powerful storytelling pecker , butThe ascending of Skywalkertook it too far – Kylo ’s story had no originality to it . Sometimes villains should stay villainous . Kylo ’s lack of redemption could have made Rey ’s story more potent , too . As one half ofa Force dyad , Kylo ’s alternative to remain in the darkness would have affirm Rey ’s decision to side with the lighting . Kylo ’s redemption inThe salary increase of Skywalkerwas too quick , even unearned . If that was the itinerary the originative team was to go down , it should have been set up sooner , and he should have done more to earn it .
Interestingly enough , an earliest interlingual rendition ofStar Wars ’ ninth sequence did n’t include Kylo Ren being amply deliver . A draft of ex-husband - director Colin Trevorrow ’s script had Kylo Ren still take Vader ’s place , though this meter it was to learn from Palpatine ’s professional and become an even dark presence in the Force . It unwrap that Kylo killed Rey ’s parents , and he eventually die in a confrontation with her during which he terminate himself from killing her . WhetherTrevorrow’sStar Warsmoviewould have been better than J.J. Abrams ’ can never be known , but it seems to make peace with the fact that not all villains should be fully save and determine a fleeting second of romance with the protagonist .
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Since Kylo Ren ’s redemption ended up being inevitable inThe Rise of Skywalker , what might have helped make it more believable was his having more interaction with his mother , Leia . Though Carrie Fisher ’s tragical passing affectedThe climb of Skywalker ’s account to a heavy degree , she would have been the one to be able-bodied to get through to him . She could have connected with him through the Force for more than just an instant , bonding with him as only a female parent can . In fact , The Last Jedihinted that Leiawas in all probability the only person still open of turning him back to the ignitor when Kylo refuse to shoot down her down in battle .
The raise of Skywalkernovelization by Rae Carson enlarge that thought – it says that in her last mo , Leia reached out through the Force not just to make Kylo pause , but to prove to her son how much she still loved him , using all her persist vigour to do so , and that is what brought him back to the lighting . The movie reading ofThe Rise of Skywalkermade it seem like it was only her expiry and Rey ’s benignity that shock him flat , but it was more than that . The movie ’s narrative , and Kylo as a character , would have benefit from that extra insight . Star Warshas had many memorable villain throughout its dealership , but althoughStar Wars : The Last Jediset him on a warm path , Kylo Ren was unfortunately held back by what came before .
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