Over half a decade since the end of theStar Warssequel trilogy, there are still many unanswered questions aboutKylo Ren, ones I believeStar Warscan address without resurrecting him.Kylo Ren is easily one of the most popular characters in the sequels, torn between his commitment to the dark side and the light calling him to be Ben Solo once again. Unfortunately, many fans (myself included) feel that the trilogy didn’t fully do Kylo Ren justice.
I personally would have liked to see Ben survive and have to atone for his mistakes, which would have distinguished his story from Darth Vader. Other fans seem to agree, with some even calling for Ben to be resurrected, which isn’t uncommon for popular characters inStar Wars. While I don’t think this is likely or a good idea, I’d still like forStar Warsto explore Kylo Ren further by answering some unresolved questions.
9How Did Kylo Ren Catch Up To Rey And Finn So Fast On Starkiller Base?
One thing that’s always nagged me aboutStar Wars: The Force Awakensis how exactly Kylo Ren caught up to Rey and Finn.He was unbalanced after killing his father, suffering from a blaster wound, caught off guard by multiple explosions, and Rey and Finn had a massive head start. Despite these obstacles, Kylo Ren kept up with Rey and Finn and even got ahead of them in the forest.
I put this at the bottom of the list because this is more about satisfying my curiosity than anything else. Even with no explanation, it’s still an incredibly effective moment when Rey and Finn think they’re safe only to be stopped by the maniac they just fled from. Still,it’d be interesting if a comic explained how Kylo Ren crossed that distance so fast, similar toStar Wars: Captain Phasmarevealed how Phasma survived.
8Was Ben Solo The One Who Saved Leia And The Senate?
There are a few clues to suggest he did
One of the best novels of the new canon isStar Wars: Bloodlineby Claudia Gray, which chronicles Leia Organa’s life six years beforeThe Force Awakens. In a nailbiting scene, Leia finds a handwritten note warning telling her to run, giving her and her fellow senators time to evacuate before an explosion.Leia notes how odd it is for anyone to write on an actual piece of paper, rather than the flimsiplast common in theStar Warsuniverse.
Some fans likeStar Wars Explainedhave suggested that Kylo Ren could have been the one who slipped Leia this note.The visual dictionary forStar Wars: The Last Jedisays that Kylo Ren practices calligraphy on actual paper, and the movie showed that he ultimately could not bring himself to kill his mother. This theory depends on whether Ben had joined Snoke at this point, but it would be fascinating ifStar Warsconfirmed it.
7Why Did Kylo Not Summon The Knights Of Ren Sooner?
They could have come in handy several times
Despite the Knights of Ren being set up inThe Force Awakens, they didn’t appear in person until the last film of the sequel trilogy. While the Knights admittedly didn’t do much inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,it is strongly implied that they would be formidable opponents against someone who isn’t a Jedi. This makes me wonder why Kylo Ren didn’t summon them until he needed to hunt Rey inThe Rise of Skywalker.
Wouldn’t they have been useful for tracking the map to Luke Skywalker inThe Force Awakens, especially if Kylo Ren planned to face his former master? They may also have come in handy inThe Last Jediwhen Kylo Ren fell out of favor with Snoke and knew he might have to face the Praetorian Guards.A story showing what the Knights of Ren were up to during the first two movieswould help solve this problem.
6What did Kylo Ren Believe His Grandfather Started?
The exact meaning of these words is open-ended
Among Kylo Ren’s iconic lines is his promising his grandfather"I will finish what you started.“As haunting as this scene is, andas crucial as it is in laying out Kylo Ren’s motivations, its exact meaning is open to interpretation. Is he referring to wiping out the remaining Jedi, bringing order to the galaxy through Imperialism, or unlocking the hidden secrets of the dark side?
The basic meaning of Kylo Ren’s words is clear enough, but it would be nice for him to explain exactly what he means. Things get more confusing when you take Anakin Skywalker’s redemption into account, which Kylo Ren never addresses onscreen. Since it was revealed that Palpatine was every voice in Kylo Ren’s head, ending the Jedi and attaining power is the most likely explanation, buta new story could surprise us with new context for Kylo Ren’s words.
5When Did Snoke First Contact Ben Solo?
This is an important part of both their backstories
Despite being essential to Ben Solo’s backstory, surprisingly little was revealed about Snoke’s history in the sequels. We know that Palpatine created Snoke, andStar Wars: The Rise of Kylo Renshowed Ben going to him for help after destroying Luke’s Jedi Temple, but there are many gaps left in Snoke’s timeline.Snoke was clearly in contact with Ben long before this, but it’s unclear when they first spoke.
This may imply that Palpatine was the one who first contacted Ben, not Snoke, raising more questions about how much direct influence Palpatine had over his creation.
The Rise of Skywalkermade things more complicated when Palpatine said he was every voice in Kylo Ren’s head, speaking in Snoke’s voice for emphasis. This may imply that Palpatine was the one who first contacted Ben, not Snoke, raising more questions about how much direct influence Palpatine had over his creation. Either way,Ben’s first encounter with Snoke is a monumental moment that deserves its own story.
4Will Rey’s Vision Of The Knights Of Ren Ever Be Explained?
It was nearly in an unused draft of Episode IX
One scene fromThe Force Awakensthat was nearly explained is Rey’s vision of the Knights of Ren slaughtering a group of people in the rain. Many viewers initially thought it was the night Kylo Ren destroyed Luke’s Jedi Temple, but when this turned out not to be the case, fans still believed it would be relevant later. After all,every other part of Rey’s vision was connected to the Skywalker lightsaber or her own past.
Colin Trevorrow’s original script for Episode IX,Duel of the Fates, would have revealed that the Knights of Ren destroyed Rey’s home while they were looking for her. This would explain why it was shown right before Rey’s parents left her on Jakku and tie it directly into her story. However,The Rise of Skywalkertook her backstory in another direction, but it would be nice to get some explanation for this part of her vision.
3How Will Ben Solo’s Actions Affect The Skywalker Family Legacy?
Even if Ben Solo doesn’t return, I’d love to see how his actions affect how the galaxy sees the Skywalker family. They already had a mixed legacy of heroism and villainy, with Anakin helping to plunge the galaxy into darkness while his children fought to bring back the light. Just when Han, Luke, and Leia thought they had won,Ben fell to the dark side and ultimately ended their bloodline.
Every Member Of The Skywalker Family In Star Wars Canon & Legends
The Skywalkers are the central characters of the Star Wars saga, and their family has grown to encompass several members in canon and Legends.
Rey may have taken the Skywalker name, but this could cause problems for her as the galaxy evaluates its legacy. Those inspired by Luke would look fondly at the name, whilethose who suffered because of Darth Vader and Kylo Ren would hesitate to trust any Skywalker. Much of the galaxy turned on Leia when her parentage was discovered, and Rey may face a similar predicament thanks to Ben’s actions.
2Will Ben Solo Return As A Force Ghost?
Everyone else in his family has done so
I may not like the idea of resurrecting Ben Solo, but there’s always the traditional option of having him appear as a Force ghost.Many viewers wanted to see Ben alongside Luke and Leia at the end ofThe Rise of Skywalker, just as Anakin appeared alongside Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end ofReturn of the Jedi. This would be especially meaningful for Rey after Ben returned to the light and fought beside her.
Of course, they would have much to discuss and several issues to resolve.Kylo Ren spent a year trying to kill Rey and the Resistance, and the deaths of Han, Luke, and Leia left her without mentors to guide her. The last thing Ben did before dying was kiss Rey, something they will now be unable to explore further, adding more tension if Ben were to return as a Force ghost.
1How Will Ben Solo’s Death Affect Rey If They Were A Force Dyad?
There’s so much we don’t know about this concept
The biggest reveal in the entire sequel trilogy was Rey and Kylo Ren beinga dyad in the Force. It recontextualized most of their scenes from the first two films and added new lore to theStar Warsuniverse in a way that built off existing ideas. However, the fact that this came in the last movie (alongside another major reveal) means there are still many lingering questions.
If Rey and Kylo were connected as a Force dyad, how would one dying affect the other? Does it make Rey less powerful with her counterpart gone, or would she be more powerful by not having to share it with another?Perhaps Ben’s absence will affect Rey in ways she can’t imagine, making it the most pressing unanswered question aboutKylo RenthatStar Warsmust address.
