7 years after the premiere ofStar Wars: The Last Jedi, I still can’t believe thatStar Warsmissed the opportunity to take full advantage of the movie’s, and one of the franchise’s, biggest plot twists.The Last Jediis known for deviating greatly from the pathStar Wars: The Force Awakensinitially set everything on, from Luke Skywalker’s refusal to train Rey to Finn’s attempt to fleethe Resistance- amongst many other things. Not all of these deviations were necessarily negative, but they certainly caused a great uproar that has since madeThe Last Jedihighly controversial.
Of all these twists, however, one still stands out the most to me, but mostly because of its missed potential. This was a moment I hadn’t expected to see in the least, even as it was foreshadowed over the course of the film, and I was genuinely shocked in the movie theater when I saw it happen for the first time.Star Wars, unfortunately, didn’t let this moment last; this plot twist inThe Last Jedicould have carried the sequel trilogy so far, and I can’t help wondering whyStar Warswasted it.
Kylo Ren Killing Snoke Is One Of Star Wars’ Biggest Twists
No One Was Expected That
The moment when Kylo Ren turns onSnokeand kills him using the Skywalker lightsaber is easily one of the franchise’s biggest plot twists, even if a potential turn to the light side was in the cards for Ren during the course of the movie. Viewers could have suspected that Kylo might actually begin to help Rey and slowly turn back to the light, butit wasn’t expected to begin with him killing his own master. The moment when Ren uses the Force to ignite the lightsaber into Snoke’s side was nothing short of shocking, creating some incredible potential.
I Never Realized How Well The Last Jedi Set Up Kylo Ren’s Redemption
Kylo Ren eventually returned to the light side of the Force as Ben Solo, and his redemption was perfectly set up by one scene in The Last Jedi.
I’ll never forget my first time seeing this happen in the movie theater the nightThe Last Jedipremiered. There were audible gasps from most of the theater, myself included, and my jaw was dropped for the rest of that entire scene - including the fight against Snoke’s guards. My mind was trying to keep up with what my eyes were seeing, but the most prominent thing I remember thinking was this:Is Kylo Ren actually about to turn back to the light as Ben Solo once again and help his mother and her Resistance?Of course, this wasn’t the case.
That Twist Would Have Been Elevated If Ben Solo Actually Turned
The Stakes Would Have Been Incredibly High
After the incredible fight that ensues, we find out that Ben Solo will remain Kylo Ren, and that his sole purpose is to take Snoke’s power for himself - and to have Rey ruling with him at his side. This would have fit nicely with theStar Warssequel trilogy’s initial intent for Kylo Ren, by having him fall further and further into darkness as the movies progressed, but Ben’s turn to the light inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerprevented this from happening. Knowing that Ben would ultimately turn anyway, I wished it had happened here.
Knowing that Ben would ultimately turn anyway, I wished it had happened here.
While it does already function as a successful plot twist, as Kylo Ren killing Snoke was still very unexpected, this twist would have been elevated so much more by allowing Ren to turn back to the light as Ben Solo here.It would have broken itself off from the original trilogy mold by having this key redemption take place in the second movie rather than the third, and it could have created some truly fascinating and unique storylines for the rest of the sequel trilogy. Instead, however, it unfortunately has become wasted potential.
Ben Solo Could Have Been A Secret Agent Of The Resistance
Working On The Inside
One possible storylineStar Warscould have followed if Ben Solo truly did return inThe Last Jediis having him act as a secret agent of the Resistance.He could have continued to supplant Snoke as “Kylo Ren” while ultimately supplying intel and more to the Resistance, concealing his intentions as Palpatine once did - but this time, for good. This would have risen the stakes across the board going intoThe Rise of Skywalker, and it also would have functioned as proper penance for Ren killing his own father inThe Force Awakens.
Kylo Ren’s Fall To The Dark Side Explained: How Princess Leia’s Son Was Seduced By Palpatine
Ben Solo’s fall to the dark side by Palpatine and rise as Kylo Ren was so much more than Luke Skywalker’s Last Jedi mistake on its own.
While I ultimately do respect the pathStar Warschose withThe Last Jediand Kylo Ren’s story, I do often wish that they had taken more advantage of this thrilling plot twist. It clearly made an impact on the audience when it happened, butthat excitement felt like it was almost for nothing when Kylo Ren simply took Snoke’s place. Now, this is something that will always be nagging in the back of my mind whenever I seeThe Last Jedi, and I’ll always be left wondering what could have been.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Cast
Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues the saga as Rey hones her powers under the guidance of Luke Skywalker. As her abilities unsettle her mentor, the Resistance faces the First Order in a pivotal battle.
