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Kylo Ren (real name Ben Solo), is the secondary antagonist of the Star Wars sequel trilogy before redeeming himself in the final film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. He is the son of Princess Leia and Han Solo, being the heir of the Skywalker family.
He was a Jedi apprentice of his uncle, Luke Skywalker before turning to the dark side. He then became the leader of the Knights of Ren, and served the the First Order as the apprentice of Supreme Leader Snoke. Kylo was also inspired by his grandfather, Darth Vader, and so he built a mask that was similar to his.
During the films, he is a remorseful archenemy of Rey. He eventually falls in love with her and wishes to turn her to the dark side, so they can rule the galaxy together. In the second film, Kylo murders his master Snoke to save Rey, and becomes the new Supreme Leader. Eventually, Rey's love and the remorse he feels over his parents' death manage to redeem him and he reclaims his Ben Solo identity again.
He was portrayed by Adam Driver.
Information
Kylo Ren is the leader of the Knights of Ren, working for Supreme Leader Snoke. The mask that he made looks somewhat similar to Darth Vader's mask. He also serves as an enforcer for Snoke, and seeks freedom throughout the map.
Personality
As one side of him tries to fight darkness and know his family better, he is influenced by darkness as he has killed and betrayed his father Han Solo. He loves Han Solo, but initially thinks that he has to get rid of any attachments to become stronger.
Even Adam Driver himself says that Kylo Ren is not a true villain, so that means Kylo has a very tragic, yet obsessive, personality overall.
Appearance
Kylo Ren is a tall, dark and gangly young man. He has broad proportions, including unusually long and thin arms and legs, as well as a large nose and full lips. His hair is black, greasy and approximately chin-length.
While fully clothed, Kylo wears a metal mask the envelopes his whole head, which features ornamental patterns that draw contours around his visor. His mask is designed by him to take inspiration from the late Darth Vader, who Kylo has deep knowledge of. His clothing is black-themed and tailored around his lean physique. The clothing is predominantly made from a soft, flexible material, though his belt and boots are leather-based.
The most distinct physical element of Kylo, however, is his makeshift lightsaber. Its hilt is haphazardly constructed, with it being uneven and with exposed wiring. Its blade is the traditional dark side red, though it is shown to be unstable and does not retain the traditional uniformity of a professionally-manufactured lightsaber. Two small crossguard light blades are deployed with ignition of the weapon, giving the lightsaber resemblance to a medieval long sword.
Similar Antagonists
- Prince Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender) - Both want honor from doing the wrong thing, but are very tragic and delusional.
- Smek (Home series) - Both of their films were released in 2015, and have aliens in them. They were also both delusional characters that reformed in the end.
History
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Capturing Poe
He at first appeared encountering Lor San Tekka, whom he kills. He then imprisons Poe Dameron, a talented X-wing pilot, asking him where the map to Luke is. However, Kylo did not know the map was handed to BB-8, who has gone far away on the same planet. He then witnesses a stormtrooper (Finn) refusing to kill the villagers during the attack, and later deduces that this trooper helped Poe to escape the First Order.
The Map
Kylo Ren and Hux were later called to Snoke, who questioned Hux about the Starkiller Base superweapon to destroy the Resistance. Snoke then told Kylo Ren that there had been an awakening. Kylo Ren was informed by Snoke that BB-8 is found in the Millennium Falcon, owned by his father Han Solo. As Kylo Ren replies that Han means nothing to him, Snoke says that even him never faced such a test and stated that the future will tell if Kylo is right.
Vader's Mask
Kylo then talked to Darth Vader's mask, asking for guidance because he is feeling called by the light side.
Kylo and Rey
Kylo Ren later goes to look for the map at Takodana, after receiving information from a ally that the droid was seen there. However, he gives up looking for the droid and captures Rey instead. He takes her to Starkiller Base to be interrogated about the map. During the interrogation, Kylo reveals his face to her and as he reads her thoughts, he discovers how lonely the girl is and that she saw Han as a father figure. He is then surprised when she suddenly turns his mind probe against him, revealing his fear of not being as strong as Vader.
Kylo leaves her to report to his master Snoke, saying that Rey is strong in the Force. When Snoke asks for the map, Hux appears and states that Kylo chose to bring the girl instead of the droid, which foiled their plans as the Resistance may have got the map back already. When Kylo came back to the interrogation room, he sees that Rey had escaped, so he chases her with some stormtroopers.
Killing Han
Han later came with Rey and Finn to deactivate all shields in the base, so the base would be unprotected for the Resistance attack. Han spots Kylo Ren, and calls him by his birthname "Ben". Kylo takes off his mask, and is almost convinced by his father's words who wants him to come home. Kylo tells Han he is torn to pieces, and asks his father to help him, giving his lightsaber to Han. However, due to corruption caused by Snoke, he succumbed to the dark side and killed Han. As Han touched his face and fell off the bridge, Kylo felt remorse about his own action.
Kylo vs. Finn and Rey
He then battles and defeats Finn, calling him a traitor. Then, he confronts Rey, who wants to avenge Han's death and fights him with no mercy. During the battle, the Resistence members destroy Starkiller Base's thermal oscillator, causing the planet-converted superweapon to start to collapse. In the middle of the battle, Kylo Ren asks Rey to be his apprentice. This moment of hesitation to kill her, results in Rey gathering enough strength and using her newfound Force powers to defeat him, when a rift opens between them. He was later rescued by Hux and taken to Snoke, as Snoke said that he would finish his training.
Star Wars: Episode VIII
He returns in this film, and it is revealed to be more conflicted after killing his own father. He bonds with Rey after finding out that he has connection in the Force with her. When Rey goes to the Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy to attempt to turn him to the light, Kylo kills Snoke to save her, but instead of accepting to join the light side, he offers his hand to Rey and asks her to rule the galaxy with him. Rey refuses and escapes, Kylo then proclaims himself as the new Supreme Leader.
Trivia
- Instead of L.E.G.O. Dimensions, Kylo Ren instead appeared in Disney Infinity, as Star Wars is owned by Walt Disney Pictures, now.
- There was a theory that Han Solo commited suicide while confronting Kylo Ren on the bridge. However, the theory was officially debunked.
Gallery
