What Kylo Ren Did in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ That Anakin Skywalker Never Could
Kylo Ren wanted to finish what Darth Vader started in the original Star Wars trilogy. However, in The Rise of Skywalker, Ben Solo succeeded in accomplishing one of Anakin Skywalker’s goals, even if it cost him his life.
[Spoiler Alert: This article contains major spoilers from The Rise of Skywalker.]
Anakin Skywalker had one goal in ‘Revenge of the Sith’
After the death of his mother in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, everything changed for Anakin Skywalker. He couldn’t save her, but he wanted to. When he had a dream in Revenge of The Sith about his wife, Padmé, dying in childbirth, he promises her that he wouldn’t let that happen.
That led him directly into the hands of the Emperor. Emperor Palpatine promised Anakin Skywalker absolute power and the somewhat “unnatural” powers that come with the Dark Side. Even though he sacrificed everything for Padmé, he was unable to save her. She died giving birth to twins, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa.
Anakin Skywalker eventually became the ‘chosen one’ in ‘Return of the Jedi’
He didn’t save his mother or Padmé, but he still saved his son. In Return of the Jedi, Anakin Skywalker fulfilled the prophecy, “killing” the Emperor to save his son, and bringing down the Empire. But balance in the force didn’t last as long as some people hoped.
In the sequel trilogy, however, Ben Solo took the name “Kylo Ren,” and looked to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Darth Vader. He sought to escape his past and become the most powerful being in the galaxy. That all changed when he met the scavenger from Jakku, Rey.
Kylo Ren did, eventually, accomplish Anakin’s goal in ‘The Rise of Skywalker’
As Emperor Palpatine says, “the Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.” The Sith have the power to absorb life to make themselves younger, killing their victim in the process. It only makes sense that the Jedis have a way to transfer their life force to another person.
Rey first exemplified this with an injured serpent in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Once Ben Solo turned to the Light Side and saw Rey heal his wound, he decides to give his own life to save the person he loved. That, of course, was Rey, who briefly died after destroying the Emperor. She returned his love with a kiss.
This was initially what Anakin Skywalker wanted to do to save the woman he loved, Padmé. In saving Rey, “Kylo Ren” technically did finish what Darth Vader started, even continuing the legacy of the Jedi and returning to the light.
