Skip to main content

There have been a few controversial relationships within the Star Wars universe, Rey and Kylo Ren (Ben Solo) being at the forefront of recent conversation. Here’s what we know about the relationship between these characters in the galaxy far, far away. 

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and director J.J. Abrams of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and director J.J. Abrams of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ | Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

Kylo Ren and Rey kiss during ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

They started out as enemies, but these two are a dyad in the force. In fact, it’s this energy that causes Kylo Ren to save Rey from Snoke and causes Rey to heal Kylo after she stabs him with a lightsaber.

She wanted to take his hand during The Last Jedi, Rey explained. That is, she wanted to take Ben Solo’s hand. When Kylo Ren finally “dies” in The Rise of Skywalker, he joins Rey in the fight against Senator Palpatine. 

The “dyad in the force” eventually overpower the Sith lord, but it isn’t without some sacrifice. After calling on the help of the fallen Jedis, Rey collapses and it takes Ben giving her his force energy to save her. In return, she kisses him. 

This kiss, whether it be of romantic love or just out of gratitude, was not explored further. Just minutes after their moment, Ben Solo dies — he disappears, as does his mother a few planets away. 

Although Kylo Ren implies in The Last Jedi that Rey’s parents were “nobodies,” in The Rise of Skywalker, fans learn more about this scavenger from Jakku. Her parents actually chose to be nobodies to protect her from her grandfather, Emperor Palpatine. 

Ben Solo, on the other hand, is the son of Princess Leia and Han Solo, as well as the grandchild of Darth Vader. Despite their strong force connection, these two characters from the Star Wars sequel trilogy are not blood-related. 

It wouldn’t be out of the realm of Star Wars characters to have relations with relatives. The original trilogy briefly included a relationship between Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. That relationship only lasts until they realized they were brother and sister. 

Rey takes ‘Skywalker’ as her last name

Even though Ben Solo and Rey had their kiss during the final movie of the sequel trilogy, their relationship didn’t go any farther. When Rey visits Luke Skywalker’s home planet and a local asks for her “family name,” Rey says Skywalker. 

Some fans of Reylo, (the couple name for Rey and Kylo,) wanted Rey to take “Solo” as her last name, not only because of her newfound friendship with Ben Solo but because of her mentor from The Force Awakens, Han Solo. However, as actor Daisy Ridley explained, they wanted to leave Rey out of the “toxic” relationship.

“J.J. does deal with [it],” Ridley said during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a very complex issue. People talk about toxic relationships and whatever it is. It’s no joke and I think it’s dealt with really well because it’s not skimmed over.”

Best in Entertainment