‘Star Wars’: Snoke Didn’t Create Rey and Kylo Ren’s Force Connection
Star Wars fans are still sorting out their feelings about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Some believe it fell short of expectations, while others think it stuck the landing more often than not. How they feel about the Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) dynamic appears to be a key litmus test for whether fans loved or hated The Rise of Skywalker.
In particular, a big moment between the sequel trilogy’s two leads has divided fans. Lucasfilm itself may even be downplaying its significance, according to the novelization. Yet, that upcoming book isn’t the only place Star Wars is turning to explain what went down in The Rise of Skywalker. In fact, the comics just established a key detail about Rey and Kylo Ren.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Read at your own risk.]
Rey and Kylo Ren’s story is the key to the sequel trilogy
Throughout the sequel trilogy, the relationship between Rey and Kylo drives much of the story forward. The Force Awakens established their fates were intertwined. The Last Jedi ups the ante, injecting a murky intensity into the mix. And The Rise of Skywalker doubles-down on how critical their connection is, much to “Reylo” shippers’ delight.
Just as Kylo aka Ben Solo was born into the light side and turned to the dark, Rey is revealed to be the inverse. A Palpatine by blood, she turns from the Dark Side to embrace the light. Perhaps this dichotomy — and the fact Palpatine is, in a way, responsible for both their lives — is simply a testament to their ultimate connection as a Force Dyad.
The Rise of Skywalker introduces this notion to the Star Wars saga, which refers to two souls linked in the Force as one. Fans have theorized when this bond was forged. Did it happen when Kylo tried to invade Rey’s mind in The Force Awakens? Or when Snoke bridged their minds in The Last Jedi? As it turns out, the answer is neither.
‘Star Wars’ comics allude to a much earlier connection
In Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren #4, writer Charles Soule chronicles the moment when Ben Solo fully becomes Kylo Ren. When two Jedi try to pull Ben away from the Dark Side, Ren — leader of the Knights of Ren — attacks them. This prompts Ben to, in turn, slay Ren, even channeling Force lightning.
This action cements Ben’s transformation into the dark and sinister Kylo Ren. And the comic establishes that even then Rey could sense him. Upon Ben’s turn to the Dark Side, Rey comments to Unkar Plutt on Jakku that she feels cold. While this instinct can be chalked up to her untapped Force sensitivity, it can also be read as the pair’s Force Dyad already in action.
The only other individuals we see feeling the effects of Ben’s actions are his mother, Leia, and those who are orchestrating his fall, namely Palpatine and Snoke. Although it’s unclear how and when the Force Dyad began, it does appear at least the destinies of both Ben and Rey were intertwined for some time before the sequel trilogy started.
Lucasfilm is clarifying what happens in ‘The Rise of Skywalker’
Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren might be doing a solid job of exploring the events that led to Ben Solo’s turn to the Dark Side. However, the comics also reveal all the missed opportunities of the sequel trilogy. The story of Ben’s fall might have happened between films, but fans never even really got any details in the actual movies themselves.
Instead, the Star Wars saga allows the books, comics, and other media to tell stories the films should have. The Rise of Skywalker, in particular, left a lot of unexplored story potential. Lucasfilm is even working on a spin-off film about the hidden Sith world of Exegol. Hopefully, Star Wars will bounce back and learn from these mistakes going forward in future films.
