Trust: A Look At Kylo Ren's Actions And The Reasons Behind Them

Now, I would love to delve into Kylo's mindset when he not only fell to the Dark Side for the first time, but also in that crucial turning point when he chose to return to its comfort. Ray made a critical mistake in how she handled herself when he said those words about "ruling the Galaxy" that I'm sure reminded us all of Anakin Skywalker, but let me take a moment to get into where I think she went wrong, and why I believe she could have made things go so differently.
So you all recall when we discover the other side of the story of Kylo's fall: that Luke had actually been about to kill him. I instantly imagined myself, having just had my beliefs tested by a manipulative and convincing man (Snoke) who had made me start to question whether I could really trust my master. I had gone to sleep feeling frustrated and conflicted, only to wake up in a state of confusion to see my mentor and uncle standing over me with a lightsaber drawn and a crazed look in his eyes. Fear, hurt, an instinct to protect myself, then anger at the thought that this man I loved and trusted was going to KILL me in my sleep! And so Kylo fought back, realizing that his uncle truely was corrupt. When the others found out what was happening, most of them stood against him, so he fought them, too. They were just as bad as HE was.
Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Kylo's trust was crushed in that moment by someone he looked up to. How could you ever trust someone again? Your uncle; your MENTOR had just tried to MURDER you in your sleep!
Then, years later, he meets Ray. Slowly, he starts to like her, feels an unexplainable connection to her, and becomes obsessed with this mysterious bond. And then, they share a powerful and triumphant moment together: defeating Snoke and taking down all remaining enemies in the room. We all felt the sheer awe of that moment. It felt incredible. Kylo felt a bond with her that he had never felt before, and because, I would argue, of a number of subtle reasons, I think he even felt a little bit protective of her: like she was a child, and he could show her the way. They could reign over the Galaxy together!
Now of course, we all know that's where HE went wrong: suggesting that they be evil tyrants together. But the moment when she went for the lightsaber was the moment when he felt his trust crumbling all over again; felt betrayed by yet another person whom he thought so naively that he could trust. THAT then solidified his resolve to turn inward: retreat into himself, and to trust only in his own power. He was angry and hurt, and annoyed at himself for having ever trusted her. How could she do this? He had offered her the universe, and how did she repay him? By trying to KILL him! Just like Luke. She was just like him: just as bad as him.
So how might the scene have gone differently if she had NOT betrayed him? You may think that her only other alternative was to agree to rule the Galaxy at his side. There is, however, a preferable third option. The third option is this: that she could have explained to him why she could never bring herself to do something like that; attempting to make him see her moral perspective. Now, there's no guarantee that he would have understood her and seen things her way, though that's certainly a possibility: that she would have swayed him to join the Light Side. The other possibility is that she would have failed to convince him that she was right, but he would have only seen her as misguided, and would have continued to feel that connection to her and a desire to make her see things his way. They would therefore not have left things on such horrible terms. The terms in which she shattered his trust by trying to murder him.
If she hadn't convinced him to join the Light Side then, then at least she would have left herself with a better chance of doing so in the future.

Now you have a spoiler box hiding the texts and so long as you used some filler sentences you people will not see whats in it.

So first off, you concluded: "Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Kylo's trust was crushed in that moment by someone he looked up to."

That is not how I saw it. If you recall - Luke said that Kylo Ren had already been tainted by Snoke and the Darkside. He was already delving into darkness and already planning a Coupe. That is why Luke turned on his saber in a hope to snuff out the dark because it was the seed was not only planted...but growing.

So this moment of betrayal wasn't an act of someone of whome the young lad looked up to, but a moment of hands caught in the cookie jar.


You then surmise: "Then, years later, he meets Ray. Slowly, he starts to like her, feels an unexplainable connection to her, and becomes obsessed with this mysterious bond."

I doubt very much there was any kind of bond felt. But rather a sniff of opportunity. It is both tradition and required for a Sith to pass on their knowledge to an apprentice. This is more evident when you read both new and old books of star wars. Sith are instantly drawn to new potentials like flies to light bulbs because it's a chance to become stronger through your apprentice even in death (Hense the common star wars theme of a "Legacy")


You continue: "And then, they share a powerful and triumphant moment together: defeating Snoke and taking down all remaining enemies in the room. We all felt the sheer awe of that moment."

Heh....not to be a sour puss but that was the most ridiculous scene in star wars history. I can't even begin to describe the amount of eye rolling, heavy sighing and face palming I did in that moment. Once again, the all mighty, force chosen Rey shows her powerful Skillz with no previous training against IMPERIAL GUARDS!!!!! Oh my giddy aunt it hurts....

ANYWAYS

This share of powerful triumphant moment wasn't an increase of bonding for Kylo, but further proof that he must have her as his future Legacy. That part you get right in your second sentence not your first.

[strike]It felt incredible. Kylo felt a bond with her that he had never felt before, and because, I would argue, of a number of subtle reasons. I think he even felt a little bit protective of her: like she was a child,[/strike], and he could show her the way. They could reign over the Galaxy together! <- Kah Ching!



Now of course, we all know that's where HE went wrong: suggesting that they be evil tyrants together. But the moment when she went for the lightsaber was the moment when he felt his trust crumbling all over again; felt betrayed by yet another person whom he thought so naively that he could trust.

Neh.......she just showed her weakness and wasn't going to pander to it. You get one shot, she said no so she dies. Really quite that simple.

The third option is this: that she could have explained to him why she could never bring herself to do something like that; attempting to make him see her moral perspective. Now, there's no guarantee that he would have understood her and seen things her way, though that's certainly a possibility: that she would have swayed him to join the Light Side.

Its also possible she would receive a crimson lightsaber in the Gut for talking too much Im sorry but this idea of carefully explaining your own moral purpose to turn a darksider to the light is the very reason why Jediism in all fails at capturing the spirit of what Jedi is.

This passivity ideal is the best way to get all ya'all self killed


"but he would have only seen her as misguided, and would have continued to feel that connection to her and a desire to make her see things his way. They would therefore not have left things on such horrible terms. The terms in which she shattered his trust by trying to murder him."

Or get herself killed for being a weak pansy Sith don't appreciate weak minded fools and Kylo Ren wasn't about to tolerate such things in the moments after rising to supreme leadership.

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So. All of my criticism above aside....

Kylo Ren is one of the reasons why I despise these new star wars movies in regards to story telling. They have cookie cuttered out every character to fit a role without any real wiggle room to grow beyond their predispositions.

Rey - "Chosen by the force to balance out the chaos in the galaxy and train the new future force chosen student to come"

Kylo - "Future Bad Guy in new star wars movies"


There is no redemption through "Explaining her moral perspective" And if thats how he turns to the lightside I am throwing all electronics away and giving up star wars entirely

How to make Kylo Ren better? Bring back the old Jacen Solo and fashion him out as a properly cool and calculative leader that he showed himself potentially being before going insane with killing everything. Kylo has some great potentials as a darksider....they just need to grow past this cookie cutter phase.


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Out of all the cookie cutter characters that Disney is trying to push I find Kylo Ren the most unique, in fact I call him the only Meaningful character in the whole damn (Disney edition) series!

In the first conversation with Snoke we see Kylo Ren being berated by his master and how he lashes out like a child whenever he loses (Audiences have also said this, and there's some merit) but when Ren kills Snoke later on he explains he wants to destroy the past which explains why he destroyed his helmet and lashes out. It explains why he killed his Father and why he wants to kill Luke. His actions and reasoning make some sense, maybe not perfect sense but some sense.

Kylo Ren is far better as a character then Finn and Rey (The other 2 characters Disney wants to see sell big) who are empty. Rey literally has no backstory or motivations and Finn is a totally goofball.

While Kylo Ren is not the greatest character ever made he is the best character in the movies currently because he actually has a reasoning and plan. The other characters seem to be going along with it because...plot....

The issue ultimately lies with Disney's poor storytelling skills and poor use of dialogue.

We still dont know the orgin of Snoke,
Snoke is probably not dead,
No one said he was sith, in fact I think he is not.

There are many hints of destroying the past and blending the light and the dark.
Ray embraced the dark without hesitation and Ren has always been conflicted
The reflecting pool in Lukes sanctuary is a picture of a form bathed in both the light and the dark

I think the third movie will be the joining of forces of Ray and Ren against Snoke and in his defeat begin a new kind of order in which both sides of the force are embraced.