Kylo Ren is one of the most intriguing and complex characters in the Star Wars saga. He is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, the nephew of Luke Skywalker, and the grandson of Darth Vader. But how did he discover his connection to the Dark Lord of the Sith? And what does it mean for his destiny?
The Skywalker Bloodline
Kylo Ren’s real name is Ben Solo, named after Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was also known as Ben. He was born shortly after the Battle of Endor, where his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, redeemed himself by killing Emperor Palpatine and saving his son, Luke.
Ben grew up with a strong connection to the Force, inheriting it from both his mother and his father’s side. Leia was the daughter of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, making Kylo Ren the grandson of Vader. Han was the son of a Force-sensitive woman named Jaina Solo, who was a descendant of Revan, a legendary Jedi and Sith Lord.
Ben was trained by Luke in his new Jedi Academy, along with other young Force-users. However, he was also influenced by a mysterious voice in his head, which turned out to be Palpatine’s spirit, who had survived his apparent death and transferred his essence to a clone body on Exegol.
Palpatine manipulated Ben’s fears and doubts, telling him that he was destined to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and rule the galaxy as a Sith. He also revealed to him that his true identity was Kylo Ren, meaning “Skywalker’s heir” in the ancient Sith language.
The Dark Revelation
Kylo Ren discovered that he was related to Darth Vader before his turn to the Dark Side. During Leia’s rise politics, political opponents used the Skywalkers’ history to drive the public away. Ren, then Ben Solo, overheard the information on a public broadcast4.
He was shocked and angry that his parents had lied to him about his heritage. He felt betrayed and confused, wondering why they had hidden such an important part of his identity from him. He also felt a strange attraction to Vader’s legacy, feeling that he had something in common with him.
He confronted Luke about it, who tried to explain that Vader was not a role model, but a tragic figure who had fallen to the dark side and caused great suffering. He told him that Anakin had redeemed himself in the end, and that he should not let Palpatine manipulate him.
However, Kylo Ren was not convinced. He felt that Luke was trying to deny him his true potential, and that Palpatine was offering him a chance to embrace his power and destiny. He decided to join Palpatine’s secret cult, the First Order, and become his apprentice.
He also destroyed Luke’s Jedi Academy, killing most of his fellow students and leaving only a few survivors. He then took on the name Kylo Ren, renouncing his former identity as Ben Solo.
The Final Choice
Kylo Ren became the leader of the First Order after killing Snoke, who was actually a puppet of Palpatine. He also learned that Rey, a scavenger girl who had opposed him, was actually Palpatine’s granddaughter.
Palpatine wanted them to join forces and become the new rulers of the Sith. He also wanted them to kill him and absorb his power, which would complete their transformation to the dark side.
However, Kylo Ren and Rey had developed a bond through their connection to the Force. They realized that they loved each other, and that they did not want to follow Palpatine’s plan.
They decided to team up against Palpatine, using their combined strength to defeat him. However, Palpatine proved too powerful for them, and drained their life force to restore himself.
Rey managed to get up and face Palpatine alone, using both Luke’s and Leia’s lightsabers to deflect his lightning back at him. She killed him once and for all, but at the cost of her own life.
Kylo Ren then used his remaining power to heal Rey with the Force, sacrificing himself in the process. He died in her arms, smiling peacefully.
He had finally redeemed himself, just like his grandfather had done before him. He had also fulfilled his destiny as a Skywalker heir, not by ruling as a Sith, but by saving the galaxy as a Jedi.
He became one with the Force, joining Luke, Leia, Anakin, and other Jedi spirits in the afterlife.
Conclusion
Kylo Ren is related to Darth Vader by blood, but not by spirit. He struggled with his dark legacy throughout his life, but ultimately chose to reject it and embrace the light.
He was a complex and tragic character, who made many mistakes, but also showed courage, compassion, and love.
He was a Skywalker, and he was a hero.
