Let The Past Die, Kylo Ren Explained
It may be dark in Darth Vader’s shadow, but Kylo Ren has no interest in any of your light or inner conflict.
Whether you love them, hate them, or a secret third thing, the Star Wars sequel movies aren’t going anywhere. And that includes the trilogy’s own Darth Vader mega-fan, Kylo Ren. But who is this character? Where did he come from? And why does he look so much like the First Order’s favorite radar technician?
Ben Solo
Originally known as Ben Solo to parents Leia Skywalker Organa Solo and Han Solo in 5 ABY, he was born into a high profile family of republic heroes and Jedi. Ben had an absurd amount of raw talent for the Force, in many ways taking after his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader). He had a privileged childhood, but had two parents who were always busy with different things. So nobody seemed to notice his earliest pulls to the Dark Side.
In 15 ABY Ben joined the new generation of Jedi apprentices, trained by his Uncle, Luke Skywalker. And under Luke’s tutelage Ben’s abilities developed rapidly, quickly making him the strongest and most promising in his class. But in 28 ABY Luke nearly attacked Ben, seeing the budding darkness in him. This confrontation was enough to confirm feelings Ben was having, and he fully turned to the Dark Side, destroying the training temple, killing his classmates, and leaving to join Snoke and begin his life as a Sith under the name Kylo Ren.
“Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.”
– Kylo Ren.
Kylo Ren
Kylo Ren, inspired by what he knew of his grandfather’s legacy, was a moody, angry, and vicious leader of the First Order. And where Vader had discipline, control, and the lingering remains of Anakin’s comedic timing and quips, Ren had none. He’s goal was to destroy the remaining bits of the Jedi Order in the galaxy as well as the rising Resistance. These attempts to sever all connections to his past life would bring him to murder his father, before declaring himself the new Supreme Leader of the First Order.
Eventually, much like his grandfather, Ren was pulled back to the light side after he decided to sacrifice himself to save Rey so she could go on to save the universe.
READ MORE: Farm Boy Turned Galactic Hero, A Luke Skywalker Breakdown
Concept and Creation
From the start, Kylo Ren was meant to be a nod to Darth Vader, both visually and in-story. It was also always going to be part of the story that Leia and Han’s child would struggle with the Dark Side of the force. But the specifics of Kylo Ren weren’t worked out immediately at all.
For a while he would be a character named Skyler who would be brought to the Dark Side by Darth Talon. Talon was eventually changed into the “Jedi Killer,” and then dropped altogether as the Jedi Killer turned into what would eventually be Ren.
Matt the Radar Technician
One of the best and perhaps the funniest things to come out of these movies was Matt the Radar Technician. A 2016 Saturday Night Live skit put Kylo Ren on Undercover Boss to pretend to be a normal not-Sith member of the First Order as a radar technician. This version of Ren took on a life of its own with people cosplaying even Matt the Radar Technician and being entirely recognizable.
How Old Was Kylo Ren
Ren was born in 5 ABY and The Force Awakens took place in 34 ABY, making him 29 years old in his debut and 30 in The Rise of Skywalker.
Is Vader Stronger than Kylo Ren?
In a question of which character had more raw talent and power, it’s hard to know. They both had a whole lot. But Anakin and Ben (or Vader and Ren) are never alive at the same time to test their strength against each other.
However, we know that Anakin went through his full Jedi training and became a knight in his own right before falling to the Dark Side. As Vader we also see his control and discipline. Meanwhile, Ben’s training was incomplete and likely a bit experimental as Luke wouldn’t have been a seasoned master with the backing of an entire Jedi order. We see Ren give into his anger and rage, leaving him uncontrolled and unbalanced. Raw strength aside, Kylo Ren wouldn’t have been even the smallest challenge for Darth Vader.
What Is Kylo Ren Afraid Of?
Failure, probably. And not living up to the image of Darth Vader that he’s created for himself in his own mind. But we also see him struggle against the lingering hold that the Light Side had on him. Ren’s greatest fear might be how the Light Side’s pull actually seems pretty nice.
Why Does Kylo Ren Have A Weird Lightsaber?
Ren’s lightsaber is notable because it has a cross guard; an unusual design in lightsabers for some reason. In real swords, a cross guard is often strategic, and smart to have. They help protect your hands from your opponent’s blade, but lightsabers don’t tend to have them. Ren’s lightsaber does. But this isn’t strategic. It is instead a product of his damaged kyber crystal splintering off and needing to vent so it wouldn’t overload. All of this to say, Ren’s lightsaber is as dangerously unstable as he is.
May the force be with you, Adventurers!
