May 4, 2024, marks Star Wars Day when fans come together to celebrate the iconic space opera franchise. However, not all aspects of the franchise are equally adored by fans. Such an occasion calls for an examination of certain creative choices that ended up being for the worse, such as the redemption of Kylo Ren in the sequels.
Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren was built up as an antagonistic force for the Disney-produced sequel trilogy, which polarized the fanbase. Part of the reason for the divisive reaction was an ineffective storyline across the three films, which included plot points such as Kylo Ren’s redemption. Here is how Kylo Ren’s character arc changed according to Adam Driver and how it screwed up the sequels.
Adam Driver Reveals the Real Character Arc For Kylo Ren in the Star Wars Sequels
The Star Wars sequel trilogy introduced viewers to Kylo Ren, the grandson of Darth Vader, played by actor Adam Driver. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Driver was asked about his role in Star Wars and disclosed the original arc that had been set up for his character. Driver said:
“I had an overall arc in mind that [JJ Abrams] wanted to do, which then changed, but his idea was almost the opposite journey of Vader.”
Driver went on to explain that Darth Vader was initially confident and committed to the dark side but later became vulnerable after learning about the existence of his twin children. However, Kylo Ren was intended to take the exact opposite path going from being confused to committed to the dark side.
Driver noted that this plan was eventually changed during the making of The Rise of Skywalker, which cemented the twist regarding Kylo Ren. Instead, the film explores the concept of a force dyad and leads to Kylo Ren’s redemption. However, this aspect of Kylo Ren’s arc ended up being the most divisive.
Star Wars May Have Screwed up by Changing Original Plans For Kylo Ren
Kylo Ren’s redemption received mixed reactions from the Star Wars fanbase, particularly because it felt underdeveloped and unearned. As Driver pointed out, the character is initially doubtful and confused about fully embracing the dark side, particularly after an interaction with his father, Han Solo.
However, after Ren kills Han, we see him with Vader’s helmet, which implies his belief in the dark side is becoming stronger by the end of The Force Awakens. Similarly, Driver noted how the same idea is pushed forward with The Last Jedi, where Ren assumes control of the New Order, following Snoke’s demise.
As a result, the change to Kylo Ren’s character arc in The Rise of Skywalker, undoes the momentum built in previous installments, making his redemption feel unearned. At the same time, viewers see little of Ben Solo in previous installments to empathize with Ren and his change of heart.
In the third film, there is also a lack of motivation for Ren to undergo such a drastic change of perspective regarding the dark side. Ultimately, Kylo Ren’s arc in the sequels was poorly handled and it lacked any sort of cohesion, failing to land the emotional impact of Ren’s redemption. Therefore, the Star Wars sequels royally screwed up by altering Ren’s arc.
The Star Wars sequels are streaming on Disney+.
