It's time we talked about villains.
Specifically... This one.
But it's fundamentally wrong.
How? Basic Characterization.
We know this much about Kylo Ren up to the point of Han's and Ren's final confrontation:
- He is the son of Han and Leia
- He is the "Master of the Knights of Ren"
- He still is being torn between light and dark
- Was Luke's apprentice, but turns to the dark side and destroys the fledgling Jedi Order
- He was sent to train with Luke because "There [was] too much Vader in him"
Let's focus on that last little bit: He is sent to train with Luke because "There [was] too much Vader in him" (This is a direct quote from dialogue between Han and Leia at the D'Qar base). This implies that there was already some leanings to the dark side before Ren (Ben at that time) went to train with Luke, and that Snoke played on that to turn him to the dark side and the First Order.
Ok, Flashforward to the prayer/meditation thingy in front of Darth Vader's melted helmet. He talks about being pulled back to the light and that he want's Vader to show him the power of the Dark Side. Later he is told by Snoke that he must face/kill his father in order to cement Ren's descent into the dark side. Flashforward to Han's death. This is where the above theory kicks in. If this theory is true, then Kylo Ren has to be a victim who must be saved by Han from Snoke. While Kylo Ren is certainly a pawn in the advancement of Snoke's plan, he is not a victim, but an active participant.
Active Participant? Let's take Ren's favorite Sith Lord: his grandpa. Darth Vader is tempted by Palpatine , but eventually chooses the dark side and makes the choice to fall to the dark side and be a pawn in Palpatine's plan (yes... it's there, but it is very hard to see with Hayden Christensen's performance...*shudder*).
If Han Solo makes the choice for Ren, it fundamentally undermines Ren's ability to decide to kill Han and choose one side over the other.
It also makes for a less compelling villain.
Now... I understand why this is circulating so much. We want to believe that Kylo Ren didn't turn to the dark side. It's never easy to accept that someone has made a choice from which they may never truly return, but without a fall, there is no chance of redemption.
Once again, let's take Darth Vader. Vader's a pretty creepy guy in Episode IV, and has the opportunity to be a very two-dimensional villain. But when we get the news that Vader is Luke's father... he changes. It doesn't change what he did... but we actually pity him for his choices and are happy when he chooses the light after being in the dark for so long. Then the prequels show us his actual fall, and he becomes a true tragic hero.
Tragic heros come from people's choices that ultimately lead to their own destruction. (to any of my LDS friends, I'm referring to agency)
In order for Ren to be a compelling villain, and a villain we actually want to root for, it has to be him who plunges the lightsaber into Han. This suddenly transforms him into a tragic character, and someone we want to be redeemed.
Just some more thoughts. Disagree? Please post your rebuttal below (please be civil however).
An Average Nerd