Why I Love Commander Kylo Ren
Many people may not understand my deep appreciation for this character, Commander Kylo Ren from the Star Wars Cinematic Universe. After over three years of claiming him as my fictional soulmate—specifically, since December 29th, 2019— it is time for me to explain myself.
Listen to Hold It All Together by CHPTRS while reading this piece.
Why? Because It reminds me of Kylo.
To start off this piece, Commander Kylo Ren is a dynamic and imperfect character.
He makes decisions that hurt himself, and in turn, he hurts other people. The fact that he killed his father Han Solo notwithstanding, is a hallmark of being human. Adam Driver excellently portrays a villain who has a side of himself drawn to goodness, no matter how deeply Ren tries to resist it.♥️ He is unique in a million different ways. In my humble opinion, he is a villain that can not be replicated because of the conflict he is constantly teetering on. Back and forth, his future and his life constantly hang in the balance based upon the choices he makes, or doesn’t make. I can even argue that he was never given a choice. His choices were taken from him. He killed Han Solo out of fear and desire to please his Leader. Whatever the rationale for his genocidal tendencies, his identity as Ben Solo is not what redeems him. His newfound identity as Ren, instead, builds off of the boy he once was. Regardless of how much darkness he might feel, there is always a sliver of goodness that exists within him. As I said, it is a reminder of his deep imperfection, anger, and insecurity. His humanity.
Image of Commander Kylo Ren.
“Find meaning. Distinguish melancholy from sadness. Go out for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world. It doesn’t have to be a walk during which you’ll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter. Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don’t find meaning but “steal” some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.”
—Albert Camus, from Notebooks, 1951-1959
Additionally, at least in the Star Wars canon, Rey is his dyad in the Force. Rey and Kylo are soulmates. She is the true embodiment of goodness, whilst he is the true embodiment of darkness. It’s like the idea of yin and yang—one can not exist without the other. All in all, I believe that Kylo Ren’s love for the woman he loves is so strong that it would shake the stars out of balance. Just like his sliver of defiance against deep, true evil.
NB: Keep this in mind! Star Wars is fiction! This is just for fun. Kylo is fictional. It doesn’t really matter how evil he is. As I said, this post is more just for fun! I love this guy. Okay, bye. ♥️
—Mini-essay by Samantha Fuchsgruber
Date // 29. December 2022
@LockheartArdenPublishing
