Plenty of people were shocked and/or angry about Rey and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo’s kiss in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but there were actually romantic undertones in Rey and Kylo’s connection as far back as Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In fact, there were many sequel trilogy moments that set up Rey and Kylo’s romance.
While Rey and Kylo were on opposite sides when it came to the Resistance versus the First Order—and the light and dark side of the Force—they were never the out-and-out adversaries that some may have believed they were. On the contrary, several key moments in The Force Awakens nod towards what their relationship eventually became.
Star Wars’ Rey & Kylo Ren Romance Began (Subtly) In The Force Awakens
There’s no denying that Kylo Ren’s behavior toward Rey in The Force Awakens was violent and even predatory (The line “you know I can take whatever I want” being a particularly good example). Yet, both Kylo and Rey immediately exhibited signs that they didn’t simply loathe one another.
For one, the first time we see Kylo’s face, he takes off his helmet to show Rey he isn’t “a creature in a mask.” Immediately, this was a departure from what we’d seen from Kylo thus far. After all, he wasn’t taking off his helmet to prove his humanity to Poe Dameron when he’d tortured him earlier in the movie.
Rey’s reaction to Kylo removing his helmet is also telling. Sure, she’s surprised that Kylo is so human beneath his mask, but her immediate confusion and conflict are evident all over her face. Following this uncharacteristic vulnerability from Kylo Ren, and Rey’s interesting response, they also share an oddly tender moment.
While Kylo is searching Rey’s brain, he tells her, “Don’t be afraid; I feel it too.” While this may not be the stuff of romance novels, it’s again so far out of character from the rest of what we see from Kylo in that movie. He’s effectively reassuring her, and it establishes their bond that plays out throughout the trilogy.
We now know that this was the Force Dyad connecting them, but it doesn’t change the fact that “Can you see my surroundings? I can’t see yours… just you” or begging Rey to “please” join him, with his hand held out like a proposal, are pretty clearly romantic in nature.
Kylo Carrying Rey Feels Particularly Significant
Even outside these aforementioned notable moments, particularly during the interrogation scene, the very first interaction between Rey and Kylo Ren is pretty telling. After realizing that Rey has the map to Luke Skywalker in her head, because BB-8 showed it to her, does Kylo have her dragged to his ship by stormtroopers, like he did with Poe?
Nope. Instead, Kylo carries her bridal style to his ship. In fact, when Kylo uses the Force to make Rey pass out, he doesn’t even let her body hit the ground. He catches her midair and then carries her in his arms to his ship. Obviously, the circumstances are not romantic—Kylo is a villain.
Yet, this early on, it was clear that Kylo felt differently about Rey than he did anyone else. If she was just any other prisoner, Kylo wouldn’t have cared at all about knocking her out, letting her drop, and having her dragged off. He’s a dark sider and high-ranking member of the First Order, after all.
Of course, this isn’t an ideal relationship, a type of romance one should aspire to, or anything of the kind. However, the idea that anyone was blindsided by their kiss in The Rise of Skywalker—especially because their romance was built up so much more in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (hello, the hand touching scene)—is surprising.
Star Wars’ Retconning Reylo Made Things So Much Worse
Despite each trilogy movie increasingly depicting the romance between Kylo and Rey, culminating in their kiss in The Rise of Skywalker, Disney has shockingly walked this kiss back entirely. Even Rey actress Daisy Ridley has denied their romance, referring to this moment as a goodbye and saying, “You can call a kiss a thousand things.”
While Ridley is a wonderful actress, and she played Rey well, this comment is surprising and, to be honest, disappointing, especially because it makes no sense. Were this a Platonic parting kiss, Kylo and Rey likely wouldn’t be grasping at each other the way that they were. Friends don’t tend to grab each other’s faces when they kiss.
It remains to be seen why Star Wars tried to reverse the nature of this kiss; that may be explored in Star Wars’ upcoming movies, like Rey’s new Star Wars movie. Presumably, the franchise wants to maintain the idea that the Jedi don’t have romantic attachments, and this undermines that.
Even that would be confusing, though, because some of Star Wars’ best Jedi, like Kanan Jarrus, have had romantic relationships, and it didn’t pull them to the dark side. Regardless, trying to make this kiss non-romantic retroactively has only made their relationship worse.
Now, with this most recent shift, Rey and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo’s relationship just makes no sense. No matter what is retconned now, though, the truth is, there were hints of romance between these characters as far back as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
- Release Date
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December 18, 2015
- Runtime
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136 minutes
