ST Kylo Ren's Future/Fate. Death/Redemption/Other?

I just don't understand WHY someone would see Kylo do all these things and STILL want Rey to romance him. Different strokes I guess.

 

I secretly hope that we'll all be left slack-jawed when the movie ends with Rey, now a dark-sider, surveying her new Galactic Empire alongside her BF Kylo Ren.

Man, I would cheer like you wouldn't believe, it would be great.

 

I could see a case where everyone thinks he's dead except Rey, and he goes to live in isolation for an extended period.

 

I loved Angel the Series but then, I also loved Angel as a character. Heck, I even loved him as Angelus, he was just so entertaining. So for me, it makes all the difference if I enjoy the character in question or not. I don`t find redemption uplifting or really cathartic to watch if the character getting "redeemed" gets on my last nerves. My feelings for the character and the story will determine what outcome I find enjoyable.

 

Another reason why an extreme sacrifice is needed IMO is due to the way the spoilers are currently playing out. If they are to be believed, Kylo Ren is trying to amass a greater army and somehow awakens Palpatine. Only once a more powerful evil awakens (or once it possesses him and so is a personal threat to his well being) is Kylo suddenly redemptive. Even if his motivations are meant to be genuine, it is going to be extremely hard for me to buy them unless he makes the ultimate sacrifice. Otherwise, it seems more self-serving than anything, especially when we are dealing with someone who has already proven on multiple occasions to be very manipulative. If he gives up his life or his freedom in the pursuit of serving the galaxy, than I have reason to believe that it's genuine and not just self serving.

On a side note, I was just thinking about the spoiler that Kylo Ren dies and is brought back to life (). A different variation on this could be if Kylo instead sacrifices his force ability in order to expel Palpatine. He isn't killed, but somehow his ability to be a force user is permanently eliminated (by his choice and for the greater good). That might be a twist on the redemptive arc that I could get behind if well written.

 

Kylo should have to live in Rey's AT AT for 20 years. You just think about what you've done Kylo. I'll see you in 20.

 

I don't know if I would consider him to be the most popular character of the ST (frankly, I like Finn the best out of all of the characters, despite how poorly he was written in TLJ). I might have found Kylo to be a more likable character had we seen him grow up or something but we started our journey with him by watching him show a psychotic fascination with Vader's helmet, he killed Han, nearly killed Finn, and is uber creepy with Rey. Why should I want this dude redeemed? I just don't see it.

Anakinfansince1983 and I rarely agree on anything but in this, we are 100% on the same page. AF, crazy right?

 

Have you seen Dead Man Walking?
I absolutely agree, given I understand your point right. If Kylo sacrifices his life, it should be acknowledged that he paid the ultimate price because - in terms of finality - he cannot give more. That's basic human decency. However, Dead Man Walking makes a point on how redemption works: redemption roots in true acknowledgement of your evil deeds and you don't put your own perceived loss before that. It's important how you face inevitable death, in this case execution.
Regarding the story - in terms of causality - Kylo's motivation for redemption counts. To me, it's important why he sacrifices his life in a final heroic act if he does so. Does he really grasp scale and consequence of his evil deeds or does he mourn the lost possibility for a romantic relationship with Rey?

 

The Benshank Redemption

“All they found of him was some muddy robes, a helmet, and an old lightsaber, damn near worn down to the nub”

 

I watched Buffy and a lot of Angel. It’s a different thing, no matter how they mutter on about Rey rising to meet the dark like the Slayers. Plus Angel and Spike still can’t go out into the sun or have happy lives either.

He is already cut off from society and seems to like it. He hasn’t seen his mom in 8 years and had no problem destroying her world. If the good guys are on a journey with him, I hope they’re sleeping with one eye open. I think his punishment should be being around people. Maybe they can put the whole First Order into Rey’s AT-AT, @christophero30

Kylo fans keeps saying I should want Kylo’s redemption because Luke, Han and Leia. So it is equal. Plus Vader spent twenty years in excruciating pain in his suit, believing he killed Padme. Kylo isn’t injured and there’s no evidence he gives a damn about anything he’s done. I also don’t find either one particularly likeable but Kylo killed Han so he “wins” the unlikeability stakes for me. Vader only tortured and froze Han and, at that point, didn’t even know Han was romancing his daughter.

Frankly, I never cared for Vader’s redemption but Luke wanted it and Vader died. Kylo getting one and living, to me, is even more wrong.

 

agreed not many wanted Vader redeemed back in the day. I loved Vader as a baddie, but I was like "huh?" It makes more sense after the PT, but Vader still did some horrible things, so it's more of a sad half redemption imo.

 

I love this.

I can imagine Boba Fett whispering it to him and Vader responding with that “WHAT??” which he does right at the end of ANH when the Millennium Falcon shoots his TIE fighter ha ha.

 

Boba's plan all along was to get Vader's approval to win the princess.

 

well said. the story is moving away from a Kylo redemption. They still may go that way, but it will have to be well done. There really shouldn't be this much character vagueness 2/3 into a trilogy.

 

Its kinda written all over the last 2 movies that a redemption is likely. yeah they keep wanting to show Kylo keeps moving forward no matter how much people try and persuade him. but he hasn't lost this said pull to the light. and that pull to the light has foreshadow written all over it.

And who wants to bet that wasn't intentional? but intentional for the opposite reason that you might expect.

How i see it. its basically a fish being allowed to swim in water, but its got a fishing hook attached to it. it can be pulled back at any time. but you wanna convince that fish its got free rein to go where ever it wants. you wanna convince the audience they don't know whats gonna happen. but you also have this hook on Kylo that you can pull him back at any time.

 

Adam Driver said his character has a very clear acr/path from the second this trilogy began. So it appears redemption definitely could have been set from the word go.

 

EDIT: I'm definitely slow in writing my posts, so many answers wording similar thoughts more precisely in between ;-)

I don't see the urge for a redeemed Kylo to die because we have a Rey Random protagonist. Maybe that's because I wouldn't put too much weight on categories like protagonist and Skywalker saga. If they execute a convincing redemption arc I roll with that, even if Kylo is an unrepentant war criminal so far. The only dealbreaker for me is romantic Reylo because given the chosen setup for me it's poisoned as a concept.
Some ingredients for convincing redemption are there: Leia's still around, Lando also, Han appears to Kylo, Palpatine as a bigger threat is introduced.
As stated before, Kylo being stripped from his force powers makes the most narrative sense to me. Moreso, since I've binged Avatar - The Last Airbender. That Aang chose to strip Ozai from his powers instead of killing him resonated with me. For me, if Rey stays Random, she has simply been chosen by the Force. It's her destiny. She's been given the powers to confront Kylo. So it's her responsibility to fight and stop him, as Luke states in the trailer: "This is your fight now."
I see, she has not chosen to be chosen and her personal stakes in this fight could be deeper. And I don't have a problem with Rey Related but I don't see it happen.
I always liked Spiderman's "With great power comes great responsibility". Maybe that's a stretched comparison but Spiderman also didn't ask to be biten by the spider.