It’s hard to believe the epic conclusion to the Skywalker saga, The Rise of Skywalker, is hitting the big screen in just over a month. Whether you’re a fan who’s well versed in the extended universe or more of a casual viewer, one thing’s for certain – everyone’s buzzing about Star Wars right now.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve had a countdown on your phone since the film’s release date was announced earlier this year. You may have started re-watching the previous Star Wars movies to refresh your memory before heading into the final one. Maybe you even have a secret Pinterest board labelled “space trash” that’s full of fan theories and pictures of Kylo Ren (I definitely do not have one of those, and no you may not have the link).
While the excitement continues to build, I have to admit: the wait for The Rise of Skywalker is KILLING ME. After seeing the newest trailer, my brain is all Star Wars, all the time. How could Palpatine survive the Death Star crash? Will the Resistance ever fully recover after its narrow escape from the First Order? Why is C-3PO saying goodbye to all his friends? But at the center of it all, my brain is asking one specific question. What’s the deal with Rey and Kylo??
Darkness rises and light to meet it
If you’ve seen The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi, there’s definitely an interesting dynamic between the son of Han Solo/Leia Organa and the orphaned desert scavenger from Jakku. Despite their differences in upbringing, these two characters have shared the same experiences of loneliness and abandonment, and the same struggles to navigate their internal darkness and light. They are a reflection of one another. As director Rian Johnson has said, they are “two halves of our protagonist.”
Though these two characters find themselves on opposite sides of a war, something seems to be pulling them together; a sense of belonging, an understanding, even a bit of . . . dare I say it? Romance. There’s no denying that the two have feelings for each other, especially after that hand touch scene from The Last Jedi. Kylo practically proposed to Rey in the last movie, and the first time we see him in The Rise of Skywalker trailer he’s emerging from a giant wave looking like the space version of Mr. Darcy. You’re going to tell me there’s nothing there??
Kylo Ren: “But I do.”
The force is strong in this playlist
There’s so much to look forward to with this final chapter of the Skywalker saga, but for me, the Reylo relationship status is one of the highlights. Will Rey and Kylo stand together in compromise for the sake of the common good, or will one bend to the other’s side? Will they part ways as forever enemies, or form a relationship that is something more? It won’t be an easy path for them to reach an answer, whatever it may be.
The only thing we know for sure is that we won’t have any answers until the film is released next month. So as we wait to find out what’s next for our lovable band of heroes and villains, here’s a playlist to help pass the time. Enjoy this alt rock mix that explores the complex relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren, and may the force be with you as we wait for opening night!
What song do you feel best embodies the Reylo relationship? How are you passing the time until we reach Episode IX? Tell us in the comments below!
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