Opinion: The Step Vader Couldn't Take...Or Did He?

By: Josh Spaugh

It was about two months ago that we sat down and watched as (SPOILER) Ben Solo or Kylo Ren, faced his ultimate test and took on his father Han Solo. We all know how that ended. But wasn't it interesting that Supreme Leader Snoke referred to it as the ultimate test?

Lets take a deeper look at Kylo shall we? The villain who desires to be just like his grandfather, Darth Vader. As Rey points out he wants nothing more than to be just as good (or bad I suppose) as Darth Vader. But he isn't, and he never will be. He looks at Darth Vader and sees his only failing was not being able to allow his son, Luke to be killed. So perhaps in Kylo's mind, if he could kill his son then that would make him one step beyond Vader right? That is what even Vader failed to do!

While Kylo does not have a son (That we know of!), he does have a father. Thus the scene we have all come to dread. Yet, based on the way Kylo acts further, I think it is obvious he feels a sense of unsatisfaction. He lacks the fulfillment, the feeling of being immerses in the dark side that he desired. Why? Well it could be that perhaps he didn't actually murder his father he only think he did. Or it could be simply that the dark side is a path to destruction and the murder of loved ones is the ultimate destruction?

While I love both of these theories it makes me wonder what would have happened if Vader did kill Luke? Vader wasn't looking to prove anything at that point in the saga, like Kylo was looking to prove that he could be as good as Vader. It is strange though that Vader's first reaction was to save Luke. Looking at the life of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader he is usually act impulsivly out of anger first, regret later. I wonder if perhaps he made the mistake once before and learned from it. But Darth Vader doesn't have a father, and from what we know of only two kids. Who could he have done away with that would have had that much of an impact on the mechanical menace?

Oh wait. Now this is interesting. If Darth Vader does away with the apprentice (I cannot bare to type her name!), then he has essentially murdered his daughter. Then what Kylo did isn't as special. But if he is not able to do away with the apprentice, then what Kylo did becomes significantly more important. (What he did is important no matter what since his dad is Han Solo, but you get what I mean!)

It will be interesting to continue this discussion in two months. What implications does Ahsoka Tano have on Kylo Ren?

Here is to hoping that Vader learned the lesson when he killed Padme.

.... and if he didn't lets be looking out for catwalks and emotional moments where you think Vader might turn good. Don't trust it!

This article is an opinion piece and represents the views of the writer, and not the entire Star Wars Underworld organization.

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