'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Spoilers: Is Kylo Ren a Double Agent?
He may have been plotting against the First Order this entire time.
by Mae AbdulbakiThere’s a lot of pressure to deliver on Kylo Ren’s storyline in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Will he be redeemed? Is he working with Emperor Palpatine? Well, one theory might have an answer to both of these questions without ignoring either possibility, and it involves Kylo being a double agent.
Speculative spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker below.
The newly revealed Sith Troopers allegedly follow Kylo Ren’s orders, and it seems likely they’ll fall in line with Emperor Palpatine once he reemerges in Rise of Skywalker. So is it possible Kylo knew about Palpatine’s return all along and planned for it? Redditor u/unknownbearing1 theorizes that Kylo has been involved with the Dark Side for a specific reason, and it’s to defeat Palpatine and the First Order from the inside.
Kylo Ren: Double Agent?
“Kylo Ren knows Palpatine is still around and falls to the Dark Side in order to get close enough to him (and Snoke) so he can kill both,” they write.
While a bit of a stretch, this theory feels plausible in the greater Star Wars context. After all, even Darth Vader eventually came to his senses, and Kylo may have learned from his grandfather’s mistakes. Actively working against Palpatine would fulfill Vader’s wish after his tried (and apparently failed) to kill the Emperor in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi.
Additionally, it might explain why Kylo was seen talking to Vader’s skull in The Force Awakens. He tells the helmet, “I will finish what you started.” A superficial reading suggests he’s referring to Vader’s run as the most fearsome Sith in the galaxy, but what if he was actually talking about killing Palpatine?
Even General Hux’s utter hatred of Kylo would make sense when framed within this theory. And if Kylo’s secretly working against the First Order, then Hux’s distrust would be validated beyond simple jealousy.
General Hux has always hated Kylo and this theory might validate his reasons.
The idea of Kylo working as a double agent gives him the opportunity to be on the Dark Side while simultaneously earning a redemption arc that would satisfy fans on both counts. It may also might mean Kylo’s been playing the long game and perhaps formed the Knights of Ren for this exact purpose. If he’s to potentially take down the First Order from within, then he’ll need all the help he can get.
If this theory holds any truth, it would also explain some of Kylo’s most evil deeds, like killing his dad, Han Solo, and attempting to kill his mother, Leia, in The Last Jedi. It would be the redemption he truly needs.
Whether or not Kylo actually knew about Palpatine’s scheming, however, remains to be seen, but it would certainly make for a great twist.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20, 2019.
