Star Wars 9' theory ties Kylo Ren's redemption to an overlooked trailer detail
Adam Driver's hair is dark and full of secrets.
Hair and costume choices play a huge, if often overlooked, role in bringing the Star Wars franchise to life. Just as one fan theory pointed out that Kylo Ren’s mask (and its new cracks) might point to his eventual redemption in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, perhaps other aspects of his look offer clues about his storyline. A fascinating new theory that argues that it’s the changes in Kylo’s hairstyle in Episode IX that most accurately indicate his return to the Light.
Warning! Speculative spoilers ahead for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
With The Rise of Skywalker being the longest Star Wars film to date, there’s plenty of time for Finn and Poe to round up new recruits, Rey to discover her parents’ true identity and for Kylo to be redeemed. Reddit user sross43 theorizes that Kylo leaves the Dark side behind after the fight on the rainy battle on the Death Star. That particular showdown sees Kylo challenging Rey while in the midst of a torrential rainstorm. Kylo is soaked, but after he’s dried off, his hair is no longer hanging in his face like before. Instead, it’s pulled back. Additionally, the theorist suggests that the image of him in the desert on Pasaana shown at D23 is not actually from the first act of the film, but the final act after Kylo’s already turned. Maybe the clues have all been there, in the dark strands atop his evil little head. Who knew?
Compare Kylo’s hair before and after the Death Star fight below.
Kylo with his hair pushed forward.
Kylo with his hair pushed back.
It’s safe to say that most fans probably haven’t been paying such close attention to the evolution of Kylo’s hair in the images from Episode IX, but the theorist might be onto something. As an example, Rose Tico’s hair was very different when we last saw her in The Last Jedi. Now that she’s been promoted to a new position within the ranks of the Resistance, her hairstyle has changed to reflect that. Like Kylo, her hair is now pushed away from her face and she’s no longer sporting bangs.
Whether or not the Death Star is the location of Kylo’s turn remains to be seen, but it’s likely something major happens there. Is it the turning point right before Palpatine’s arrival? Considering how meticulously his journey has been planned out, the changing hairstyle might be our biggest clue thus far.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20.
