The 9 best new characters in the Sequel Trilogy
By Nik Edlund
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo
There isn’t a better and more complex character in the Sequel Trilogy than Kylo Ren. He is a tormented character who struggles to fully embrace the Dark Side while trying to suppress the urge to turn back to the light. He also worships the helmet of his dead grandfather Darth Vader and often talks to it in times of stress.
Kylo Ren also stands out for a couple of other reasons. He throws temper tantrums when his anger overcomes him. He takes his lightsaber and hacks apart walls and control panels if things aren’t going his way. It’s fun to watch not only him lose his cool like that, but to see his underlings cower in fear when he is in a rage state.
Ren also has a sense of humor for being such an evil dude. He mocks Hux when one of his Storm Troopers defects, and suggests they’d be better off going back to clones, showing some of his father’s wit.
Speaking of his father, this character also killed the legendary Han Solo. That act was supposed to solidify his journey to the Dark Side, but it only split him even more.
In the next film, Ren wants to forget his past and let it die. After being ridiculed by his master, he takes off to help destroy the Resistance. He senses his mother in a ship and has a chance to kill her but decides to not take the shot. This brief scene once again showcased the inner turmoil of Kylo Ren. Even in a fit of rage, he is unable to destroy his mother, showing there is still a glimmer of light in him.
Eventually, Kylo Ren kills his master Snoke but seems to find solace and a connection in Rey. He offers her a chance to join him and rule the galaxy, but she refuses. He later assumes the mantle of Supreme Leader and tries to wipe out the Resistance but is thwarted by Luke Skywalker’s ruse.
In the final film of the Sequels, Ren is redeemed thanks to his mother and Rey. Seeing him as Ben Solo is one of the best moments of the Sequel Trilogy. He is every bit as cool as his father and is a cunning warrior with a lightsaber. He ultimately sacrifices himself to save the woman he loves and joins his family as a Force ghost.
Kylo ren is a complex character, who brings something new to the villain role. He’s a character like we’ve never seen before in a Star Wars film and will never see again.
Who were some of the other best new characters in the Sequel Trilogy?