With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker creeping closer, much intrigue continues to surround the character of Kylo Ren. The son of original trilogy heroes Han Solo and Leia Organa has been frequently tipped to turn back to the light side and away from the darkness, in order to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Darth Vader. His character is so difficult to read, however, that it's nearly impossible to predict what he's going to do from one scene to the next.
We now take a look back at our top 10 Kylo Ren moments ahead of The Rise of Skywalker's release at the end of the year. Some of them certainly won't be his best moments from the character's standpoint, but they're some of his most memorable scenes to date. Let's start with that very-much-iconic introduction...
Killing Lor San Tekka
Darth Vader's first scene is an iconic one for Star Wars fans. Who can forget the way he breezes past mass death and destruction, barking out orders in that cold, mechanical voice of his? It still gives us chills to this day. Kylo Ren, for his part, has a similarly enthralling introduction scene in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Lor San Tekka is an old ally of the Resistance who has just finished giving a piece of Luke Skywalker's map to Poe Dameron on the sand planet of Jakku when Kylo and the First Order show up. The former beheads San Tekka and Poe takes a shot at him for it, but the villain is able to freeze his blaster shot in mid-air before sending it away with ease. That certainly showed audiences that Kylo, like his grandfather, is not a man you want to cross.
The Revelation
In the build-up to The Force Awakens, many theories had been floated around as to who Kylo Ren actually was. Some were convinced he was Luke Skywalker, particularly when Mark Hamill was snubbed for the majority of the movie's marketing material. Others suggested it was Vader himself, somehow back from the dead, but then it was revealed that the villain was Ben Solo, son of Han Solo and Leia Organa.
When this happens, the mood changes and intrigue rises. Fans immediately wanted answers as to how he had been turned to the dark side and, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we get them: had Luke not tried to murder him, he may have ended up staying good after all.
Killing Han Solo
While we hate Kylo Ren for murdering Han Solo and leaving us all blubbering wrecks as a result, the decision for the son to kill the father is one of the biggest moments from The Force Awakens. It's a touching, well-performed scene where both Adam Driver and Harrison Ford absolutely nail the emotional aspect of their relationship.
It's also hugely shocking, too, because many thought Han would stick around longer. It's revealed in The Last Jedi that the deed had a profound impact on the young man, but Ben Solo appears committed to the dark side, despite appearing to have some remorse for his actions. We'd love to see a Han ghost pop up and teach his son some respect...
Losing To Rey
Kylo Ren and Rey face off in the woods of Starkiller Base, following the death of Han Solo. Despite being left wounded by a blaster to the chest, Ben Solo is able to defeat Finn and many expected him to then proceed and murder Rey, given his combat experience and prodigious skill.
However, in a sensational twist, it's the Jakku scavenger who is able to reign supreme. Not only that, but Anakin Skywalker's old lightsaber - the one Kylo covets so much due to his hero-worship of Darth Vader - chooses her over him. This shows that he's a villain with limitations, while Rey appears to be a hero with none whatsoever.
Destroying His Helmet
"It's time to let old things die," Kylo Ren proclaims at one point in The Last Jedi. Apparently, this includes his mask, with Ren destroying it in a fit of rage (having been left humilated by Supreme Leader Snoke following his failure to defeat Rey in The Force Awakens).
This shows that Kylo is ready to move away from Vader and become his own man, but the Rise of Skywalker trailer has suggested this isn't the case. The helmet is shown being repaired by an unknown figure, and we think this can only mean one thing: his determination to be like his grandfather is back and stronger than ever.
Failing To Kill His Mother
Kylo Ren is a complex character. He murdered Han Solo with seeming ease at the time, even tricking his father into a false sense of security before sticking his crossguard lightsaber right through his chest. When it came to his mother, though, the main Star Wars 'villain' of the sequel trilogy just couldn't bring himself to hurt her.
His decision not to attack Leia's Resistance ship when she's on board in The Last Jedi certainly suggests that Ben Solo may not be as villainous as Disney would like you to believe. It's also among the many reasons why many are backing him to change sides in The Rise of Skywalker.
Murdering Snoke
Kylo Ren's undisputed greatest moment so far surely has to be when he sensationally murdered Supreme Leader Snoke in The Last Jedi. With Rey in Snoke's clutches, it looks as if the villain will be able to get Luke Skywalker's location out of her. Ben Solo saves the day in dramatic circumstances, tricking his master and impaling him with Darth Vader's old lightsaber.
Nobody saw this coming, especially with the conensus at the time being that Snoke was an ultra-powerful, nearly invincible figure. Kylo and Rey then team up to defeat Snoke's Praetorian Guards and it looks as if they're about to join forces... before another dramatic twist.
Snubbing Rey
Kylo has no interest in the Resistance. Or the First Order, or the Sith, or even the Jedi for that matter. He wants it all to end and he tells Rey as much, trying to persuade her to join him rather than the other way around.
This was a huge twist because it did appear that, at long last, they would be fighting alongside one another rather than against each other. On top of rejecting Rey's advances, Kylo also taunts the Jakku scavenger with claims that her parents were nobodies; drunkards who sold her in order to fund their habit. Whether this stays the case in The Rise of Skywalker, though, is something we'll find out in December.
Becoming First Order Leader
With Snoke dead, Kylo Ren assumes control of the First Order. This is huge, because it shows that he's already gone one better than Darth Vader himself. Vader longed to rule the galaxy, rather than act as Emperor Palpatine's puppet, and even contemplated overthrowing his master before being encased in his armour in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith.
Vader never had the power to defeat Palpatine, but Kylo did have it in him to put Snoke to the sword. He now rules the biggest army in the galaxy and he had no qualms with ordering them into battle during The Last Jedi. With Sith Troopers announced for The Rise of Skywalker, he may have even more warriors at his disposal, which will surely mean only bad things for Rey, Leia and the rest of the Resistance.
Being Humiliated By Luke Skywalker
It looks as if Kylo Ren has Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Resistance exactly where he wants them during the epic final battle of The Last Jedi. Ben Solo faces off against his former master in an emotionally-charged scene, but the outcome of their encounter is not what he wanted at all.
While Kylo takes steps forwards by killing Snoke, Luke is able to humiliate him. He tricks his nephew into believing he's actually on the planet of Crait when, in reality, he's merely projecting himself across the galaxy. This is a huge slap in the face for the First Order kingpin, and means he already faces a fight to prove himself as a leader going forward.