Star Wars Speculation: Bendemption

Crazy to think we are only one month away from the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Seeing as that's the case, I thought it would be an appropriate time to dive back into my series of Star Wars Speculation blog posts. I'm going to start by discussing one of the more contentiously debated subjects, Ben Solo's redemption. 

**Spoiler Warning for all Star Wars films**

Star Wars Speculation: Bendemption

For starters, what is redemption? According to Google, it's defined as follows:

Redemption- the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.

Regardless of your opinion, we should all agree that Ben Solo has sinned in his path towards the dark side. That much is necessary for him even to be considered for redemption. You can't be redeemed if you've done nothing wrong. It's an implicit requirement that I've noticed some fans seem to overlook in their assertion that he's faultless. That's not to say there were always malicious motives behind his actions. Still, the actions themselves can be deemed objectively "evil."

Everyone in the fanbase has their own stance, and there are four potential outcomes for next month's resolution:

1. He lives, redeemed.

2. He lives, unredeemed.

3. He dies, redeemed.

4. He dies, unredeemed.

I believe the first outcome is most likely and would be the most satisfying result based on the saga's narrative thus far. Though before I elaborate on my opinion, I'm going to explore the fan opposition and support for his redemption.

Arguments Against

1. He killed Han Solo.

This is undoubtedly the reasoning against his redemption that I hear most. Ben killed his father. However, it's an act he immediately regrets that shakes him at his very core. Snoke later taunts him for this at the beginning of The Last Jedi. Yet Anakin killed younglings among countless others after his fall to the Dark Side... And I don't ever hear anyone take issue with Vader's redemption. Though, of course, this is because Han Solo is a character beloved by fans for over 40 years. To some, that act is unforgivable. I'm curious to see if they change their tune once they see the big picture.

2. It would rehash the Original Trilogy.

A chief complaint of The Force Awakens was that it borrowed too heavily from A New Hope. I wrote about this two years ago in a post entitled The Poetry of the Star Wars Saga. Some fear Kylo Ren's redemption would mirror Vader's too closely. I, at one point, thought this as well. However, I've since come around on this notion. I believe Ben's redemption could differ substantially from Anakin's. Ultimately, it is crucial to the resolution of the Skywalker Saga.

3. Kylo Ren's rejected the light side multiple times.

Again, I once agreed with this point. I believed Ben was presented with several opportunities for his salvation, which he promptly rejected. It seemed like Ben sealed his fate as one of darkness. Though I later realized that this could strengthen his choice. By the end of The Last Jedi, Ben's made himself Supreme Leader of the First Order. The audience is left with a final glimpse of the Supreme Leader alone as he kneels, clutching his father's gold dice as they fade away, and the Resistance escapes. There's the crushing realization that this may not actually be what he wanted.

Arguments For

1. He's Han and Leia's son.

As their son, Ben represents Han and Leia's legacy. It would be a shame for that to end in darkness and for Han's final act of sacrifice to not have eventually brought Ben back towards the light. A tragic end would invalidate Han's sacrifice. 

2. He's one of the last two remaining Skywalkers.

If Kylo Ren were to not find redemption by The Rise of Skywalker's closing credits, that would contradict the core message of the Skywalker Saga in my mind. No one's ever too far gone. It's never too late to do good. It would also send a bleak message that one can never atone for their sins, which seems very dark for a family-friendly franchise. 

3. He and Rey must break the cycle.

The finale of the Skywalker Saga must put an end to the cycle of widespread catastrophe started in the Prequels. The family drama needs to be resolved once and for all. Otherwise, what was the point of this sequel trilogy?

To me, Star Wars reflects the essential values of Christianity. No sin can go unforgiven. Therefore, I think Ben Solo absolutely can be redeemed. There's never a point of no return. No matter how far you've gone, you can always absolve yourself. There must be a genuine willingness to change, but forgiveness is forever within reach. Regardless of your own stance, I hope you appreciated reading my thoughts on the matter. Thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer to discover the answer. December 20th (19th for Thursday night showings) is right around the corner! 

-May the force be with you, always!