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acekyloren-blog · 8 years ago

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Anakin, Luke, Rey, Kylo Ren & Balancing the Force: Why Love is the Answer, Not Hate

It astounds me that there are people who still believe that in order to bring balance to the force it means killing all Sith/dark side force users.

Time and time again throughout canon Star Wars depictions this is seen as a misunderstanding to balancing the force. However, as it is never explicitly stated exactly how one brings balance to the force in the films (just the Jedi assumptions), I can also understand why people don’t know that in order to bring balance to the force, both the dark side and the light side must exist in unison with each other (as told by cosmic entities). I also find it confusing when people brush off the importance of balancing the force in the new trilogy, when one of the very first lines of dialogue we hear in TFA introduces us to the concept and need of balance in the Force. The Force is integral to the Star Wars films, as integral as it is to Star Wars’ own universe, and the concept of balancing the Force has been prevalent throughout the instalments of the franchise. They are not going to just drop the concept in the new trilogy, especially not when they’re trying to tie all the films together by the end of it.

This meta will attempt to explain what I believe, according to what canon evidence we’ve been given, it means to “bring balance to the force”. I will also discuss Anakin’s involvement and prophecy, and then what this could all mean for Rey and Kylo Ren going forward as “dual protagonists”. Disclaimer: this isn’t to say the other lead characters aren’t protagonists, but merely that we are being told that Rey and Kylo Ren are “two halves” of a protagonist’s story, together, in conjunction with the other protagonists. It is my belief that the new trilogy will most definitely touch on this ‘balancing of the force’ based on J. J. Abram’s claims that they are meant to bring the entire saga full circle, and that Anakin’s story (as the Chosen One who will bring balance to force) will play a crucial part in this circle that Episode IX will tie into - but that will be discussed in more detail later on. I would also like to say that I believe the importance of this ideal explains Luke’s withdrawal and belief that “the Jedi must end” in Episodes VII & VIII.

So, what exactly does it mean to ‘bring balance to the force’? We’ve heard it countless times as something so important, like some ideal goal that is never achieved. Let’s see what the movies give us.

Anakin as the Chosen One in the Prequels and Original Trilogy

Anakin, who was said to be the Chosen One, is supposed to have indeed brought balance to the force, if we are to believe George Lucas’ confirmation that he did so. I am under the belief that his fall to the dark side, and his execution of Order 66, played a key part in this prophecy.

The Jedi had assumed that the balancing of the force meant killing all the Sith, but I believe this was a biased assumption on the Jedi’s part for reasons I will explain further on (the true idea of ‘balance’ introduced in the Clone Wars) - and Yoda realizes this towards the end of the animated series as well. Through executing Order 66 and killing all the Jedi, Anakin essentially removed what had so far been the unbalanced, overbearing presence of the light side - and, while I’m not excusing Anakin’s actions and his intentions were by no mean good, I believe this ultimately benefited the force. The effects of this imbalance of ‘too much light side’ were being seen by the Jedi Order becoming misguided and too focused on bureaucracy and war rather than their original intentions. They pretty much became glorified soldiers for the Republic, and their actions at times could be seen as questionable. This isn’t to say they were “baddies”, but I believe this imbalance in the force was showing through the conflict and fear (of the dark side) and misguided actions of the Jedi - when true balance to the force is supposed to bring harmony.

The benefit of Order 66 to the force was not immediate, however, as in doing so Anakin instead tipped the active force power towards the dark side (i.e. Palpatine’s and Vader’s powers combined, and possibly even the Inquisitors from Rebels despite not being Sith), which still left the force unbalanced as we head into Episode IV. I would not count Yoda and Obi-Wan as particularly active force users, as they pretty much went into hiding (and in Obi-Wan’s journal in the comics he states his reluctance to using the force after going into hiding). Besides Jedi and Sith, there were of course many other force users (it’s a big universe, after all) but I believe that because Jedi and Sith were the most extreme, elitist force users that we know of, their impact on the force is ultimately greater than most other force users, who we can usually see dabbling in bits from both sides of the force rather than restricting and dedicating themselves to the extreme of one side or another.

It isn’t until the end of the OT that I believe Anakin finally fulfils his destiny of bringing balance to the force - if anything, it would make sense from George Lucas’ point of view to sort of tie the end of the OT up with the beginning of the PT through this prophecy fulfilment (which I suspect will then be repeated in the new trilogy). How, exactly, does Anakin finally bring balance to the force? Originally, I had assumed he had not, as killing Palpatine and dying himself while Jedi were still alive, in my opinion, wasn’t balancing - but if George Lucas says he did, then I can only assume that George Lucas intended the killing of Palpatine to indeed balance the force. At least for that moment in time. At the end of the OT, Anakin also balances the force within himself, which could also be seen as part of the prophecy being fulfilled - he reconciles his dark side with his light side, with the help of Luke.

How do you really bring ‘balance’ to the Force?

Before delving into what this means in The Force Awakens, I would like to bring attention to three story arcs that I believe are integral to the discussion of balance and the Force: the Mortis and Yoda’s Destiny arcs from The Clone Wars, and Yoda’s Secret War from the main Star Wars comics. I will use these arcs to point out my theory that while Anakin did bring balance to the Force, it was not the kind of balance the Force needed. The complete eradication of both Jedi and Sith, while technically being of equal balance, is not what was intended - and didn’t last because of this, considering Luke continued on as a Jedi as we will see in TLJ.

Possibly the most well-known of the three arcs is the Mortis arc. This is the arc where Anakin is drawn to a mysterious planet called Mortis (described as the conduit or fulcrum of the Force) in order to determine whether he is the Chosen One. On this planet exists just a family of Celestials, or cosmic entities. There is the Father, who maintains the balance between the Daughter - the embodiment of the light side of the Force - and the Son, the respective embodiment of the dark side of the Force. The Father stresses the importance of having balance between both the Daughter and the Son, between both the Light and the Dark, and that one cannot exist without the other if true balance is to be maintained.

This symbol, that looks a lot like yin & yang, is also used in the arc, lighting up beneath Anakin when he is controlling both the Daughter and the Son together:

Ultimately, after passing the test, the Father tells Anakin that he needs to take his place and maintain this balance as it is his destiny as the Chosen One, but Anakin refuses and leaves as the Imperial March plays in the background, which then results in tragedy for the family on Mortis. The consequences of Anakin’s actions is that amongst the conflict of the family, the Daughter is killed, followed by the Father sacrificing himself so that Anakin could kill the Son.

Again, instead of balancing the Force by maintaining a living connection between the Light and the Dark which Anakin had refused to do, Anakin actually ends up eradicating both sides - and there is nothing left, much like in the OT.

To me, the importance of this arc isn’t necessarily to show Anakin’s refusal of his destiny (since he supposedly fulfils it later on anyway), but instead to foreshadow the importance of connecting both the light side and the dark side together, alive, and achieving true balance, and the tragic consequences if this balance is not maintained. This could be seen literally, with two powerful force users (one for the light side and one for the dark side) being united much like the Daughter and the Son, or it could also be more symbolic of the need to maintain balance between the light and the dark with oneself (the Daughter and Son being parts of the Father that he must maintain).

Speaking of maintaining both light and dark within oneself, next up are the episodes at the end of the Clone Wars, called “Destiny” and “Sacrifice”, in which Yoda discovers the importance of mastering his dark side.

The key here is mastering his dark side. He does does not destroy it, he cannot fight it - for in doing so it only makes the dark side stronger. At first, Yoda does indeed try to fight this ‘dark Yoda’ and realizes he’s only giving it more power. So instead, Yoda chooses to accept and acknowledge his darker self, and in turn he masters it.

The answer here, as Yoda discovers, is not to eradicate the dark side of himself. It is not to try and ‘kill’ or ‘hate’ this dark part of himself, but to accept it - to understand it. In doing so, he becomes stronger. I think this concept is extremely important going forward into the new trilogy, as “accepting” and “understanding” the dark side will play an important role for our light side protagonists, much like it did for Yoda.

Last but not least is a story arc called “Yoda’s Secret War” that this video brought to my attention, which takes place in issues 26-30 of the main line of Star Wars comics, and it is the one I believe has the most obvious parallels to the new trilogy (aside from perhaps Mortis). Yoda follows a disturbance in the force to an uncharted planet with two warring societies of children: the Mud dwellers and the Rockhawkers. The mud dwellers had used what they called their “stone power” (which was actually the Force) to send a distress signal across the galaxy out of fear the warring between the tribes would ruin what little ‘stone power’ they had left. They saw Yoda as the prophesied “deliverer” - the one who would destroy the Rockhawkers. Yoda eventually went into the heart of a mysterious force-influenced mountain with the help of a Rockhawker named Garro, and then discovered that the mountain was actually a living giant. Originally the giants had roamed the world peacefully, protecting the lands against threats until people came and warred with each other for the right to control them.

Eventually the giants became so weak from all the warring that they retreated into the earth and became mountains, yet still the people continued to ‘butcher’ them for their own needs and power, until there was only one sleeping giant left. Upon leaving the mountain, Yoda is confronted by the Rockhawkers but refuses to tell them what he had discovered as he believes they aren’t ready, but Garro tells them regardless. The Rockhawkers then begin to meditate immediately, waking the giant up and bringing it under their control. Consumed by the Rockhawker’s vengeful emotions, the giant becomes a creature of hatred and anger, with a thirst for revenge. The giant sets out to destroy the mud dwellers, but Yoda uses his powers to wake the remaining giants who then rise up and destroy their corrupted kin. Yoda then manages to broker peace between the two tribes, after which the people begin to leave the planet and travel the galaxy for curiosity and exploration.

Later on, Luke returns to the planet thanks to Obi-Wan’s journal, and finds an old Garro who says that as everyone left the planet, the giants and their ‘stone power’ had begun to diminish more and more.

Garro attempts to kill Luke in order to sap his life force, so that he can slaughter the remaining children and become the supreme master of the remaining ‘stone power’ (sound familiar?). However, through his selflessness, Luke manages to persuade Garro to give up on his dark pursuit and instead sacrifice his ‘stone power’ into becoming one with the dead giant.

Afterwards, the remaining stone children brought Luke to the heart of the dead giant where he was able to reawaken it.

Essentially, this story is the main saga condensed into a smaller scale narrative. The mud dwellers are the Jedi, the Rockhawkers are the Sith, and the “deliverer” is the Chosen One while the ‘stone power’ and the giants are the Force. Like the Jedi believed that the Chosen One would rid the galaxy of the Sith, the mud dwellers believed the Deliverer would rid the planet of Rockhawkers. The warring of the tribes resulted in the butchering and chipping away of the giants’ stone power, similar to the warring of the Jedi and the Sith chipping away at and unbalancing the Force. Although eventually the Deliverer does bring peace, it also results in the giants diminishing into dormancy as people leave the planet, possibly akin to Anakin supposedly bringing balance to the force only for it to once again become unbalanced or diminishing later on, only to be reawakened in the new trilogy.

What are the important lessons of this story?

That the force, in itself, is natural, and good. Only when people seek to use it for their own gain does it get “chipped away”.

Constant warring is not healthy for the force. It is not balance.

But then neither is retreating from the force for the sake of peace, seen on the planet as it then causes the powers to diminish.

The key to bringing the force back to life, to ‘balance’ it, is instead, the “willingness to give” of oneself rather than to take. It sounds, to me, a lot like compassion.

I reiterate: balance for the sake of peace did not ultimately bring life and harmony back to the giants. It was an act of true compassion, of dark reconciling with light, whether seen through Garro’s inner darkness reconciling with his light, or Garro himself as the Dark doing something compassionate for Yoda, that brought true life back to the giant.

Altogether, I believe that it is not the complete non-existence of the dark side and the light side that answers the question of balance. According to these stories, both the light side and the dark side need to exist together to form one whole - and only an act of compassion and understanding can bring them together in order to restore the Force’s balance.

What does this mean for Luke, Rey and Kylo Ren going forward?

(Lor San Tekka, who brings us the first line of dialogue about bringing balance to the Force in TFA)

So now you’ve read all the context of my theory, it comes to a head. What does this mean for not only our dual protagonists, but also Luke?

First of all, after Anakin went through all that trouble and finally brought some semblance of balance to the Force, Luke went ahead and... trained more Jedi? Bless his soul, I’m not saying Luke’s at fault here, I fully believe he had the best intentions, and also as I said, I don’t believe Anakin brought true balance to the Force in the first place. Regardless, Luke trains more Jedi, and of course, this ends in tragedy - as imbalance in the Force always does. Now, we don’t know whether Ben Solo betrayed Luke on purpose or not, there are multiple factors to consider, such as Ben Solo being manipulated by Snoke, his untamed and possibly explosively uncontrollable power, or possibly even just the Force retaliating out of the imbalance as it has its own will. Of course, the possibility that Ben Solo really did just betray Luke out of malicious intent is entirely possible, nothing is impossible until we see what actually happened - and it doesn’t have too much impact either way on what I’m trying to say. Either way, it ends in tragedy, and Luke retreats away from everybody and from the Force. So far we haven’t seen him with his lightsaber once, not even in the promotional clips or images. The only lightsaber we have seen him with is the one Rey brings to him, which he seems reluctant about, and it makes me wonder... Did he throw away his own lightsaber? Did he swear some kind of oath to himself he would never use the Force again? Why would he feel the need to travel to the oldest Jedi temple, where we discover from the trailers that there exists books on the principles of balance between the light and the dark? To me it seems as if Luke had realized his mistake, and out of guilt, he retreated and swore never to train more Jedi for fear of once again causing imbalance to the Force. How much Luke would have learned from the old temple, I don’t know, and how this will inform his actions going forward, I also don’t know - a lot of this we won’t know until TLJ comes out, but I do believe that this fear of causing imbalance to the force is a primary concern for Luke, and will be as we go forward.

However, as we have seen from Mortis and Yoda’s Secret Wars, retreating from the Force is not the answer to balancing the Force, nor is having neither Light nor Dark. What we have learned is that the key to balancing the Force is having both Light and Dark present, together. How can we resolve this, then, in the new trilogy? How can we bring both the Light and the Dark together?

I present to you, our “dual protagonists” Rey and Kylo Ren. With so much emphasis on this ‘balance’, not only in general Star Wars but especially in the new trilogy (first line of dialogue in TFA, Rey’s monologue in TLJ trailers, etc.) and no other equivalents being set up thus far that I can tell (looking at you JJ and your Finn Jedi bait, not cool) this only leaves them as the characters that will bring balance to the Force - likely, I suspect, with Luke’s help somehow. Kylo Ren and Rey are both incredibly powerful and gifted with the Force, with one leaning towards the light side and the other towards the dark side. I don’t think I have to go into too much detail as to why exactly they’d be the perfect characters to bring balance to the force, as I’m sure there are already metas on that somewhere. My goal is to see how this balance is going to come about between these two, and possibly three characters.

I, personally, would just like to see Luke play a big part in balancing the Force again - I feel he would be the most attuned to understanding it, and understanding what needs to be done by the end of the movie (or trilogy). It would be incredibly poetic if he assisted in balancing the Force both times. Unfortunately, I do think that it may spell out his sacrifice either in TLJ or Episode IX. I really don’t want Luke to die, trust me on this, but after seeing multiple occasions of sacrifice for the sake of compassion and selflessness, it could be something he would consider, especially with selflessness itself being such a key part of Luke’s character. Interestingly enough, it could also give way to the theories that used to float around about Luke actually being the Chosen One, if he managed to bring balance to the Force through uniting Rey and Kylo Ren. Alternatively, it could also be Leia that assists in bringing them together, on the same basis of compassion, and I am under the impression that she will play a big role between both Rey and Kylo Ren.

However, what is needed to bring the Dark and the Light together may not have to be sacrifice exactly - even though that’s what’s been presented previously - but merely an act of compassion, or love. It is through compassion for his son that Anakin finds balance. It is through compassion for Yoda and the planet itself that Garro brings life back to the ‘stone power’ giant. George Lucas himself states that “it really has to do with learning. Children teach you compassion [...] Anakin is very different in the end [...] He takes the ounce of good still left in him and destroys the Emperor out of compassion for his son.” Is it mere coincidence, then, that Snoke says to Kylo Ren, “You have compassion for her”? The specific word ‘compassion’, to me, appears to be used in very specific circumstances: it is the key that brings the Light and the Dark together. And people still think that these two parallel sides of the Force are going to end the trilogy hating each other or trying to kill each other?

No matter what way you look at it, who brings them together, the fact is that there is the Light (Rey) and the Dark (Kylo Ren) and in order to bring balance to the Force, they must be brought together by compassion. The elements are already there, the key is there, now all Rian and J.J. have to do is bring them all together in a way that will both satisfy and astound audiences. J.J. Abrams has already said that Episode IX will be “the film which unites all three trilogies and brings everything together”.

So I ask you, what is more satisfying than seeing a goal, so many years in the making, throughout all the films, finally achieved in the end to tie it all together?

#kylo ren #rey #anakin skywalker #luke skywalker #reylo #star wars #meta #reylo meta #star wars meta #oh wow that took a while

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acekyloren-blog · 8 years ago

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Reylo Song Compilation from the Official SW Spotify Playlists + Their Recurring Themes

(A.K.A. More Reylo Receipts, A.K. A. They Couldn’t Make It Any More Obvious)

The two official spotify playlists being discussed: Rey / Kylo Ren

For ease of access, I decided to compile all of the possible Reylo-centric songs that the Star Wars official Spotify has put in Rey and Kylo Ren’s playlists. Many are blatantly referencing their dark/light dynamic, while others are only vaguely referencing what could possibly be Reylo, but could also possibly be referring to other relationships - those songs have been pointed out. I wanted to outline the songs that are clearly Reylo-centric, so I also included the best lyrics to give as evidence as to why that song is Reylo-centric. Beneath the lists are the analyses of these love songs and the recurring themes throughout them from both Rey and Kylo Ren.

Truth be told, after paying attention to all the love songs in Rey and Kylo Ren’s playlists, I am 98% sure Reylo is now, or will be, A Real Thing. The other 2% is the possibility that it will an unrequited love from Kylo Ren towards Rey, because Kylo Ren’s love songs are so assuredly about Rey (female pronouns, too romantic to be Leia) while there are still a few of Rey’s songs that cannot be 100% proven to be about Kylo Ren. That being said, a large majority of her love songs, as will be discussed, revolve around fighting and conflict - so unless she will have another love interest that is going to be fighting with her in the trilogy, I’d say those ones are at least definitely pointed towards Kylo Ren.

*possibly referring to rey and f.inn, possibly referring to kylo and leia or merely kylo himself > my personal favourites because they just scream reylo

While looking through these lyrics, remember to keep in mind that these songs were specifically chosen to be put in OFFICIAL Star Wars playlists for these characters for a reason. In the order that they were listed in playlists:

Rey’s Playlist

NO ONE - ALICIA KEYS* ( people keep talking they can say what they like // but all i know is everything's going to be alright // no one can get in the way of what i feel for you )

COMPASS - ZELLA DAY* ( if we make it out alive, from the depths of the seas // compass points you anywhere closer to me // where you are, i will be )

COME AND GET IT - SELENA GOMEZ ( can't stop because i love it, hate the way i love you )

LEVELS - NICK JONAS ( so much to discover, please don't stop me now // all this heat keep rising, make you stop, drop, and roll // i’m bottling up the lightning, supernatural )

CAN’T FEEL MY FACE - THE WEEKND* ( and i know she'll be the death of me, at least we'll both be numb // and she'll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come // all the misery was necessary when we're deep in love )

OMEN - DISCLOSURE ( i'm feeling something, something different // needed you to show me, without you I am lonely // my mind would rule my heart // i didn't pay attention to the light in the dark, it left me torn apart )

WE FOUND LOVE - RIHANNA ( it's the way I'm feeling i just can't deny // shine a light through an open door // turn away 'cause i need you more // we found love in a hopeless place )

BLUE JEANS - LANA DEL REY ( you fit me better than my favorite sweater, and i know that love is mean, and love hurts )

> BATTLEFIELD - JORDIN SPARKS ( i never meant to start a war, you know, i never wanna hurt you // don't even know we're fighting for, why does love always feel like a battlefield // baby, we don't have to fight )

A SKY FULL OF STARS - COLDPLAY ( i don't care, go on and tear me apart // 'cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars i think i saw you // 'cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars, i wanna die in your arms )

RUNAWAY (U & I) - GALANTIS* ( even if we’re strangers til we die // anywhere out this place, i wanna run away, just U and I )

SMOKE AND FIRE - SABRINA CARPENTER ( oh, oh, our love is running into a burning building // feel the heat, so we started running // you know you saw it coming, but the memories are still in my mind )

DIAMONDS - RIHANNA* ( you and i, you and i, we’re like diamonds in the sky // i knew that we’d become one right away // at first sight i felt the energy of sun rays, i saw the life inside your eyes )

> WILD - TROYE SIVAN ( trying hard not to fall // leave this blue neighbourhood, never knew loving could hurt this good, oh and it drives me wild // 'cause when you look like that I've never ever wanted to be so bad )

SHUT UP AND DANCE - WALK THE MOON* ( this woman is my destiny // we were victims of the night // oh we were bound to get together // deep in her eyes, i think I see the future, i realize this is my last chance )

OUR OWN HOUSE - MISTERWIVES* ( into my soul you stared and bored down every fear // we built our own house with our hands over our hearts )

> BLOODSTREAM - TRANSVIOLET ( cruel desire, danger in our consequence // hey, you wanna rule the world? outlaw love, make you lose control // cosmic violence, chills dripping like acid rain, keep coming back cause it's you i crave )

> FORCE OF NATURE - BEA MILLER ( i tried to tie my heart down, board up all the windows, oh but it's too late now, i let you get too close // i know i should take cover, hide inside these four walls, but baby i surrender, it all // 'cause you're a force of nature, look at what you've done // i can taste the danger, but i don't wanna run, so pull me to the ground and i won't put up a fight )

Kylo Ren’s Playlist

ANGELS FALL - BREAKING BENJAMIN* ( grey skies will chase the light away no longer // when angels fall with broken wings, i can't give up, i can't give in // when all is lost and daylight ends, i'll carry you and we will live forever, for ever )

DARK SIDE OF ME - COHEED AND CAMBRIA* ( in this cold reality i made, this selfish war machine, oh, this has become hell, how can i share this life with someone else? // i am not equipped to comprehend human rationale, sirius, is this what love is? )

ASHES OF EDEN - BREAKING BENJAMIN* ( i am not worthy of this // stay with me, don't let me go, because there's nothing left at all // will the light begin to pull me to its everlasting will // heaven above me, take my hand, shine until there's nothing left but you )

NEVER GIVING UP - OF MICE AND MEN ( even though i know you want me to, i'm never giving up on you // you'll never know just how hard it is for me to see you this way, it tears me up, drags me down )

> OUT OF TIME - A DAY TO REMEMBER ( i finally found her, and when i did i just couldn't make things right, is this really happening? oh, god, i think i just ruined my life // don't think you've got to go in alone here // you won't see it, but believe me, i need to be right where you are // 'cause now i think that everything's about you )

EVIL - INTERPOL ( when your friends they do come crying, tell them now your pleasure's set up on slow-release // i can take you places, do you need a new man? // you need someone to take you there, sandy, why can't we look the other way? )

THE ANSWER - SAVAGES ( i saw the answer, it was a girl, will you go ask her // love is the answer // to cry about love, to wait for her, to wait for dying, i can't wait )

AT LEAST I’M KNOWN FOR SOMETHING - NEW FOUND GLORY ( i tried so hard to keep you coming back my way, but you don't know the half and i’m the one to blame // i let my front down and i know i will regret it )

> DEAD INSIDE - MUSE* ( your lips feel warm to the touch, you can bring me back to life // feel me now, hold me please, i need you to see who i am // open up to me, stop hiding from me // it's hurting babe, only you can stop the pain // now i've become just like you, my lips feel warm to the touch, my words seem so alive )

ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS - COLD WAR KIDS ( i have been waiting for you to find that all of this could be yours tonight )

BREED - NIRVANA* ( i don't mean to stare, we don't have to breed // we could plant a house, we could build a tree // i don't even care, we could have all three // she said, she said, she said )

> INNERVISION - SYSTEM OF A DOWN ( i have to find you, i have to meet you // i need to find you, i need to seek my innervision // it's never too late to reinvent the bicycle // a smile brings forth energy or life, giving your force, vision )

> SATELLITE - RISE AGAINST ( we are the orphans of the American dream, so shine your light on me // she told me that she never could face the world again, so i offered up a plan, we'll sneak out while they sleep, and sail off in the night )

> BORED TO DEATH - BLINK-182 ( there's a stranger staring at the ceiling, rescuing a tiger from a tree, the pictures in her head are always dreaming, each of them means everything to me // i think i met her at the minute that the rhythm was set down, i said i'm sorry i'm a bit of a letdown )

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE - POWERMAN 5000 ( are you ready to go? cause i'm ready to go, what you gonna do, baby? are you goin' with me? cause i'm goin' with you // now who's the light and who is the devil? you can't decide, so i'll be your guide )

> A CROSS AND A GIRL NAMED BLESSED - EVANS BLUE ( there’s a pretty girl somewhere, with a pretty name, but i could never let you know how much this means // i swear we'll end this war, cause we both know It wasn't worth fighting for // she said to me i will be driving in the wrong direction, did you ever think that maybe your life is heading in the wrong direction, baby )

Lyric Analyses & Themes

I will now begin to group together recurring themes in Rey and Kylo Ren’s playlists in order to correlate similarities and parallels. This includes well-known themes that may hint towards certain theories, such as Kylo Ren’s redemption, Reylo sharing a force bond, the balancing of the force, and the Gray Jedi becoming canon. To make parallels clearer, Rey and Kylo Ren’s supporting evidence for each theme will be paired side by side.

“THE TABOO RELATIONSHIP”

Some of the songs hint at disgruntled friends or rumours because of a relationship, and the subjects of the song continuing onwards with their relationship regardless of what anybody says or thinks. Alternatively, it also relates to the initial feeling of guilt or shame for feeling as though they are ‘taboo’ or should not be together. This theme is especially relevant to Reylo in that if they were to come together, it would surely cause friction amongst the other protagonists, and initially Rey and Kylo Ren would have likely been confused and unsure about these feelings themselves.

Rey’s Evidence:

“People keep talking, they can say what they like, but all I know is everything's going to be alright, no one can get in the way of what I feel for you [...] I know people will try, try to divide, something so real.” - No One, Alicia Keys

“It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny.” - We Found Love, Rihanna

"Trying hard not to fall [...] 'Cause when you look like that I've never ever wanted to be so bad.” - Wild, Troye Sivan

“I tried to tie my heart down, board up all the windows, oh but it's too late now, I let you get too close.” - Force of Nature, Bea Miller

“Hey, you wanna rule the world? Outlaw love, make you lose control.” - Bloodstream, Transviolet

“Anywhere out this place, I wanna run away, just U and I.” - Runaway, Galantis

Kylo Ren’s Evidence:

“When your friends they do come crying, tell them now your pleasure's set up on slow-release.” - Evil, Interpol

"I am not equipped to comprehend human rationale, sirius, is this what love is?” Dark Side of Me, Coheed and Cambria

“I let my front down and I know I will regret it.” - At Least I’m Known for Something, New Found Glory

“We'll sneak out while they sleep, and sail off in the night.” - Satellite, Rise Against

“LOVERS ON OPPOSING SIDES OF THE WAR”

That ever-present Reylo theme that constantly gets mistaken as ‘abuse’. As Rey and Kylo Ren are not in a romantic relationship currently but are instead on opposing sides of the war, this theme touches on the struggle of fighting or hurting someone (or being hurt yourself) for reasons you don’t understand or believe, but have instead been manipulated by outside forces to do so. At this current point in time they are pawns in a war they didn’t start, and I personally believe these songs hint at their growing frustration at this fact. These songs also show the struggle of fighting a war when love gets thrown in the mix to complicate things. Interestingly enough, there are a lot more love songs about fighting or conflict in Rey’s playlist, whereas there are a lot more love songs about redemption or unworthiness in Kylo Ren’s playlist (which will be discussed later). These could possibly be the two prevalent emotions from Rey and Kylo Ren towards their relationship throughout Episode 8.

Rey’s Evidence:

"I never meant to start a war, you know, I never wanna hurt you, don't even know we're fighting for. Why does love always feel like a battlefield? Baby, we don't have to fight.” - Battlefield, Jordin Sparks

“I know I should take cover, hide inside these four walls, but baby I surrender, it all [...] I can taste the danger, but I don't wanna run, so pull me to the ground and I won't put up a fight.” - Force of Nature, Bea Miller

“And I know she'll be the death of me, at least we'll both be numb. And she'll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come. All the misery was necessary when we're deep in love.” - Can’t Feel My Face, The Weeknd (unsure, this could very well be from Rey’s point of view towards another female character, or from Kylo Ren’s point of view towards Rey)

“I don't care, go on and tear me apart, [...] 'cause you're a sky a sky full of stars, I wanna die in your arms.” - A Sky Full of Stars, Coldplay

“Oh, oh, our love is running into a burning building.” - Smoke and Fire, Sabrina Carpenter

“Cruel desire, danger in our consequence. Cosmic violence, chills dripping like acid rain [...] Hold me, break me.” - Bloodstream, Transviolet

“Can't stop because I love it, hate the way I love you [...] This love will be the death of me, but I know I'll die happily.” - Come and Get It, Selena Gomez

“We found love in a hopeless place.” - We Found Love, Rihanna

“And I know that love is mean, and love hurts.” - Blue Jeans, Lana Del Rey

“Never knew loving could hurt this good, oh and it drives me wild.” - Wild, Troye Sivan

Kylo Ren’s Evidence:

“You'll never know just how hard it is for me to see you this way, it tears me up, drags me down.” - Never Giving Up, Of Mice and Men

“I swear we'll end this war, cause we both know It wasn't worth fighting for.” - A Cross and a Girl Named Blessed, Evans Blue

“Sandy, why can't we look the other way?” - Evil, Interpol

“TWO HALVES OF ONE” & “FORCE BOND”

The good ol’ red string of fate theory, based on the repeated tweets of red strings of fate, and the curious lines in the SW: TFA canon books, script, and official website, that clearly describe how Rey and Kylo Ren’s destinies are intertwined and that they both know they are connected somehow. If you haven’t already been informed of this information, you can watch it here. Basically, the Star Wars website says that a “mysterious connection links the two,” and constantly mentions this “strange connection” throughout the informational images. In addition to this, Rey and Kylo Ren are now being referred to as “two halves of our protagonist” or “dual protagonists” by the writers. This is also connected to the fact that both Rey and Kylo Ren appear to have prior knowledge - at least subconsciously - of one another before meeting in person, such as Rey’s dreams featuring Kylo Ren (though she only realizes this when she meets him) and Kylo Ren’s famous “It is you,” line. They also realize this in the script where it says: “Kylo Ren nearly touches her face... They’re both surprised: they react to a feeling that passes between them - an energy they recognize in each other.” I personally believe that this connection is their ‘force bond’: a unique link between two force users that also allows special telepathic communication of thoughts, dreams, messages, etc. While it was usually known to exist between master and apprentice, two lovers on the opposing light and dark sides of the force, Bastila and Revan (that many have pointed out have parallels with Rey and Kylo Ren), were known to have such a bond. These lyrics heavily hint at intertwining destinies, Rey and Kylo Ren being two halves of one, and the strange, irrepressible connection of what could be a force bond.

Rey’s Evidence:

“I knew that we’d become one right away. At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays, I saw the life inside your eyes.” - Diamonds, Rihanna

“I'm feeling something, something different, needed you to show me, without you I am lonely.” Omen, Disclosure.

“'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars I think I saw you.” - A Sky Full of Stars, Coldplay

“This woman is my destiny. We were victims of the night, oh we were bound to get together [...] deep in her eyes, I think I see the future, I realize this is my last chance.” - Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon (sung from a male’s voice about a forthright female, again, possibly still about Rey and another female character, or it could be from Kylo Ren’s point of view)

“You know you saw it coming, but the memories are still in my mind.” - Smoke and Fire, Sabrina Carpenter

“You fit me better than my favorite sweater.” - Blue Jeans, Lana Del Rey

“If we make it out alive, from the depths of the seas [...] compass points you anywhere closer to me. Where you are, I will be.” - Compass, Zella Day

“Into my soul you stared and bored down every fear. We built our own house with our hands over our hearts.” - Our Own House, MisterWives

“Keep coming back cause it's you I crave [...] Take me, I need you in my bloodstream.” - Bloodstream, Transviolet

Kylo Ren’s Evidence:

“I finally found her [...] You won't see it, but believe me, I need to be right where you are, 'cause now I think that everything's about you.” - Out of Time, A Day to Remember

“I saw the answer, it was a girl, will you go ask her? Love is the answer.” - The Answer, Savages

“There’s a pretty girl somewhere, with a pretty name, but I could never let you know how much this means.” - A Cross and a Girl Named Blessed, Evans Blue

“I have to find you, I have to meet you. I need to find you, I need to seek my innervision.” - Innervision, System of a Down

“The pictures in her head are always dreaming, each of them means everything to me.” - Bored to Death, Blink-182

“Don’t you worry about your bad dreams, ‘cause I’m not in them.” - Bad Dreams, Joywave

“UNWORTHINESS LEADS TO REDEMPTION”

I don’t think I need to explain this theme too much, but basically I believe these songs hint at Kylo Ren’s redemption, and how Rey plays a key part in that redemption due to Kylo Ren’s feelings of unworthiness towards her in his current ‘monstrous’ state (however, please do not assume that I think that is her only role in the dynamic). I will not go too much into the specific theme of Rey’s light and Kylo Ren’s darkness in terms of the Force, as I will discuss that and the lyrics relating to that in more detail next. This theme focuses heavily on the workings within Kylo Ren’s own mind, meaning all of the songs will be from his playlist as the best hints at his inner struggle and what causes it would be seen from his own perspective. I think these lyrics are sure evidence of Rey affecting Kylo Ren’s redemption. Kylo Ren’s redemption is also implied throughout his playlist to be ignited by his refusal to continue obeying Snoke’s wishes; but as I discuss this topic separately from Reylo, you can find it in my ‘redemption when’ tag. As mentioned previously, while a majority of Rey’s love songs center around fighting and conflict, this is the theme that a majority of Kylo Ren’s love songs center around instead.

Kylo Ren’s Evidence:

“In this cold reality I made, this selfish war machine, oh, this has become hell, how can I share this life with someone else?” - Dark Side of Me, Coheed and Cambria

“I finally found her, and when I did I just couldn't make things right. Is this really happening? Oh, god, I think I just ruined my life.” - Out of Time, A Day to Remember

“She said to me [...] did you ever think that maybe your life is heading in the wrong direction, baby?” - A Cross and a Girl Named Blessed, Evans Blue

“There's a stranger staring at the ceiling, rescuing a tiger from a tree. The pictures in her head are always dreaming, each of them means everything to me [...] I think I met her at the minute that the rhythm was set down, I said I'm sorry I'm a bit of a letdown.” - Bored to Death, Blink-182

“I am not worthy of this [...] Stay with me, don't let me go, because there's nothing left at all [...] Heaven above me, take my hand, shine until there's nothing left but you.” - Ashes of Eden, Breaking Benjamin

“Your lips feel warm to the touch, you can bring me back to life. Feel me now, hold me please, I need you to see who I am. It's hurting babe, only you can stop the pain [...] Now I've become just like you, my lips feel warm to the touch, my words seem so alive.” - Dead Inside, Muse

“LIGHT AND DARK”

The concept of both light and darkness, and some kind of ‘force’, being mentioned throughout these songs seem to link Rey and Kylo Ren together. The struggle between both the Light and the Dark and finding balance can be seen both in Rey’s playlist and Kylo Ren’s playlist, leaning towards the theory that they will both be the key to balancing out the force in each other.

Rey’s Evidence:

“My mind would rule my heart. I didn't pay attention to the light in the dark, it left me torn apart.” - Omen, Disclosure

“I’m bottling up the lightning, supernatural.” - Levels, Nick Jonas

“Shine a light through an open door.” - We Found Love, Rihanna

“ At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays.” - Diamonds, Rihanna

“ Baby I surrender, it all, 'cause you're a force of nature. Look at what you've done.” - Force of Nature, Bea Miller

Kylo Ren’s Evidence:

“Grey skies will chase the light away no longer.” - Angels Fall, Breaking Benjamin

“We are the orphans of the American dream, so shine your light on me.” - Satellite, Rise Against

“Will the light begin to pull me to its everlasting will? Heaven above me, take my hand, shine until there's nothing left but you.” - Ashes of Eden, Breaking Benjamin

“Now who's the light and who is the devil? You can't decide, so I'll be your guide.” - When Worlds Collide, Powerman 5000

“A smile brings forth energy or life, giving your force, vision.” - Innervision, System of a Down

“KYLO REN’S LOYALTY TO REY”

The last little theme I’d like to point out. Though it is another theme that is only prevalent in Kylo Ren’s love songs, it is a theme that is especially important given how it showcases something Rey needs: somebody to stick by her against the loneliness. Somebody who understands her, and who won’t abandon her. These love songs in Kylo Ren’s playlist display his undeniably persistent nature of never giving up on the subject of his love songs. Whether or not Reylo will be canonically reciprocated, I think it is quite obvious that Kylo Ren, at the very least, is very attached to, and loyal to Rey (or will be). The Star Wars informational pictures also suggest this switch of loyalty from Snoke to Rey, as do many of the other songs in Kylo Ren’s playlist that talk of Kylo Ren being sick of somebody’s lies and torture, and rebelling against them (as mentioned before, this is discussed more in my ‘redemption when’ tag linked previously). Anyway, here are the lyrics in Kylo Ren’s playlist that give evidence to this:

“When angels fall with broken wings, I can't give up, I can't give in. When all is lost and daylight ends, I'll carry you and we will live forever, for ever.” - Angels Fall, Breaking Benjamin (nudge: bridal carry)

“Even though I know you want me to, I'm never giving up on you.” - Never Giving Up, Of Mice and Men

“Don't think you've got to go in alone here.” - Out of Time, A Day to Remember

“To cry about love, to wait for her, to wait for dying.” - The Answer, Savages

“I can take you places, do you need a new man?” - Evil, Interpol

“I have been waiting for you to find that all of this could be yours tonight.” - All This Could Be Yours, Cold War Kids

“Are you ready to go? 'Cause I'm ready to go. What you gonna do, baby? Are you goin' with me? ‘Cause I'm goin' with you.” - When Worlds Collide, Powerman 5000

“GRAY JEDI”

As a last hurrah to the end of all these analyses of playlists I’ve listened to for hours on end, here is one of my favourite tidbits of lyrics that I find veeeeery interesting:

“It's never too late to reinvent the bicycle.” - Innervision, System of a Down

In a song that already mentions things like “force” and “innervisions” and seeking someone in particular for these things, this one line strikes me as being very much like Daenery Targaryen’s famous “I’m going to break the wheel” line. My interpretation of this line, in this song, is that it could perhaps refer to Kylo Ren seeking out Rey due to his ‘innervision’ and then both of them ‘reinventing the bicycle’ so to say: reinventing the past orders of Jedi and Sith into a balance of what we know as the Gray Jedi. Of course, this is only one small line in altogether over a hundred songs between the playlists, so it could very well just be something coincidental. I just found it to be a very interesting point I could end my analyses on. If anybody even actually read this far, I tip my hat to you because honestly I just wanted to write my thoughts down in a coherent manner so that I could solidify them for myself - but perhaps someone else might find this information as interesting as I have!

#kylo ren #reylo #ben solo #reylo meta

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