The Force Awakens: Official Review Thread - ** SPOILERS ** — Page 126

I was a Phantom Menace Obi-Wan in 1999 or 2000. It was a pretty sweet costume. My mom made it for me and I found a fake braid and everything.

I used to have a Vader mask, and the rest of my costume was a black Houston Astros t-shirt (inside out, of course), black pants, and a green lightsaber (because I already had it and my parents wouldn’t buy me another one just for the colors to be right).

The closest thing I ever was to a Jedi was a Jew wearing a bedsheet (and Heelys) waving a palm branch and pretending to worshipp an actor portraying Jesus in a church play in '03ish.

I want you all to know I had to fight through 5 pages of whatever that was just to ask this question:

What is Kylo Ren’s first and last birth name?

TV’s Frink said:

Is this a joke or a legitimate question?

Was it already discussed? Do they say what his last name is in the film?

TV’s Frink said:

Ben Solo…?

Have I just taken that for granted and “Solo” was never actually used in the film? Now I can’t remember.

That’s what I’m asking. I always just assumed it was Ben Solo but I don’t remember if it says in the film. I don’t remember if they say that Han and Leia get married. So is it Ben Solo, Ben Organa or Ben Skywalker (since that’s his mother’s true family name).

Hmmm…have we all just incorrectly made this assumption? Is there some piece of official material that says ‘Ben Solo’ on it?

I’m reading Bloodline, which says his full name is Ben Solo.

Well, that makes it official. Do Han and Leia get married in Bloodlines? Ben would be the only heir to the Organa royal family (if Leia is still recognized) so I would have thought unless they were married, he would have taken his mother’s (or grandfather’s) family name.

They establish that they are married.

Anchorhead said:

Lord Haseo said:

Anchorhead said:

Ren isn’t interesting

This is a complaint I haven’t heard very often. May I ask why you feel this way?

Sorry for the late answer, just saw this. I don’t find him interesting because he’s just a Vader copy. Deep voice, all black outfit/uniform/whatever, identity hidden behind an ominous helmet, red light saber. Plus, in the spirit of Lucas, he’s a family member. More universe shrinking.

The in-story explanation helps a bit, but he’s still one-dimensional. I should point out that I’ve never found Vader to be very interesting. Not in his original 77 form, not in his rewritten-as-father form a few years later. For me, having Ren as another family member didn’t add to interest.

That’s also why I’m really hoping our new lead is Rey Random, not Rey Solo, Rey, Skywalker, or Rey Kenobi. that said; Rogue One has helped tremendously with my not caring near as much about Rey’s lineage as last year. I have the Star Wars sequel I’ve always wanted. If VIII isn’t what I hope, no huge loss.

But, and forgive me for bringing it up again, isn’t it kind of neat that he’s a Vader wannabe? He really isn’t Vader at all, but he idolizes Vader like a teenager and a band’s lead singer. In reality he’s not like Vader at all, just wishes he was: unlike Luke, he doesn’t see the man under the mask, just the mask and the persona Anakin took on after his fall.

I think that (not to mention Ben’s obvious lack of conviction) makes him one of the most interesting characters in TFA, and certainly one of the deeper villains in Star Wars thus far. Is he really evil? I’m not so sure.

Hardcore Legend said:

Well, that makes it official. Do Han and Leia get married in Bloodlines? Ben would be the only heir to the Organa royal family (if Leia is still recognized) so I would have thought unless they were married, he would have taken his mother’s (or grandfather’s) family name.

Kids almost always take the dad’s last name if the parents aren’t married.

Lord Haseo said:

Well I find the fact the conflict he has interesting as he is willing himself to be evil and I find his immaturity and his uncertainty to be somewhat endearing. I feel the same way about Luke’s whining and Rey’s naivety as it makes them relatable and makes me want to see them progress. I want there to be a day where we joke about how a baby Kylo used to destroy machines when he was mad.

Interesting to imagine that Luke and Anakin found their peace growing up in tinkering and constructing and perhaps little Ben was always more destructive.