I understand why some people wanted Kylo to be redeemed in the first act, but in my opinion it wouldn’t really work. Redemption in Star Wars has always been more of a spiritual affair. Watching Kylo act all chummy with the new trio would be really jarring for me, considering all the horrible things Kylo did. In my opinion the only endings that would work for Kylo are either becoming an exiled renegade fighting for justice, or dying in a heroic sacrifice. Trevorrow choosing to go with the latter is completely fine in my book.
I get that, and I think Colin’s direction is valid, but I don’t think it is necessarily the only way it could’ve worked. In this scenario I don’t really picture them being chummy at all at the beginning. Finn and Poe would obviously hate him, and Ben/Kylo wouldn’t like them in return. But it would be interesting to watch them find common ground and work together, and then in the end make amends.
And think about it, some of the best character interactions are when are main characters are fighting with each other, think of Han, Luke and Leia escaping the Death Star. I could definitely see those kind of interactions between them and that type of film. It could’ve been really fun and different from what we’ve gotten before!
I just think the tension between the gang that Ben’s inclusion would’ve created could’ve put the audience on the edge of their seats, not knowing what to expect. It would’ve been new territory.