This may have been discussed before I joined the forum, but what are Palpatine’s motivations in this edit? That was one of the muddiest parts of the movie was that he wanted Rey dead, but he really didn’t because he told her his plan was always for Kylo to bring her to Exegol.
I always thought that was pretty straightforward. I have a lot of problems with this movie, but I don’t really think Palpatine’s motivations were one of them.
Palpatine initially intended to have Kylo kill Rey and become his new host body. This remains his plan up until Leia reaches out through the force and Rey heals Kylo, resulting in Ben returning to the light.
PALPATINE: The Princess of Alderaan has disrupted my plan… but her foolish act will be in vain. Come to me on Exegol, General Pryde.
Send a ship to a world they know. Let it burn. The Final Order begins. She will come, her friends will follow.
At this point, his plan changes, because Kylo is no longer a viable option, but Rey, who is clearly struggling with the darkness within her, IS.
This remains his plan up until the final confrontation, at which point Rey rejects his influence, and so he settles on simply draining Ben and Rey of their life-force. In doing so, he discovers the true strength of their connection, the Dyad, and realizes he can use the strength inherent in the bond to restore the withered clone husk body he’s inhabiting. Because his body has been restored, he no longer needs Rey or Ben.