Kylo Ren and Rey have shared a special connection since they first met and dueled in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The most recent trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which debuted tonight during Monday Night Football, expanded on that connection, teasing what’s to come for their characters.
[Warning: The following includes slight spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.]
The trailer opens up with Supreme Leader Snoke talking about the gifted person he came across years ago, full of potential and “something truly special.” While he’s talking, the camera is focused on Kylo Ren, but by the time he enunciates the words “something truly special,” the focus is on Rey holding the lightsaber.
While this doesn’t necessarily imply that Snoke is talking to Rey, it does kickstart the theme to the trailer: Kylo Ren and Rey share a special bond. They’re both uniquely talented, capable of power that others can only dream of. We’ve seen Kylo Ren use his abilities in The Force Awakens, but The Last Jedi trailer puts the focus on the immense power Rey can wield.
While on Ahch-To, Rey appears to be training with Luke Skywalker. He’s astounded by her abilities and alludes to a former person he knew with similar talents; it terrifies him.
“I’ve seen this raw strength only once before,” Skywalker says. “It didn’t scare me enough then. It does now.”
The trailer then cuts back to Kylo Ren, teasing out that connection once more. It’s not until a little further in the trailer that we see Snoke (presumably) wreaking havoc on Rey’s body, inflicting a constricting pain on her while her body is seized in mid-air. Snoke can be heard saying, “fulfill your destiny,” and like the opening scene, it’s unclear who he’s speaking to.
It’s the transition to the end of the trailer, however, that proves to be the biggest tease of all. Rey can be heard saying offscreen “I need someone to show me my place in all this,” before the camera focuses on her face before switching to Kylo Ren’s, his hand outstretched.
We should make it clear that we don’t think Rey is talking to Kylo Ren, nor is she going to take his hand, but the constant theme for the trailer was this unshakeable connection the two have. The comparison is very real and apt, but we don’t know what that means for their characters. In February, the entries for Kylo Ren and Rey were updated in the official Star Wars database to reflect the special connection the two have. The wording specifically called out a “mysterious connection” and a “strange connection.” The use of the word strange seems to imply that obious conclusions — like them being siblings — isn’t the case, but we’re left in the dark about what the connection can be. Our best guess? It’s their relationship to the Force and what that means for the Jedi and Sith going forward.
We know that both Kylo Ren and Rey are going to learn about themselves in The Last Jedi, and as they learn more about their abilities, their paths will surely cross once more. What we can safely assume is that there will be a great fiery battle that involves Kylo Ren — we just don’t know who is on the other side of the fight.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released on Dec. 15. Tickets are on sale now.
