Adam Driver’s take on Kylo Ren challenges the frequent redemption arcs in “Star Wars,” arguing that not every villain needs redemption to be compelling. This perspective highlights a larger issue within the franchise, where redemption arcs have become predictable and may detract from the development of truly formidable villains.
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18 Replies to “Adam Driver’s take on Kylo Ren challenges the frequent redemption arcs in “Star Wars,” arguing that not every villain needs redemption to be compelling. This perspective highlights a larger issue within the franchise, where redemption arcs have become predictable and may detract from the development of truly formidable villains.”
I agree. I was really hoping after he killed his master in TLJ that he would become the most evil Sith we’d ever seen and would stay that way. We’ve seen the redemption story enough.
His tantrums took away from the character. It would be one thing if he became unhinged and killed people; similar to Vader force choking people that displeased him, but he came across as incompetent. His getting upset and essentially throwing a hissyfit made his character laughable to me.
Agreed. Tired of this in SW, I love the trope, but it’s literally every SW story now. Tales of the Empire! Except every tale is “empire bad, redeem baddie into goodie.” Yawn!
Short answer, he doesn’t. But, people like a redemption story, and that’s ok too. Redemption or tragedy in movie is dependent on the timing of things and what the intent of the story telling is. In the Star Wars saga there is plenty of tragedy too.
The redemption was handled well, albeit a little tritely, by repeating the lines from TFA with “memory” Han. Sacrificing Ben like Anakin was a poor choice. Ugh, so much missed opportunity with that “trilogy.”
Am I the only person who was kinda hoping Kylo and Ren could have got together? Since Palpatine et al were really, REALLY dead this time, maybe Kylo and Rey could have had a normal life? …Anybody?
…anybody???
He’s not wrong, it’s the Hollywood character arc to ‘appease’ as many $$(ppl) as possible, I would love to see an Old Republic series about Darth Nihilus, Malak, Bane, etc. along with Theron and Revan. Driver is a great actor and the character was solid, as almost always when it comes to these things, it comes down to the writing. Studies have shown that in storytelling, films, books, etc over centuries that when an antagonist “wins” the audience is felt “empty”, – Imagine if Avenges story ended with Thanos snapping away half the population, I think that would have been a great time to end the shows personally, but Hollywood and societal storytelling want that redemption in the “Hero’s Journey” one way or another, either from the protagonist or antagonist or both. One thing I will say they did well was giving the antagonist as much attention and power as the protagonist, as to see from their pov as well.
He’s right. His character can die a sad waste of a man, but what a sad waste to think that this is what the Disney SW franchise thinks what would become of the son of 2 of the legendary, beloved Big 3. This should never have been their take on Lucas’s Star Wars. Lucas described SW as a fairy tale and his vision of the ST (which can be found online) is nothing like DSW’s. But I still agree with Driver on this point.
https://screenrant.com/star-wars-kylo-ren-redemption-overdone/
What needs to be redeemed is hiring Adam Driver to act as the character. How Adam keeps getting acting jobs is beyond me. Worst. Actor. Ever.
I was *really* hoping they’d make him the “big bad” of the final movie. But, somehow, Palpatine returned.
I agree. I was really hoping after he killed his master in TLJ that he would become the most evil Sith we’d ever seen and would stay that way. We’ve seen the redemption story enough.
His tantrums took away from the character. It would be one thing if he became unhinged and killed people; similar to Vader force choking people that displeased him, but he came across as incompetent. His getting upset and essentially throwing a hissyfit made his character laughable to me.
His redemption was also stupid though
Meh
Yeah. Scoke wasn’t redeemed …
He’s not wrong
Agreed. Tired of this in SW, I love the trope, but it’s literally every SW story now. Tales of the Empire! Except every tale is “empire bad, redeem baddie into goodie.” Yawn!
Short answer, he doesn’t. But, people like a redemption story, and that’s ok too. Redemption or tragedy in movie is dependent on the timing of things and what the intent of the story telling is. In the Star Wars saga there is plenty of tragedy too.
Poor writing wat the first cause
The redemption was handled well, albeit a little tritely, by repeating the lines from TFA with “memory” Han. Sacrificing Ben like Anakin was a poor choice. Ugh, so much missed opportunity with that “trilogy.”
Am I the only person who was kinda hoping Kylo and Ren could have got together? Since Palpatine et al were really, REALLY dead this time, maybe Kylo and Rey could have had a normal life? …Anybody?
…anybody???
There was another star wars trilogy?
He’s not wrong, it’s the Hollywood character arc to ‘appease’ as many $$(ppl) as possible, I would love to see an Old Republic series about Darth Nihilus, Malak, Bane, etc. along with Theron and Revan. Driver is a great actor and the character was solid, as almost always when it comes to these things, it comes down to the writing. Studies have shown that in storytelling, films, books, etc over centuries that when an antagonist “wins” the audience is felt “empty”, – Imagine if Avenges story ended with Thanos snapping away half the population, I think that would have been a great time to end the shows personally, but Hollywood and societal storytelling want that redemption in the “Hero’s Journey” one way or another, either from the protagonist or antagonist or both. One thing I will say they did well was giving the antagonist as much attention and power as the protagonist, as to see from their pov as well.
He’s right. His character can die a sad waste of a man, but what a sad waste to think that this is what the Disney SW franchise thinks what would become of the son of 2 of the legendary, beloved Big 3. This should never have been their take on Lucas’s Star Wars. Lucas described SW as a fairy tale and his vision of the ST (which can be found online) is nothing like DSW’s. But I still agree with Driver on this point.
Please they basically took the EU Jacen Solo aka Darth Cadeus vs Jaina Solo storyline and brought it back and changed the names
Hans Gruber was very compelling.