There were more than a few plot points in the Star Wars sequel trilogy that didn’t make the most sense, but one that wasn’t resolved and felt forced was Kylo Ren’s obsession with his grandfather, Darth Vader. While many things about Kylo Ren didn’t quite add up, his obsession with his grandfather was one of the most puzzling. It took away from the main plot of the movies just to bring back Vader in some way.
Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Kylo Ren Sith lords. However, one of the main issues with that is why would Kylo Ren have a shrine to his grandfather who was both a Sith and a Jedi if he was neither. It’s an odd plot point that felt like it was trying to do fan service by having a call back to a character from the original Star Wars trilogy.
Kylo Ren Didn't Need A Darth Vader Obsession
Kylo Ren’s obsession with Darth Vader was unnecessary to his character growth. It’s seen in the trilogy all the ways Kylo was manipulated by both his uncle Luke Skywalker, and by Supreme Leader Snoke. All of that hostility and trauma he held for his two masters is more than enough to push Kylo Ren towards the dark side, he didn’t need his grandfather to help him make that transition.
Having Kylo Ren’s character development based on his grandfather takes away from Kylo’s overall growth throughout the trilogy. He realizes that he doesn’t need Snoke to be a leader, and he doesn’t need to be defined by his uncle or parents. He’s able to come back to the light side by his connection with Rey, not because his grandfather also did it. It seems like Darth Vader’s burnt helmet was just simply there and that he in no way guided his grandson.
Kylo's Darth Vader Obsession Never Made Sense
One of the things that don't add up about Kylo Ren’s obsession with Darth Vader, is that Vader eventually came back to the light side of the force. That major plot point from the original trilogy was ignored throughout the sequel trilogy. Kylo Ren ignoring this very important detail may also indicate that he doesn’t know the full story of his grandfather. It would make sense how certain figures in Star Wars history would be ed differently than how they actually were. This was seen with Rey thinking that Han Solo was a hero when in reality he was at best a reluctant hero in the fight against the Empire.
When looking at Kylo Ren’s character arc, very little would have changed if the storyline about his obsession with his grandfather would’ve been removed. It’s clear that this obsession truly has nothing to do with Kylo or his character, but more about having a callback to the original Star Wars trilogy. In no way did Kylo Ren need the assistance or inspiration of his grandfather to be a fully realized character. In fact, Kylo Ren’s character in the Star Wars sequel trilogy would’ve benefited from no connection to Darth Vader.
