The Day I Became a Reylo Fan

(Alternative movie poster by Bella Grace.)

On December 14th, 2017 The Last Jedi was released in theaters. I was excited as ever to see The Force Awakens story continued and although it didn't end up on my list of favorite Star Wars movies there was still a lot that I enjoyed about the film. Prior to seeing the second installment I often went back and forth with the idea of Kylo Ren and Rey being "shipped" (two individuals being romantically involved). I recognized that there was something special going on between these two but that it wasn't necessarily romantic and I guess I was hesitant to go along with it in that way in fear that they might be related. Honestly, a part of me still thinks that maybe this could still be the case though it seems that Rey's character has been set up to have been a lone individual who had no ties to anyone we know in the galaxy far, far away. So with my hesitancy I put the idea of Reylo to the side.

However, The Last Jedi could not have made me fall harder than I did. I found myself extremely surprised by how the story brought these two characters together through their mysterious Force bond. I distinctly remember my first reaction to the unfamiliar force connection, I looked at my husband and my friend Savanna of The Dorky Diva and exclaimed as quietly as possible "WHAT!?". I had no idea what was going on but once that first scene ended I was extremely intrigued and still couldn't believe it. Throughout the film I began to see just how similar their life circumstances were. Feeling alone and frustrated with your mentor is enough to make anyone feel vulnerable, even for someone like Kylo Ren. We also see that neither of them have reached their full potential as Force users due to uncompleted training. They know they're capable of more and have a deep need for it. They want to make change. They yearn to be wanted. They connect over these issues they're facing and are able to understand one another in a unique way they never imagined was possible.

(Photo via StarWarsScreenCaps.com.)

I knew I was a Reylo fan during the Force bond fire scene. In a moment of despair Rey reaches out to Kylo with her hand and he meets hers after removing his glove. They express that they are there for one another right before their fingers touch. It's one of the most interesting and remarkable scenes in all of Star Wars and it obviously left a huge impact on me. During this moment each of them had visions of the other joining them in their endeavors. I honestly believe that, for a moment, they both thought their visions actually played out. After Ben kills Snoke Rey assumes that Ben made his choice. He chose her! On the other hand, Kylo assumes that because Rey stood by his side to fight off the Praetorian Guards (can we take a second to appreciate the awesomeness of this scene? What a team they make!) that she would join him. The feeling of being let down is written all over their faces when they realize what they had hoped for in one another was not what it seemed. Did they believe Snoke had actually deceived them by bridging them together? I don't think so. Snoke may have had some part in it but I believe they both knew deep within themselves that their connection through the Force and everything they communicated with each other could not have all been Snoke's doing. I think their last scene together in the film backs my theory up too. Kylo and Rey are more startled than they had been from their previous force connections. But not startled in a way that they didn't think it wouldn't happen again because of what Snoke proclaimed. Their previous encounter ended with both of them making a stand on which side they were on and because of that I think they may have thought the Force would no longer bring them together. But the Force was clearly still at work. Nothing is said as Kylo stares up at Rey with what seems like regret in his eyes. Rey looks down at him frustrated but sad and cuts the force connection off by closing the door to the Falcon.

I'm sure (or should I say hopeful?) that in Episode IX we will see more of these Force interactions with them. I'm wildly curious to see where their paths will take their relationship whether it be closer or further apart. Regardless if there is any romantic involvement or not I still believe they have something special and that they were brought into each other's lives for a reason. There's a famous poem by an anonymous writer that says "People come into your life for a season, a reason or a lifetime." I personally think there is always a reason people come into our lives even if it was just for a short time. I hope in this final film of the new trilogy that we will know exactly why they were brought together. Because right now I go back and forth with wondering if they're the new balance to the force on top of who will turn and who won't or if they'll just stay where they're at, if either of them will die and I actually can't handle it. Yes, I have a lot of thoughts.

If you're interested in reading more about my thoughts on Reylo, you can read about my favorite scene from
The Last Jedi here.

What is your opinion on Reylo? If you ship them, do you remember the moment you realized you were a fan? I would also love to hear from those of you who can relate to liking them as a pair but not romantically. Share with me your thoughts in a comment below!