- This episode of Nerdist News
is sponsored by CW's "Batwoman."
J.J. Abrams confirms a Star Wars fan theory
for "The Rise of Skywalker."
When Kylo Ren destroyed his helmet in a fit of anger
in 2017's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
it meant a lot for his development as a character.
It showed his determination to let the past die.
It was him, coming into his own, ahead of him
taking up the mantle of Supreme Leader of the First Order.
It showed his anger with living in the shadow
of Darth Vader, Snoke and even his father.
And it even gave some fans a glimmer of hope
that Ben Solo might even see the error in his ways.
Plus, after fans complained that "The Force Awakens"
was just a rehash of "A New Hope",
right down to a helmet wearing baddie,
having Kylo Ren choose to destroy his helmet felt
like the sequel trilogy stepping into a new direction.
Then after JJ Abrams, director of "The Force Awakens,"
was brought back to direct episode nine,
"The Rise of Skywalker", rumors swirled that Kylo Ren
would have his helmet back in the conclusion
to the Skywalker Saga leaving fans scratching their heads.
Okay, that might be an understatement.
Fans were upset!
What happened to all of Kylo Ren's character development?
Without any other information
it seemed like the sequel trilogy was once again
doomed to just copy the original trilogy.
But, when fans got a glimpse of the helmet
in the "Rise of Skywalker" teaser
and in promotional images and magazine covers
fans had to admit, it looked pretty cool.
In fact, in the teaser there's even a glimpse
of alien hands fixing it but leaving the scars
of its destruction behind with red fracture lines.
And, thanks to a popular fan theory
that came to prominence from Star Wars buffs
like the Skytalkers podcasts, Caitlin Plesher,
way back in April it appeared that there might be
even more going on with this cracked helmet
than anyone could imagine.
That theory involves the concept of Kintsugi.
A Japanese form of craftsmanship and art
that repairs broken pottery by essentially gluing
the shards together with gold.
It not only allows a broken thing to be repaired
but creates art and beauty
out of the destruction and subsequent repair.
And that's how some fans viewed this reforged helmet.
It wasn't erasing character development.
It was highlighting Kylo Ren's shattered nature.
His conflict between darkness and light
that he felt in "The Force Awakens"
and was furthered in "The Last Jedi"
with the force bond he shares with Ray.
However, as exciting as this fan theory was,
ultimately it was just that, a fan theory.
Fun to think about, but would never be commented
on by the filmmakers, right?
(soft music) - Maybe.
- Wrong!
In a new interview in Empire Magazine, out on Thursday,
JJ Abrams has not only weighed in
but has confirmed this fan theory
and what it means for Kylo Ren's character arc.
He told Empire, "Having Kylo Ren be masked
"but also fractured is a very intentional thing.
"Like that classic Japanese process of taking ceramics
"and repairing them and how the breaks in a way
"define the beauty of the piece
"as much as the original itself.
"As fractured as Ren is the mask becomes
"a visual representation of that.
"There's something about this that tells his history.
"His mask doesn't ultimately hide him
"and his behavior is revealed."
Holy hell, it's true?
- It's all true.
- How much of Raylo Twitter is JJ mining for story beats?
- All of it. - In all seriousness,
beyond that question this of course
leads to some even bigger questions.
How will Kylo Ren move forward from his fractured psyche?
Will Kylo talk to his space therapist and maybe move on
from some of his issues or is he doomed to fall back
into the same destructive patterns over and over again?
For now JJ has yet to open up about this.
Maybe because whether Ben Solo gets redeemed
is one of the biggest spoilers of the sequel trilogy,
we suppose he's gonna want to keep that answer under wraps
until "Star Wars Episode 9 The Rise of Skywalker"
comes to theaters in December.
But what do you folks think?
Did you subscribe to the Kintsugi Theory
about Kylo Ren's helmet?
Do you think that Kylo Ren
should be redeemed in episode nine?
And what other "Star Wars" fan theory
would you like confirmed?
Maybe that Luke actually died
from drinking unpasteurized milk?
Let's discuss.
Thanks again to CW's "Batwoman"
for sponsoring today's episode.
Three years after the disappearance of Bruce Wayne
Gotham City has a new protector, Batwoman.
However, in order to become the city's symbol of hope
Kate Kane must first overcome her own demons.
Her time, is now.
Catch the new series, "Batwoman," only on the CW.
Sundays at 8/7 Central or next day on the free CW app.
(soft techno music)