The kiss between Rey and Ben Solo was not romantic according toThe Rise of Skywalkernovelization. The final installment in the Skywalker Saga was a mixed bag, to say the least. J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio decided to introduce more new characters while trying to wrap up the trilogy at the same time. As a result, a lot of things were left unexplained, which ledStar Warsfans to seek out information from other sources, including this new novel.
The Rise of SkywalkerhasKylo Ren returning to his family name, which was rumored from the start. In doing so, it left the door wide open for Ben and Rey to possibly join together romantically. SomeStar Warsfans wanted this to happen, while the majority did not want it to happen at all. As it turns out, the kiss they shared was not a romantic one. Instead, it was for gratitude. You can read an excerpt from the book below.
“His heart was full as Rey reached for his face, let her fingers linger against his cheek. And then, wonder of wonders, she leaned forward and kissed him. A kiss of gratitude, acknowledgement of their connection, celebration that they’d found each other at last. But then she drew back, concern on her face. She could feel him growing cold. Ben smiled at her. He had given Rey back to the galaxy. It wouldn’t atone for the darkness he’d wrought, but it was what he could do.”
Ben Solo and Rey definitely had a connection in the sequel trilogy, butit was not a romantic one, at least according toThe Rise of Skywalkernovelization. Who knows what will come out of all of this in the future, but for now, it was a kiss of gratitude. Ben sacrificed his life to save Rey while trying to bring peace to the galaxy. It’s perfectly okay to say “thank you” with a kiss in theStar Warsuniverse.
Regardless if thekiss between Rey and Ben Solowas romantic or not, it caused an uproar amongst fans afterThe Rise of Skywalkerhit theaters. It was just one of the many issues that people found to be divisive within the movie. Rey being Emperor Palpatine’s granddaughter was another issue, along with Palpatine’s entire existence. It has since been revealed that the villain was a clone.
Star Warsmovies are supposed to be fun, butThe Rise of Skywalkermay have left out too many details. Thankfully, fans looking for closure and a proper explanation can dive into the Visual Dictionary and the novelization. As for fans who were satisfied with the movie, they now have some extra information to impress their friends with at parties. You can head over to the officialStar Wars websiteto order your own version of the novel.
