Yes, I ship THAT couple from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

I’m not here to rattle anyone’s cage, but two characters in Star Wars: The Last Jedi are meant to be together, romantically … oh, and I’m all for it. Allow me to rest my case.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If you haven’t watched either, what are you doing here!? Please watch, then return to the next sentence.

No matter the film or television series, I almost always end up shipping someone with someone, so it was no surprise that I came out of viewing Star Wars: The Last Jedi with a new ship. The couple I found myself rooting for, however, was one I probably shouldn’t be rooting for.

Who is this couple I speak of? Hint: It’s not Rey and Finn. Nope. It’s not Rey and Poe, either, though I wouldn’t mind them as opposed to the former. It’s Rey and Kylo Ren — or as I prefer to call him, Ben Solo. It’s more human.

Now, before you start @ing me on Twitter, hear me out. When I first viewed The Force Awakens, I, too, initially thought they could be related — I thought the film spelt out that she was Luke’s daughter. Post-viewing, however, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and decided to go back for a second look. I wasn’t convinced that their newfound, um … enemy-ship … was merely cut and dried. Also, them being related would have been too obvious. They’re trying to be different from the original trilogy, anyway, I would think.

Let’s look back at the scene in The Force Awakens, where Ben physically restrains her and whispers commands. Yes, yes, I can hear it already: “You just described abuse. Why do you ship them?” Hold on, give me a chance here. Think back to how he looked at her (or view it here); there was a soft look to Ben’s eyes as he looks upon his countenance. There was even an impassioned gentleness in his tone. Rey was Ben’s enemy, and yet, he didn’t look at her with disgust. Ben could have killed Rey, but he didn’t. The same goes for Rey, during their lightsaber duel. She could have ended his life. She had the power. She was in control. Why, then, did she not do so?

Albeit weak and wavering, I believe The Force Awakens was laying the foundation for their future relationship. I mean, what’s better than the light side and the dark side coming together as one Force? In The Last Jedi, we have just that — well, for a few minutes, at least — but I’m getting ahead of myself.

They were as bewildered as I when they first started experiencing thought transference with each other, but the more it happened, the more they relished. They were comfortable. They wanted more. Sure, it was all Snoke’s doing, bridging their thoughts and even going so far as seeing and touching one another — but he didn’t control their every move, every feeling. Ultimately, their identification as enemies are pushed aside, and something else takes its place: chemistry, and romance; and lo and behold, I’m hooked. The Last Jedi had sealed Reylo for me.

I clearly disagree with those who believe that they weren’t meant to be romantic. That line where Ben tells Rey that her parents were no one special at all (they were drunk gamblers that sold her to orphan care on Jakku) but she was special to him … OH, MY GOD. Additionally, I believe that Ben was telling the truth about her parentage. This isn’t Game of Thrones (though I do ship Daenerys with Jon Snow … but that’s not the point). Disney wouldn’t let us ship an incestuous relationship, I would think. Yes, there was Luke and Leia … but in case you didn’t know, Star Wars wasn’t always owned by Disney. There was also that scene where he was shirtless and oiled up — he was making her flustered, and it really took so little effort. I desperately wanted Rey to take Ben’s hand so that they could create a new world order together. Gray could have been the new black for the Star Wars ‘verse. (It still can be. *cough* Episode IX. *cough*)

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Even if we’re not supposed to infer romance between Rey and Ben Solo, it’s too late. I’m too into it now. I’ll be shipping them into Episode IX. There’s light fighting its way out of Ben, and like Rey, I can’t just let that go. They’re the new generation’s Anakin and Padmé — a sexier version, too, no doubt — minus the tragedy … and the lack of chemistry between Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman. #KyloRey is endgame, and may the Force be with them. Always.

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