How Snoke Seduced Kylo.

This is Spoiler/Speculation, but obviously the biggest spoiler and only spoiler I am writing is Ben Solo.

My beginning thoughts...

Snoke is Darth Plagueis, just as Palpatine was Darth Sidious. It is simply his sith name, that he may or may not claim any more. But obviously, he is currently going by Supreme Leader Snoke. I believe Snoke has been involved in the Skywalker legacy, pulling strings for a while, very aware of their history. When Palpatine, his unaware puppet, bites the dust, he begins to resurface and formulate a new plan, as the 2nd tier puppet, Vader, bites the dust a few minutes later. Snoke loves to pull strings and sway the thoughts of others, just like his former apprentice Palpatine.

The Seduction of Ben Solo

Enter Ben Solo. Ben is living about the life you would expect. He is the son of Leia and Han. He realizes at an early age that he has special abilities. For the most part, these powers are not too worrisome. Han and Leia become aware of Luke starting up a Jedi Academy for force sensitives. However, they don't want their son to leave just yet, and Ben Solo is kept from this information for a while. In the meantime, Snoke begins to influence the dreams of Ben Solo; speaking to him in whispers, influencing him to believe he is very special, powerful, and that he and his power is all that matters, and that his parents are holding him back. Snoke begins appearing to Ben, giving him watered down force advice and he even tells him that his grandfather is the most powerful force user to ever have lived, in Vader. Ben finds the information odd and questions it, because his parents haven't told him that was true. Ben asks about his grand father and his parents feel odd about it and end up not telling Ben about his grandfathers true identity. Ben Solo, initially fights off hating his family for "holding him" back from developing his abilities and from truths about his heritage. Han Solo is especially passionate about Ben not knowing who his grandfather is, or having him fall too in love with the force just yet. By this time, Snoke has also told Ben that his parents are keeping him from training with his uncle Luke Skywalker, one of the greatest force users, influencing Ben to further believe his parents don't think he is ready to train with Luke, isn't powerful enough, or they simply don't want him to learn more about this force that he is so eager to explore. Well there comes a reckoning, after so much of this back and forth between Ben and his parents and Snoke influence still growing, Ben finally confronts his parents. He starts off lightly and softly declares he knows Luke is starting a Jedi academy and that they are keeping him from exploring the force with his uncle, which would obviously be a dream come true for Ben. Han and Leia back track, look flustered, say their excuses but Ben is already displeased with this secret. Then Ben outright says he knows Darth Vader is his grand father and that he is upset they didn't tell him . His parents are flustered, "who told you this?" By this time Ben doesn't even know Snokes name, simply that someone comes to him in his "dreams and in visions". Ben has come to the decision that his parents are weak and afraid of the force, especially Han who he begins to despise for being foolish and holding him back from learning about the force. Han and Leia call on Luke. Luke explains he is not the one doing it, but he senses it is a dark presence. Han and Leia are scared and feel like this is out of their control and trustingly send Ben to be with Luke at his academy. This initially pleases Ben, and his visions and dreams from Snoke slow. However, Ben is not all that thrilled with his learning curve and the pace of Lukes Jedi Academy. Luke teaches very slowly and won't give Ben many answers about the force for the questions that he has, and Luke simply can't answer some questions at all, especially ones verging on the dark side of the force. The visions and dreams become more vivid and Snoke begins to compete with Lukes teachings. Snoke coddles and sucks up to Ben, giving him as much knowledge as he can handle, while telling Ben how amazing he is. Luke, however, tells Ben that he loves his nephew, but that he must treat Ben equal to his other students and that he can't simply make Ben his obvious favorite out of the bunch. Ben begins to question if Luke can make him as strong as Snoke can. By this time, Snoke has become a friendly and not intimidating friend, yet almost like a spirit, that Ben communes with. Luke senses Snoke more and more, and eventually confronts Ben while he is communing with Snoke. Luke appears more cruel in that moment, to Ben, and Snoke appears more caring for Ben, for whatever reason; Luke handles this moment poorly and somehow learns Snokes name- probably from an angry remark from Ben. Luke forbids Ben to commune with Snoke and tells him that Snoke is evil, yet Luke appears weak because he doesn't actually know how to explain Snoke, while Snoke appears to be much more knowledgeable and wise than Luke about everything. Ben is very conflicted, having moments of admiration for his uncle, that is thwarted by his moments of disdain for his non-preferential treatment. After so long of Luke not giving Ben the attention and teaching he believes he deserves, Ben returns to communing with Snoke. Luke has made Han and Leia aware of Snoke and that he is doing everything he can to get Ben on the right track. Luke begins to fear Ben is a lot like Anakin, he even communes with his fathers force ghost along with Obi Wan, Yoda, and/or Qui Gon Jin. They all agree Ben is very similar to Anakin. Luke has a final desperate attempt to sway Ben towards the light. Luke brings Ben down to what he thinks is finally his crowning moment, maybe an apology from Luke. Luke touches Ben in a way, with sentiment, but appears weak and unknowledgeable once again. Ben feels like Luke is afraid of the Dark Side and knows nothing about it. Ben believes his grandfather was the strongest force user ever because he embraced the force to its entirety, Dark and Light. Ben decides to be stronger than Luke Skywalker and to learn the Dark Side of the force to help him do it, like his grandfather did. But Ben vows, not to allow sentiment to stop him from becoming greater than even Darth Vader himself. These ideas were pushed by Snoke. Snoke promises to help Ben become great with the force. Ben Solo recruits some friends at the academy who idolize him. And they sneak around and form the Knights of Ren, with Snoke as Ben's mentor and Ben becoming the King/Greatest, or "Kylo", of the Knights of Ren. Snoke supplies a few knights of Ren himself that he has also been influencing from elsewhere that are heavily engrained in evil, much more so than Ren currently. After some perversion and communing with Snoke as a group, the Knights of Ren believe they must destroy Luke and his academy of students to begin their journey to greatness and power. Kylo/Ben is still very conflicted, yet extremely thirsty for power and greatness; to finally be seen as the most powerful and gifted. Kylo preaches to himself that Snoke is right and tries to get himself to believe it, amidst his doubt and reservations. Snoke recommends that the Knights of Ren destroy the Academy and Students while Luke is away, focusing on killing Luke at a later time. Kylo has already built up hate for his peers and leads the attack. With Snoke's mysterious additions to the Knights of Ren, Kylo and his squad have little to no problem slaughtering everyone at the academy/temple. One of the most devastating moments of darkness was when Ren watched one of the knights that Snoke's added slaughter Lukes wife, who had always been kind to him. Kylo was conflicted throughout the whole attack, but his helmet helped to hide most of his wavering. Kylo reported to Snoke that the deed was done. Snoke was pleased and recommended they meet with him in person for the first time now that they had proved themselves, especially Kylo Ren; who Snoke once again lauded as though he will be the greatest force user that has ever lived. The Knights of Ren embark to see Snoke, Kylo says he has to make some finishing touches at the temple/academy for Luke upon his return and will catch up. Kylo walks amongst the carnage and is affected, but tries to fight it. He begins to carve/write/burn/compose a message for Luke somewhere on the academy walls, after burning lots of bodies, when a young girl emerges. It is his cousin, Rey, Lukes daughter; much younger than anyone killed that day. She is very young and she recognizes Kylo now with his helmet off. She is confused, worried. Kylo considers killing her, but he simply can't. He grabs her and puts her on his ship. He considers how to kill her or get rid of her. He is very angry that he hasn't been able to bring himself to kill her. He convinces himself that marooning her on a trashy planet he is passing by is as good as killing her. He'll let Jakku do the work for him. He drops her off with a scumbag. Not before an empty promise that her family will return for her very soon, to once a again try to thwart the feelings of guilt he was having looking into his crying cousins face and give her some false encouragement. He also hopes this encouragement will keep her from looking for her family in the future and keep her waiting. He then sets out to join his other Knights of Ren with Snoke as they join with the First Order that Snoke has been orchestrating for sometime as well. He will tell no one that he marooned his cousin, because he knows he will appear weak (flash forward: Kylo heavily suspects Rey is his cousin in TFA, but can't tell anyone. He is very worried about Snoke finding out about his difficulty being all in on the dark side with his cousin being spared a definite death and in other areas of his dark side journey.).

Aftermath: Luke obviously returns with R2D2 to see that his entire academy is slaughtered as well as his wife and he can't even find his daughter amongst the carnage, but with many bodies burned, it makes it even more likely his daughter died in the attack as well. Luke is horrified and extremely distraught, Luke reads Ben's message. He knows its from Ben. He reads that it is signed as Kylo Ren and he knows Snoke has succeeded and that Luke has failed. Luke informs Han and Leia, they are outraged/distraught, take a lot out on Luke and each other. Luke goes into exile to try to become more knowledgeable with the force, get a leg up on Snoke, and grieve. Han and Leia split. Rey grows up on Jakku. Kylo gets some teaching from Snoke but he is sent on mission after mission very early, feeling important, but he doesn't get fine tuned training by the time we see him in TFA. He simply believes he is amazing, he IS strong but he isn't wonderfully trained yet.

That is my take.

 

My rebuttal. They sent Ben away and when that happened, Ben eventually turned to the dark side via Snoke. They knew Ben was having these dark visions/dreams and they sent the "problem" to Luke. When Ben was lost, Han and Leia were at odds. And Leia eventually lost Han too. Her way of blaming herself for Ben turning, via sending him away, and blaming herself for Han leaving too. I feel like Kylo being a Skywalker means his temptation is with becoming powerful, like Anakin before him. That is why he is obsessed with Vader; because in his bloodline, is the currently believed most powerful force user ever. And he wants to be even stronger than him. I feel like Snoke giving Kylo what he craved, the path to seemingly the greatest power, is enough to turn Kylo, when contrasted with his parents and Luke seemingly holding him back.

I agree that if when Leia sends Ben away, that could likely rip Han from Leia as well. Maybe she did it in secret when Han wouldn't approve. You have a good take.

 

This is terrific. I need to watch that again soon.

 

Not that unlikely actually. Haha. Makes being a Jedi far less exciting. But if Luke has a wife/daughter, I suppose it could change.