Is the relative age of Gleeson and Driver a plot point?

I think it will factor in some way but it keeps with the overall idea of this movie: The passing of the torch. The original three are handing over the reins to Fin, Rey and Poe. Finn and Rey are like Luke and Leia and Poe a bit older like Han. The empire lost its most senior leadership in Palpatine, Vader and Tarkin so someone has to step up. It's been 30 years since things went pear-shaped for the Empire so the young people we're seeing in charge now have taken over from whomever took over after ROTJ.

 

I've thought about and mentioned this in other posts before. Great thread! What you're about to read is all speculation, no proof.

I believe that the leaders of this First Order are young because these young people have only lived in a world without an Empire. Their views are one-sided due to being so young. I believe that post-empire, many systems went poor because their money was no good and underground crime prospered because the Empire was not there to maintain them. These kids lived in hell holes all of their lives and they have slowly united to what is the First Order - a group that is essentially anti-Republic because the senates have done nothing to help them the past 30 years because in a Republic, it takes time to pass laws and have them come into effect. They are radical. But they are also naive because Snoke likely has a bigger agenda.

 

Their characters will almost certainly be in the their 20s, everyone is 10 years younger in Hollywood remember

 

Not saying this is my personal theory (because honestly, I have no idea), but a possible explanation could be that Gleeson's (perhaps Kylo's too) position is hereditary or a result of some form of nepotism. This is definitely not a new theory, and I know I've read posts that speculate along similar lines. If Kylo's role isn't somehow inherited (who knows from whom?), his apparent Force powers could have likely opened a lot of metaphorical (and probably literal) doors, despite his young age.

 

This would also give the benefit of having a time jump with the sequels.

 

They are powerful in the force......both of them

 

We'll see if your right.

 

I'm not sure about Driver's age being relative to all this, but as far as Gleeson is concerned I seem to remember a rumor about his character being "Napoleon-like" making the rounds at some point. Gleeson is 30 or thereabouts, pretty much the same age Napoleon was when he became the singular leader of France, so his youth makes perfect sense when seen in respect to a "nation" in political and economic turmoil. Throw in what @odmichael was mentioning as well, and you get more of the Ren aspect.

 

Gleeson is Madine's son...



I love it when I win the internet like this.

 

You fools may laugh (those who rated funny) but this is my theory.

 

Young military commanders or brilliant young leaders is not unusual or even unheard of even in Sci-Fi stories.
Julius Ceasar was around 26 or so when he was a military leader. Alexander The Great was 29 when he had huge armies and land.
Even in US history, young army generals were common.
George A Custer(who graduated last in his class at West Point) was commissioned a Brigader General at only 26. He was a Calvary officer who fought in many battles, later dying at The Little Big Horn.

I think this "General" and maybe "Phasma" will be related-connected(twins???). They will both hate Skywalkers and want to anialate the Resistance. Why is a point we may learn from Leia or maybe Luke.

 

Having the "General" and Phasma be related is a new wrinkle I hadn't heard before. Why do you think that would/should be the case?

 

Wait, You don't see the Resemblance?

 

When I was a kid, I probably watched ROTJ more than any of the other OT movies. But thanks to the superb resolution one gets when you tape something off mid-80s HBO (we had Temple of Doom on the same VHS ), I never realized until very recently that Madine had a beard.

 

I do a brother/sister in the making IMO.

I can why you watch it because it was the final chapter in this trilogy, gosh it's like reading the last page of a book.

 

The only resemblance I see is the haircut