Summary
Kylo Ren's obsession with Darth Vader is what drives him to continue following the dark side, but he commits acts that even Vader wouldn't do.
During a 2016 interview, director JJ Abrams disclosed that the ashes Kylo uses to store his helmet are actually the remains of his victims, indicating the gruesome nature of his actions. This unsettling detail suggests a level of darkness and depravity within Kylo that surpasses anything Vader ever displayed, offering insight into his willingness to go to extreme lengths in order to establish his villainous nature.
Kylo Ren, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, masquerades as a dark side imposter. However, a hidden detail unveils his exceptional cruelty, surpassing even that of Darth Vader. Disoriented by the conflicting allure of the light side and scarred by his uncle's perceived betrayal, Kylo emulates Vader's demeanor, convinced of his grandfather's worthiness to be worshipped. Maniacally fixated on Vader, he persists on his treacherous path, undertaking despicable deeds that even the Sith Lord himself would abhor.
During a 2016 interview with Entertainment Weekly, director JJ Abrams divulged the chilling truth that the ashes Kylo reverently places his helmet in, serve as a macabre testament to his victims.
"The table holding the ashes of his defeated enemies adds a captivating backstory. Originally captured while conversing with the Vader mask, the scene had him without his mask initially. However, during reshoots, we decided to keep the mask on but couldn't let go of the powerful shot where the mask descended onto the ashes. Thus, we seamlessly incorporated it into the scene with Rey. Previously, he would delicately place his mask on a mundane prop, lacking any impact. This revised moment adds a much more captivating element."
"While removing his mask to communicate with Vader's helmet would have depicted Kylo's vulnerability, leaving it on pays a more fitting tribute to his grandfather. He feels at ease revealing himself to Rey, yet the surprising revelation of his victims' ashes beneath the helmet serves as a chilling reminder of the atrocities he had committed against people in similar positions before."
The Ashes Of Kylo's Victims Is Far More Twisted Than Anything Vader Did
Kylo Ren's act of preserving the ashes of his tortured victims surpasses even the darkest deeds of Darth Vader. What sets Kylo apart from Vader is that while Vader fully embraced the path of darkness, Kylo struggled to fully surrender and constantly battled with his internal conflicts. Although there is no official confirmation that the ashes belong to Ren's victims, there is also no evidence to refute it. Initially, Kylo destroyed Luke Skywalker's temple and earned the whispered title of the "Jedi Killer" within the First Order, although his backstory was later altered to some extent.
The only other group known to partake in such grotesque practices are the Inquisitors, who stored the remains of fallen Jedi in amber within their base. Similar to Kylo, albeit less powerful, the Inquisitors serve as evidence that those who are deeply broken will go to extreme lengths to convince themselves of their own evil nature. Unlike Vader, Kylo takes pleasure in keeping trinkets of his victims, demonstrating a disturbing commitment to the dark side. Vader, on the other hand, did not find any satisfaction in his actions, except when seeking revenge against Obi-Wan Kenobi. In The Force Awakens, Kylo's uncertainty in his allegiance to the dark side leads him to preserve his victims' remains and ultimately kill his own father.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
