Is Ben Solo Kylo Ren the Final Skywalker? Unraveling the Legacy
As of my last update in August 2023, Ben Solo, also known as Kylo Ren, is the last surviving member of the Skywalker bloodline. He is the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, and the grandson of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. In The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion of the sequel trilogy, suggestions are made that the Skywalker legacy is effectively ended with Ben Solo. However, Rey takes on the Skywalker name at the end of the film, symbolically continuing the legacy in a broader sense, but she is not a biological Skywalker. This has led to discussions about what it means to be a Skywalker in the context of legacy and identity within the Star Wars universe.
Kinda...
I mean I get that Rey is now called ‘Skywalker’ officially, but she’s not really one by blood. She adopted the name after all of its members were dead. On the other hand, Ben is part of the family by blood from his mother's side. So yeah, he’s kinda the last of the Skywalkers.
Yes. And no.
SPOILER ALERT
If you haven’t seen Rise of Skywalker yet, you might want to stop reading.
Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, is the last Skywalker by blood and he gives his life to save Rey. Rey, who turns out to be a Palpatine by blood, takes the Skywalker name after seeing the Force ghosts of Luke and Leia, which makes her the last living person with the name Skywalker. Looking at the title Rise of Skywalker this could be viewed as a full circle if you accept the concept of ‘what has happened before will happen again.’ Therefore, Rey not only could be the ending of the Skywalker’s but could also be the beginning.
To Paraphrase Time Life Commercials from the 80s
‘Go see the movie’ and make your own determination.
There are a few twists in the movie, so go see it...
The Genetic Evidence
I really don’t understand how 2/3 answers still maintain that he is NOT a Skywalker. Not only has Pablo Hidalgo literally tweeted that Ben is the Skywalker of this trilogy, simple genetics will also tell you the answer.
Ben has 50% of his DNA from the Solo side and 50% from the Skywalker side, just as much as Luke, who had 50% from the Skywalker side and 50% from the Amidala/Naberrie side. So, yes, he is a Skywalker, only not officially in name.
Given the official designation and the genetic evidence, Ben Solo, Kylo Ren, is undoubtedly the last of the Skywalker lineage in the Star Wars universe. The complexity of his identity and the symbolism of the name Skywalker in the broader context of the Star Wars saga are worth exploring further for deeper understanding.