From the moment Finn, played by John Boyega, and Kylo Ren, portrayed by Adam Driver, first crossed paths, their dynamic set the stage for one of the most compelling ideological conflicts in the Star Wars saga. Both characters, products of the First Order’s influence, made vastly different choices that altered their paths. While one sought freedom and redemption, the other clung to darkness and power. Their journeys, intertwined with the larger battle between the Resistance and the First Order, symbolized the struggle between conscience and control in a galaxy torn by war.
Finn’s Awakening on Jakku
Finn’s story began as FN-2187, a stormtrooper raised and conditioned by the First Order to serve without question. Stationed on Jakku during the First Order’s attack on a village harboring a map to Luke Skywalker, FN-2187 experienced a crisis of conscience. Witnessing the massacre ordered by Kylo Ren, the stormtrooper chose not to fire his weapon. This pivotal moment marked the first crack in the armor of First Order programming. The choice to defect came swiftly after the encounter.
With the help of captured Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, FN-2187 escaped the clutches of the First Order. In their daring escape aboard a stolen TIE Fighter, Poe gave the former stormtrooper a new identity: Finn. This name symbolized the beginning of a new life, one defined by choice rather than obedience. Despite his lack of combat training outside the First Order’s methods, Finn quickly became a valuable ally to the Resistance, proving loyalty and courage in the face of danger.
Kylo Ren’s Pursuit of Power
Kylo Ren, born Ben Solo, was the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, two of the galaxy’s greatest heroes. Trained as a Jedi under Luke Skywalker, Ben was seduced by Supreme Leader Snoke and the dark side of the Force. Casting aside his identity as Ben Solo, Kylo embraced the legacy of Darth Vader, whom he idolized. Wielding a crossguard lightsaber with a fiery red blade, Kylo Ren became the enforcer of the First Order and a symbol of fear across the galaxy.
Kylo’s dedication to the dark side was tested repeatedly. Despite moments of hesitation, Kylo Ren consistently chose power over compassion. On Jakku, the encounter with FN-2187 was a mere footnote to Kylo’s obsession with finding the map to Luke Skywalker. However, the defection of Finn, a stormtrooper who dared to rebel, planted a seed of personal offense that Kylo would carry into future encounters.
The Duel on Starkiller Base
The ideological clash between Finn and Kylo Ren reached its first major confrontation on Starkiller Base. While aiding the Resistance in a mission to destroy the superweapon, Finn faced Kylo Ren in a brutal lightsaber duel. Finn, wielding Anakin Skywalker’s blue-bladed lightsaber, fought with raw determination. The former stormtrooper, untrained in the ways of the Force, was no match for Kylo’s skill and dark side strength.
The duel was more than a physical battle. It represented the larger conflict between the First Order’s oppressive rule and the Resistance’s fight for freedom. Despite being overpowered, Finn’s defiance against Kylo Ren symbolized the strength of choice and the courage to stand against tyranny.
Kylo Ren and Finn on Crait
The Battle of Crait brought Finn and Kylo Ren’s ideological differences into sharper focus. As Kylo Ren rose to the position of Supreme Leader of the First Order, Finn became a leader within the Resistance. The former stormtrooper’s unwavering determination to protect his newfound family stood in stark contrast to Kylo’s obsessive quest for control and destruction.
Kylo Ren’s actions on Crait reflected his descent deeper into the dark side. Commanding the full might of the First Order, Kylo sought to crush the Resistance once and for all. Finn, on the other hand, displayed a willingness to sacrifice everything to preserve hope. The attempted suicide run against the First Order’s battering ram cannon demonstrated Finn’s commitment to the Resistance’s cause, even at the cost of his own life.
Finn’s Leadership and Kylo’s Redemption
Finn continued to grow into a symbol of hope within the Resistance. Working alongside allies like Rey and Poe Dameron, Finn played key roles in undermining the First Order’s operations. The discovery of other stormtrooper defectors, such as Jannah, reaffirmed Finn’s belief that people could break free from the First Order’s grip. This belief in choice and redemption became central to Finn’s character.
Kylo Ren’s journey took a different turn. Haunted by the memory of his father, Han Solo, and the compassion shown by Rey, Kylo Ren eventually faced the truth of his actions. The duel on the wreckage of the Death Star II and the intervention of Leia Organa forced Kylo to confront his identity as Ben Solo. Abandoning the dark side, Ben Solo made a final stand against Emperor Palpatine on Exegol, fighting alongside Rey to save the galaxy.
Legacy of Finn and Kylo Ren
Finn and Kylo Ren left behind legacies that reshaped the galaxy. Finn’s courage inspired countless others to rise against the First Order. As a former stormtrooper, Finn proved that even the most conditioned individuals could choose freedom and fight for a better future. Wielding no lightsaber by the end of the saga, Finn’s true weapon became his unwavering resolve and belief in the power of choice.
Kylo Ren’s legacy, on the other hand, was one of redemption. The former Supreme Leader’s return to the light as Ben Solo marked the end of the Skywalker bloodline’s dark legacy. Although Ben Solo’s sacrifice brought balance to the galaxy, Kylo Ren’s actions as a servant of the dark side left scars that would take time to heal.
Both characters embodied the enduring struggle between darkness and light in Star Wars. Their clash of ideologies and ultimate choices reinforced one of the saga’s most timeless messages: no matter the circumstances, individuals always have the power to choose their path.
