General Armitage Hux, portrayed by Domhnall Gleeson, was one of the most ambitious figures in the First Order. Introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Hux stood as a ruthless officer, driven by a hunger for power and a deep-seated hatred for the Resistance. As the commander of Starkiller Base, his fanatic devotion to the First Order’s military expansion made him a feared and respected leader. However, his rivalry with Kylo Ren and his willingness to betray his own organization led to his downfall.
In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, General Hux’s unexpected role as a spy for the Resistance shocked audiences. While treason was a dangerous game within the First Order, Hux’s personal vendetta against Kylo Ren led him down a path of deception. His betrayal, however, was short-lived. He was exposed by Allegiant General Enric Pryde and executed in cold blood, marking the end of one of the most cunning yet ultimately tragic figures of the sequel trilogy.
The Rise of General Hux
Before delving into General Hux’s death, it’s important to understand how he became one of the most influential figures in the First Order. Unlike many high-ranking officers, Hux did not come from a warrior’s background. Instead, he was the son of Brendol Hux, a key Imperial officer who helped form the First Order from the remnants of the Galactic Empire. Raised with the ideology of total dominance, young Armitage Hux developed a deep resentment toward those who looked down on him, including older officers who saw him as unworthy.
Despite lacking the brute strength of warriors like Captain Phasma or the mystical powers of Kylo Ren, Hux wielded a different kind of weapon: his intellect. He was a master of military strategy, overseeing the training of First Order stormtroopers and playing a major role in developing the superweapon Starkiller Base. His speech before the destruction of the Hosnian system in The Force Awakens demonstrated his fanatical belief in the First Order’s destiny. With Supreme Leader Snoke’s favor, Hux held immense power and viewed himself as an equal to Kylo Ren, though their rivalry was evident from the start.
This rivalry would define his fate.
The Growing Resentment Toward Kylo Ren
General Hux and Kylo Ren never saw eye to eye. Their constant power struggles were evident throughout The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. While Kylo Ren was Snoke’s apprentice, Hux controlled the First Order’s military operations. Each viewed the other as unworthy—Hux saw Kylo as an unstable liability, while Kylo dismissed Hux as a weak strategist who lacked true power.
When Snoke was killed in The Last Jedi, Hux was immediately thrown into an even more precarious position. Kylo Ren declared himself the new Supreme Leader, and without Snoke’s protection, Hux was forced to submit. However, it was clear that he resented this shift in power. His attempts to undermine Kylo were evident from the moment Kylo took control, as seen when Hux hesitated to acknowledge him as Supreme Leader. This was a turning point in Hux’s fate—no longer the second most powerful man in the First Order, he became increasingly desperate to reclaim his influence.
While many assumed Hux would continue working within the First Order to regain power, he instead took a more drastic approach—betrayal.
Why General Hux Became a Spy
In The Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance received vital intelligence regarding Emperor Palpatine’s return and the Sith fleet hidden on Exegol. The source of this information was a mystery, and it was only later revealed that General Hux was the informant. This revelation came as a shock, but his reasoning was even more surprising.
Unlike past spies who betrayed the First Order for ideological reasons, Hux had no interest in the Resistance’s success. When Finn questioned why he was helping them, Hux gave a brutally honest response:
“I don’t care if you win. I need Kylo Ren to lose.”
This line defined Hux’s motivations. His betrayal was not about justice or redemption—it was personal. His hatred for Kylo Ren was so strong that he was willing to sabotage his own organization just to see Kylo fail. This made him an unpredictable and dangerous figure, as he was working not for a greater cause, but for pure vengeance.
However, his reckless desperation led to his downfall.
How General Hux Was Exposed
Hux’s role as a spy was short-lived. After helping Finn, Poe Dameron, and Chewbacca escape execution, Hux staged an attack on himself to make it seem as though the Resistance had overpowered him. However, his deception was weak, and it didn’t take long for Allegiant General Enric Pryde to uncover the truth.
Pryde was an older, more experienced officer who had served under Emperor Palpatine during the days of the Empire. Unlike Hux, who was driven by personal ambitions, Pryde was completely loyal to the Sith Eternal and the Final Order. He saw Hux for what he was—a petty, untrustworthy officer whose personal grievances had made him a liability.
Realizing that Hux was the mole, Pryde wasted no time in dealing with him. Without hesitation, he pulled out a blaster and executed Hux with a single shot, declaring:
“We found our spy.”
With that, Hux was unceremoniously killed, his ambitions and schemes brought to an abrupt and brutal end.
The Symbolism Behind General Hux’s Death
Hux’s execution was not just about eliminating a traitor—it represented a shift in power within the First Order. For much of the sequel trilogy, Hux had been a key player, maneuvering for control and seeking to rise above Kylo Ren. However, his failure to adapt to the new leadership under Palpatine and Pryde sealed his fate.
His death also highlighted the contrast between the First Order’s old leadership and the Final Order’s new command structure. Under Snoke, figures like Hux were able to operate with personal agendas, using politics and manipulation to gain power. However, under Palpatine’s rule, such disloyalty was not tolerated. Pryde’s swift execution of Hux demonstrated that the Sith Eternal’s forces had no patience for weakness or betrayal.
In the end, Hux’s greatest weakness was his inability to see beyond his own hatred. While he was intelligent and ruthless, his obsession with destroying Kylo Ren led him to make reckless choices. His story serves as a cautionary tale—blind ambition and personal vendettas have no place in the Sith’s grand vision.
The Legacy of General Hux
Despite his abrupt death, General Hux left a significant mark on the Star Wars saga. His role in the development of Starkiller Base, his rivalry with Kylo Ren, and his betrayal of the First Order all contributed to the unfolding war between the Resistance and the Final Order.
Hux was one of the most unique villains in the sequel trilogy. Unlike figures like Palpatine or Snoke, who wielded dark powers, Hux relied purely on his strategic mind and ruthless ambition. His downfall was not the result of a grand battle or a heroic sacrifice, but a calculated execution by a superior officer who saw him as disposable.
While Hux may not have been a Sith or a warrior, his character embodied the dangers of unchecked ambition. His death, though sudden, was a fitting end for someone who spent his entire life fighting for power, only to lose it all in an instant.
