Supreme Leader Snoke, played by Andy Serkis, ruled the First Order with an iron grip. General Armitage Hux, portrayed by Domhnall Gleeson, commanded its military forces with ruthless efficiency. Both sought dominance within the First Order, but their methods and ideologies clashed. Snoke relied on Kylo Ren and the power of the dark side, while Hux placed his faith in military strength and technological supremacy. This conflict led to growing tensions, manipulation, and betrayals that ultimately shaped the fate of the First Order.
Snoke’s Reign and Hux’s Rise to Power
The rise of the First Order required both the mystical and the strategic. Snoke, a master of dark side manipulation, sought to revive Sith-like domination through Kylo Ren. Hux, a product of the First Order’s military training, envisioned an empire ruled by discipline and advanced weaponry.
Hux’s influence stemmed from his role in Project Resurrection and the restructuring of the Imperial remnants. The destruction of the New Republic required tactical precision, and Hux delivered. Starkiller Base, the First Order’s greatest weapon, stood as a testament to the general’s strategic brilliance. This success solidified his authority, yet Snoke never fully trusted Hux’s ambition.
Snoke’s Contempt for General Hux
Despite Hux’s victories, Snoke saw the general as a tool rather than a trusted leader. The Supreme Leader’s disdain was evident in frequent humiliation, both in private and in front of Kylo Ren. Snoke mocked Hux’s rigid belief in military power, seeing it as insignificant compared to the Force.
Snoke’s physical and verbal abuse kept Hux in check. Even in moments of success, the Supreme Leader treated the general as expendable. Hux endured, driven by a vision of his own supremacy within the First Order. Yet, resentment grew with every insult.
The Competition Between Hux and Kylo Ren
Hux viewed Kylo Ren as an unstable, reckless force user unworthy of power. Unlike Snoke, who saw potential in Kylo’s raw strength, Hux considered the Supreme Leader’s favoritism a strategic weakness. The rivalry between Hux and Kylo Ren intensified after Starkiller Base’s destruction.
Snoke, ever the manipulator, fueled this conflict. By pitting Hux and Kylo Ren against each other, Snoke ensured that neither could challenge his rule. This strategy kept the First Order’s leadership in constant turmoil, allowing Snoke to maintain dominance.
After the First Order tracked the fleeing Resistance fleet, Hux led the pursuit. Kylo Ren, however, sought personal revenge. Snoke’s orders overruled Hux’s strategies, frustrating the general. The Supreme Leader’s obsession with Rey and Kylo Ren distracted from military objectives, further straining the chain of command.
Snoke’s Fatal Mistake
Snoke’s overconfidence proved to be his downfall. The Supreme Leader believed absolute control over Kylo Ren was certain. This arrogance blinded Snoke to the growing rebellion within his own ranks.
Inside the Supremacy’s throne room, Snoke taunted Kylo Ren, demanding submission. The Supreme Leader never expected betrayal from an apprentice bound by the dark side. Kylo Ren seized the opportunity, using the Force to ignite Rey’s lightsaber, slicing Snoke in half.
The Supreme Leader’s death created chaos within the First Order’s hierarchy. Hux, finding Snoke’s lifeless body, realized the shift in power immediately. A brief confrontation followed, but Kylo Ren quickly asserted dominance. The dark side’s raw strength overpowered military strategy. Hux, for all his ambition, was forced into submission.
Hux’s Silent Rebellion Under Kylo Ren’s Rule
Kylo Ren’s ascension left Hux in a difficult position. Stripped of autonomy, the general answered to an unpredictable and emotional leader. The balance of power tilted in favor of the dark side, leaving military command as a secondary force.
Hux obeyed Kylo Ren outwardly but seethed with resentment. Kylo’s impulsive decisions led to costly mistakes, weakening the First Order’s grip on the galaxy. No longer able to challenge Kylo Ren directly, Hux turned to secrecy and deception.
The general’s patience paid off. Seeing the First Order crumble under Kylo Ren’s rule, Hux made a desperate choice. A secret alliance with the Resistance gave the enemy critical information. This betrayal was not out of sympathy for the Resistance but rather a final attempt to destroy Kylo Ren’s leadership.
Legacy of the Power Struggle
The rivalry between Snoke and General Hux shaped the First Order’s destiny. One relied on dark side manipulation, the other on military strategy. Neither respected the other’s approach. Snoke saw Hux as insignificant, and Hux despised Snoke’s obsession with the Force.
Snoke’s failure to recognize the danger in Kylo Ren ended the Supreme Leader’s reign. Hux’s belief in military supremacy proved equally flawed, as the First Order collapsed under internal divisions. By the time the Final Order emerged, Hux was gone, and the Empire he envisioned no longer existed.
The First Order fell because of its leaders’ inability to unite. Snoke and General Hux fought for control, but neither truly won.
