Kylo Ren endures years of being manipulated, mentally/physically abused, tormented, and used by Snoke - never standing up for himself. By accepting this treatment, it’s obvious how little he values his own life. He believes this is his fate.
Rey endures 10 minutes of being teased and tortured by Snoke, which Kylo has probably experienced since day one of the dark side and kills him without hesitation. He knew what he had to do.
Had he killed Snoke himself years ago, it would show that Kylo believed he had something worth living for - but he didn’t.
Not only does Kylo Ren value Rey’s life more than his own, but he feels that she gives his life meaning.
Killing Snoke not only saves Rey but also saves himself. Rey made him feel like he was worth saving.
He proceeds to ask her to join him, a desperate plea to rule the galaxy with the girl who began the transformation of Kylo Ren into Ben Solo. Let’s break down the dialogue:
“It’s time to let old things die.”
It’s time for Ben to let go of Kylo, it’s time for Rey to let go of the past.
The black and white rules their mentors have taught them,
He realizes he can’t fully devote himself to being a Jedi because although he feels the call to the light, the anger he feels from striking down his father will always be with him. Luke says it himself. (”…anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” - Yoda)
With the Sith and the Jedi gone, the Rebels will have nothing to rebel against.
“Let it all die. Rey, I want you to join me.”
Let’s both forget the past and how it has defined us up to this point, and together start a new path with clean slates.
“We can rule together and bring a new order to the galaxy.”
He never states how they will rule. To rule something can also mean to govern something, which could create a regulation and peace in the galaxy. Just because he uses the word rule does not mean his intentions were total domination.
(Rey:) “Don’t do this Ben. Please, don’t go this way.”
Like how I described above, she hears him and goes straight to the dark (just like she did with Luke’s first lesson on the force).
(Kylo:) “No, no, you’re still holding on. Let go! Do you want to know the truth about your parents, or have you always known? You’ve just hidden it away…”
This can be applied to both sides - Kylo has always known the truth about his parents and how they come from the light (”You may try, but you cannot deny the truth that is your family.” - Tekka, The Force Awakens). Rey has always known the truth about her parents and how they were no one. Both characters hid the truth away. So when he says this to her, it’s just another thing that relates them, almost as if he’s saying it to himself as well.
We all know what happens after that. “You’re nothing, but not to me” brings us back to the point of this post. Rey isn’t nothing to him because she brings meaning and value to his existence.
Rey may come from nothing, but to Kylo? She is everything.
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