Director Irvin Kershner on how romance was constructed in Empire Strikes Back:

“We didn’t need to spend too much time on the love story. When Han tried to kiss her, that was enough. In the Star Wars series, a kiss is the equivalent of a sex scene. Han is always after her, he’s always looking at her and she is always looking at him, and you have this right from the beginning. Basically, that’s all you need.”

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October 1st

November 1st

December 1st

“Star Wars is an optimistic, spiritual world, and more like a fairytale […] Ever since I was a kid, all that matters to me is the love story. It’s the thing I had to find first. Sometimes, [the love story] is obvious, sometimes a bit more complicated.” - JJ

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“We’ve tried to pick up that complicated relationship that really has been present ever since the interrogation in Episode VII. When Ren takes off his mask, there’s a nakedness about him with Rey that he doesn’t express to anyone else. Rian developed that in fascinating ways and we’ve been able to develop it even further.” - Chris

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“Describe Rey and Kylo’s relationship in one word: Desperate (JJ), Connected (Daisy), Very, very complicated (KK)”

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“For example, we looked at it like a Western, or a fairytale. What are the elements you’re going to see that makes it this genre, this specific genre? […] You’re probably going to have a castle and a prince and a princess, if you’re looking at a fairytale.” - JJ

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“When his mask comes off, you see Adam Driver, and he just looks like a sort of prince.” - JJ

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“In this scene she (Rey) is drawn to this place, almost like Cinderella.” - JJ

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“And we’re back in the forest with the story that we really care about, the focus of the story, which is Rey and Ren.” - JJ

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“What makes this story have a beating heart? We simply approached this narrative from the point of view that this is a story about a young man and a young woman, not with the idea that we can do anything we want.” JJ

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“I know what the fans want, they want to see the dynamics between Rey and Kylo. I’m glad JJ was on the same exact page.” - John

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“From the selflessness of young Anakin Skywalker, to the kindness of the scavenger Rey, compassion is an essential theme in the Star Wars universe.” - Star Wars via Twitter

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“You have compassion for her.” - TFA Novelization 

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*Across the Stars plays on audiobook as: “Rey would wait, however difficult that would be to do as the First Order warships descended on crait. She would wait, and the future would unfold as the Force willed.” - TLJ novelization 

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“I will say, without talking about redemption or not, that he (Adam) is mind blowing in this. Like he’s brought a whole other level to this. So I can’t wait for you to see what happens to him. It’s pretty fun.” - JJ

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“I don’t think so, because I think he (Kylo) is redeemable.” - Daisy

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“I think there are so many themes in the Star Wars films, my favorite being redemption…the idea of redemption.” - Kelly

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“A bond between two living beings is not something easily broken. It is not a choice…it is like breaking a feeling. Like turning away from the Force. To break a bond, your feelings would have to change, or one of you would have to die—but even then, the bond wouldn’t go away, it would simply…it would simply be empty, a wound.” - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Wookieepedia 

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Recent comic releases: Show Rey struggling with the Force, not finding belonging with the resistance, feeling isolated and alone. Show Ben Solo fleeing from the Jedi students who wrongly accuse him of murder, show him literally using the Force to stop himself from dying after being yeeted.

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Or more commonly known as:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

It’s a fairytale. It’s a complicated fairytale. It literally has a prince and Rey is referred to as a princess. I’d argue it might even be loosely inspired from Beauty and the Beast.

And if it doesn’t end with a redeemed, alive Ben Solo…I don’t even have words for that kind of clownery. That’s D&D S8 level nonsense and I don’t think JJ wants a seat at that table. I’m just saying.

One last thing. JJ is raving about Adam, and has since TFA. He is not going to do him the disservice of that kind of shitty writing. DANY would have a more meaningful death, and we know how shitty that was. (Ben shows up only to do nothing in the final fight and bite the bullet before it even begins, giving the audience - and Adam - a beyond dissatisfying and insulting death? PLEASE.)