I think Kylo should have been besties with Phasma and Hux because it changes the context of their atrocities.
Kylo killing Han wouldnât be the same as Anakin killing Padme and in that context. Padme and Obi Wan were Anakins primary âattachmentsâ, his big emotional connections to his humanity. If Hux and Phasma are Kylo connection points, then Kylo and Leia have to reconcile the notion that Ben was never actually all that connected with his parents for some reason. Kylo also kills Han over a massive misunderstanding of how the Force works; he thought he was severing his humanity, but it wasnât actually all that deep. It damages Kylo but not in any useful way. Ben/Kylo has to dig in and figure out if he could kill his friends who would happily follow him into the Dark. Who love and support him and he has little animosity towards. Could Anakin have brung himself to kill Padme if she followed him?
Tarkin destroyed Alderaan for his own political power; Hux destroys Hosnian Prime to save his friends. Phasma and Kylo (everyone in the Order) would be sent to the front lines in an endless war (functionally a Clone Wars 2) for The Order to take power unless a weapon of mass destruction is used to end it before it starts. Hux is an Imperial Remnant; his entire existence has been a cold war against the New Republic. He is tired of losing the people he loves, tired of fighting, to the point that he will do anything to get the control he needs to protect those around him.
Phasma is Nobody (Sorry ignoring the novel here); some war orphan with no family, no world, not even a name. But her skills let her rise, let her begin to form relationships with those above her. Kylo and Hux start to treat her differently; like sheâs special. Like she might matter. And once she feels that, she canât let it go. She will do whatever it takes, be whatever it takes, to stay in their orbits. If she has to kill civilians, fine. Those under her? Just stormtroopers, they arenât âspecialâ like her. Her ego is fragile and built entirely on Kylo and Huxâs validation; a threat to them is a threat against her entire personhood.
I also just like the drama that could come from that. What would be worse for Leia? Kylo passing out mid battle and then one of Kyleâs friends using their body to shield him, or Phasma or Hux going down and Kylo using his body to shield them? Knowing that they get the luxury of protecting each other while she has to destroy whatever remains of Benâs humanity.
I also just love âpower of friendshipâ villains. Like yeah, theyâre all sociopaths but family doesnât stab family in the back. They stab others in the back togetherâ€ïž