TLJ Novelization Fun Cannon Fact #4
Kylo Ren was absolutely terrified after seeing Luke casually stroll out of the mine on Crait.
In the theater, we were already shown Kylo Ren’s overkill reaction upon Uncle Luke Skywalker simply strolling onto the salty surface of Crait in order to face his nephew’s army - and it’s safe to say he was not happy. However, we had no way of knowing what exactly was going through the newly assumed Supreme Leader’s mind at the time. Was it just anger?
Many Reylo fans have suggested it was fear being expressed on the face of Adam Driver’s character and it turns out they are very right. In the novel, Kylo Ren is absolutely terrified when confronted by his uncle.
In the novelization of the story, the initial First Order reaction we get to experience regarding Luke’s sudden appearance on Crait comes to us in the POV of General Hux. He does not know who this mad man is but quickly figures it out by Kylo’s reaction.
“Amused,, he glanced over at Ren - and whatever he had been going to say died on his lips. Because the new Supreme Leader looked like he was staring down at a ghost.” - Hux POV (TLJ EE, page 292)
It is at this moment Hux realizes he is looking upon Luke Skywalker. Hux also quickly realized Kylo Ren is absolutely and positively afraid of this man.
“He looked at Ren’s face and saw terror - naked and undisguised.” - Hux POV (TLJ EE, page 293)
This leads to all sorts of unsavory thoughts from Hux that we’ll get into at another time….
Next, we finally get Kylo’s reaction to the whole thing and it seems to confirm his general’s interpretation as being pretty spot on. In fact, Kylo’s so affected by his uncle’s appearance that he actually starts to cry…
“His fists were clinched and there were tears in his eyes.” -Kylo Ren POV (TLJ EE, page 294)
At this point, the Supreme Leader would rather for Uncle Luke just disappear (preferably in the hail of gunfire raining down upon him) but there is a little hint that Kylo knows better - and Luke’s really not a fear Kylo is ready to face.
“Beside him, Kylo raised his eyes almost unwillingly. As if what was happening below them wouldn’t become real if he didn’t look. But that only worked in ancient myths, the kind of stories told to entertain children.” - Kylo POV (TLJ EE, page 295)
Therefore, the Supreme Leader realizes like it or not, he was going to have to face Luke after all.
Finally, we also get a sense of this fear again when we get to experience Luke’s POV at this point in the story while he is examining his nephew in the force.
“Even stronger than the anger were Kylo’s pain and fear. They filled him, threatening to devour him.” - Luke’s POV (TLJ EE, page 297)
So as you can see, the novel pretty much confirms the common Reylo theory where Ben Solo is very much still afraid of Luke Skywalker after what had taken place in the Jedi temple. This fear forms the root cause of what makes him become Kylo Ren.