Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a divisive movie, but it did a great job exploring the bond between Kylo Ren and Rey. While they should have been enemies, the connection they formed made for fascinating viewing, and hinted that the Light and Dark Sides of the Force could actually work together.
The Rise of Skywalker built on that, revealing that the two were a "Dyad" in the Force (a poorly explained concept which might have worked had it been explored in greater depth).
Regardless, by the time all was said and done, it was clear there was actual love between Rey "Skywalker" and Ben Solo. Their bond was sealed with a kiss before the latter died, and The Last Jedi writer and director Rian Johnson has now confirmed that he always viewed their dynamic in a romantic light.
There's really no reason why fans should have an issue with this, as a tragic love story being at the heart of the sequel trilogy feels very Star Wars-esque. It's just a shame Lucasfilm didn't plan things out in advance, as the movies now have a disjointed, somewhat messy feel to them.
We don't have the exact quotes yet, but here's what USA Today's Sariah Wilson had to say about her interview with the filmmaker (which we're assuming will be shared online in the coming weeks).