Star Wars: The Last Jedi dropped some hints about Kylo Ren and Rey having a romantic connection, but J.J. Abrams decided to double down on that with
The Rise of Skywalker. That culminated in a kiss between the two at the end of the Skywalker Saga finale, but was it just a smooch between friends?
Well, in the latest excerpt from
The Rise of Skywalker novelization to do the rounds online, the kiss is painted in a slightly different light, and it definitely doesn't sound romantic in nature.
"His heart was full as Rey reached for his face, let her fingers linger against his cheek," it reads. "And then, wonder of wonders, she leaned forward and kissed him. A kiss of gratitude, acknowledgement of their connection, celebration that they'd found each other at last. But then she drew back, concern on her face. She could feel him growing cold. Ben smiled at her. He had given Rey back to the galaxy. It wouldn't atone for the darkness he'd wrought, but it was what he could do."
The mention of the kiss being a "celebration that they'd found each other at last" does come across as potentially pointing to the two being in love, but it's too vague to say for sure. However, it being "a kiss of gratitude" and an "acknowledgement of their connection" suggests otherwise, and it's possible they only locked lips because Rey was thankful for Ben bringing her back from the dead.
Either way, the "Reylo" shippers were definitely grateful for this moment, and it's another aspect of The Rise of Skywalker which is seemingly going to continue to divide Star Wars fans...
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