30 Greatest Star Wars Characters

6. Kylo Ren (Ben Solo)

Kylo Ren may not be the best villain in the Star Wars franchise, but he most definitely is its most interesting.

Son to Han and Leia, nephew to Luke and grandson to Anakin, Ben Solo is one of the most fascinating antagonists in modern cinema. Unlike his grandfather, who was inherently drawn towards the darker aspects of the Force, Ben was manipulated, radicalised and twisted into becoming a dark agent of the Force, to the point where it's not the dark side he resists, but the light instead.

It's a brilliant twist on one of Star Wars' older premises, but it's the metaphorical aspects of Kylo's character that resonate most today. He's a young man radicalised by a dark and twisted legacy, and one who cannot be turned. He's ambitious, emotional, and the perfect antagonist for the Star Wars of today.

This is all without even mentioning Adam Driver's tremendous performance as the character, which perfectly captures Ben's now corrupted innocence.