Star Wars has finally confirmed the exact timeline of events surrounding Ben Solo’s fall to the dark side and Luke Skywalker’s subsequent exile in the sequel trilogy. As a result of Luke’s failure to support Ben during his struggles with the dark side and the secret influence of Snoke, the rise of Kylo Ren massively defined the galaxy’s future prior to the events of The Force Awakens. Now, Star Wars fans have been given new insights into the specific order of events on the established timeline.
Thanks to the new Star Wars: Timelines book from Kristin Baver, Jason Fry, Cole Horton, Amy Richau, and Clayton Sandell, fans now have a comprehensive reference guide for the Star Wars continuity. This includes the events taking place between the original and sequel trilogies. As revealed in the new book, Ben Solo’s fall and Luke’s exile directly stemmed from a major revelation made public that shocked the entire galaxy, though none were affected more than Ben himself.
Ben Solo Learned He Was Darth Vader’s Grandson
According to entries in the Star Wars: Timelines book, 28ABY was a major year in which several significant events took place. However, they all stemmed from the inciting incident when the truth about Leia Organa as Darth Vader’s daughter was publicly exposed:
28ABY: Leia is publicly exposed as Darth Vader’s biological daughter, leading to the end of her political career and shattering her relationship with her son, Ben Solo.
As detailed in Claudia Gray’s novel Bloodline, this was the end of Leia’s career within the New Republic Senate, leading to her eventual role leading the Resistance when the First Order fully emerged as a major threat to the galaxy. However, the personal consequences were far more devastating.Because the truth about his connection to Darth Vader had been kept from him his entire life, Ben Solo’s relationship with his parents (and uncle) was decimated. Likewise, this is undoubtedly what began his obsession with his grandfather, further corrupting him toward the dark side beyond Palpatine/Snoke’s constant whispers and secret influence during his years training as Luke’s apprentice. However, it’s now been revealed that his full corruption as Kylo Ren occurred not long after.
Luke’s Confrontation With Ben Solo Happened In 28ABY
Star Wars: Timelines also confirms that Luke confronting Ben Solo happened the same year:
28ABY: Luke Skywalker has an altercation with his student and nephew, Ben, resulting in the decimation of Luke’s Jedi academy. Luke emerges from the rubble, but Ben turns to the dark side and to Snoke, and Luke loses all of his students.
Sensing the darkness and struggle within Ben, Luke’s brief moment debating whether he should kill Ben to prevent his growing darkness effectively guaranteed Ben’s corruption and cost Luke his Jedi Academy on Ossus. This sent Ben straight to Snoke where he would become Kylo Ren, as revealed in The Rise of Kylo Ren comic series by Charles Soule and Wil Silney.It’s worth noting that Ben was not the one who destroyed Luke’s temple. It’s heavily implied in the series that Palpatine used the Force, manipulating a lightning strike to set the temple ablaze which convinced Ben there would be no way back. Regardless, the fact that Ben’s transformation into Kylo Ren happened the same year following the truth about Darth Vader is incredibly significant. It makes perfect sense in terms of his growing darkness and Luke’s decision to confront his troubled nephew.
Star Wars: Timelines also confirms that Luke’s exile also began in 28ABY. Blaming himself, Luke apparently left for Ahch-To shortly after Ben’s corruption and the destruction of the Jedi academy. As such, this makes Luke’s self-imposed absence from the galaxy even worse.
Rather than trying to bring his nephew back to the light or going to speak with Leia and Han, Luke seemingly chose to remain in his guilt and shame for six years before the events of The Force Awakens and the arrival of Rey. He immediately left to begin his exile. Clearly, 28ABY was a major year in the official Star Wars timeline, having drastic consequences that would last for years until the end of the Skywalker saga and Kylo Ren’s eventual redemption, becoming Ben Solo once more just before his sacrifice to save Rey.
