WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition, available now.
After the conclusion of the sequel trilogy with The Rise of Skywalker, fans were left disappointed they didn't see what turned Ben Solo away from the Light Side of the Jedi. It's clear that he hated Luke Skywalker, his uncle, and rebelled, becoming a pupil of Snoke and an unforgiving warlord in The Force Awakens. However, it's hard to say Luke was to blame, as Ben already had rising darkness within him which would eventually give birth to Kylo Ren.
But thanks to Rae Carlson's novelization, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition, fans finally know who was to fully blame for Ben's descent into darkness.
Marvel's been peeling back layers which showed what stirred Ben's hatred and giving in to the temptation of Snoke, of course, all machinated by Palpatine from afar. He hated how his destiny as a new Chosen One was preset and that he had to live up to a legacy and a name he didn't choose. But still, he had to chance to turn back to the Light Side, if not for the persecution by his own Order. He had no choice but to kill fellow students after he was framed by the Knights of Ren for blowing up Luke's temple, going on a rampage as he felt this was what everyone thought he was deep down, a monster. Thus, he became just that to bring his warped version of peace to the galaxy. However, it's still wasn't clear what led Ben down the dark path in the beginning.
Well, as Carson reveals, it's bad parenting and Leia owns up to it. Initially, many thought it was Han Solo, which is why the smuggler was killed in one of Kylo Ren's most defining moments. And the fact he seemed to show compassion before trying to annihilate Leia in The Last Jedi gave the illusion he cared more for her. The fact it's Han who appears to him, though, in The Rise of Skywalker to help redeem him should have acted as a clue, especially as Leia only reached out using the Force as a distraction to help Rey. She actually stayed away because she holds deep the responsibility of being a poor leader for him.
In the opening chapter of the novelization, Leia expands on mentoring Rey, revealing she's concerned about tempering the darkness within. It's the same darkness she sensed in Ben, but she can't overreact as Luke did with Ben. "The girl had a darkness inside her, just like Ben. But Leia would not make the same mistakes she had with her son," the novel reveals. "She would not give in to fear -- neither of the darkness rising within her pupil or nor of her own questionable qualifications as a teacher. Most important, she would never send Rey away."
It's clear there are a couple of reasons why Leia's to blame. Firstly, she wasn't equipped to be a teacher when she did try to harness Ben's potential. She started training late under Luke and doesn't see herself as a Master, so that's the first mistake. Secondly, when Leia realizes honing his craft is out of her league, she shoves Ben off for training under Luke as if he's a soldier for the military. Granted, it's the best move for his physical being but mentally, it surely damaged Ben. It came off like she gave up on him, and at that point, one can see the fracturing of the relationship between him and his parents, inadvertently watering the seed of hatred inside.
Han wouldn't have understood a lot of intricacies of the Force and with something like this, he'd entrust judgment to Leia. So from Ben's perspective, he's nothing more than a tool they don't know how to control. And again, this rests on Leia as she admits she sent him away. It lacked warmth and compassion, and ultimately, she wasn't just a questionable teacher, but a questionable parent. Her intentions may have been good, she might have been confused as to the boy's potential but had she handled things better and maybe joined Luke to co-mentor, things would have been different.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film is available now on Digital HD, and March 31 on Blu-ray and 4K UHD.