Sorry #Reylo Fans, But Here’s Why Rey & Kylo Ren Should Never Be A Couple

Spoilers ahead for The Last Jedi. Gather 'round, Reylo shippers, it's time to have a talk. The Rey and Kylo Ren ship that set sail when The Force Awakens was released in 2015 has only gained steam in recent weeks, thanks to The Last Jedi. But, fans of the ship will have to face the harsh truth that Rey and Kylo can never be redeemed as a couple, because as much as it may pain you to admit it, Kylo is actually pretty damn awful. Even putting aside the fact that he's a murderer who killed his own father, Kylo hasn't really proven himself capable of being a friend to anyone, let alone a lover.

Now, that's not to say that the Reylo ship doesn't have merit. Do Kylo and Rey have an undeniable chemistry in The Force Awakens? Yes. Is their Force connection unlike any other relationship we've seen in the Star Wars universe? Yes. Are Rey and Kylo both super hot Force badasses who could take over the galaxy together as one awesome super couple? You bet. But, just because the Reylo ship is fun to take a ride on, that doesn't mean it should actually happen. In reality, if Rey and Kylo Ren's relationship were to become canon, it might just become the most toxic relationship in the Star Wars saga — including Anakin and Padmé — and here's why.

Kylo Is A Straight-Up Murderer & Probably A War Criminal

The most obvious case against Reylo is Kylo's own murderous past. He may think that he can leave that life behind — suffer no consequences for killing hundreds of innocent people, not to mention Han Solo — but that's just not realistic, even for Star Wars. If Rey enters into a romantic relationship with Kylo, it will be at the expense of a piece of her integrity. One does not simply fall into the arms of a murderer after fighting against him in the Resistance, and the idea that the two would ever be able to live something of a normal life is pure fantasy. Even if Rey could somehow overlook the blood on his hands, Kylo's past crimes would always haunt them. And that's something Rey doesn't deserve.

Kylo's Anger Issues

Even before Kylo Ren met Rey, his volatile nature was a problem. If they were to be romantically involved, it would be more than just a character flaw, it would be a concern. Kylo loves taking his anger out on things — his helmet, the wall, etc. — but there's also no telling what he might do if, say, his girlfriend forgot to answer a text message. We don't know for sure that Kylo would be an abusive partner, but given how he treats Hux in The Last Jedi, it's definitely not hard to imagine, and that's troubling.

"You're Nothing"

Arguably the most telling sign that a Reylo relationship would be nothing but bad, the scene in The Last Jedi where Kylo tells Rey, "You're nothing, but not to me," is pretty damning. On the one hand, it can be read as romantic, a kind of twisted ideal of two outsiders who find meaning and purpose in each other. On the other hand, the statement can be read as extremely emotionally manipulative, a notable precursor to an abusive relationship, wherein one party makes the other party feel worthless without them.

Trust

Last but not least, it's important to note one thing: Rey doesn't trust Kylo. Not yet, anyways. When Kylo asks Rey to join him in taking over the galaxy, it's obvious that she doesn't trust him to let her go if she rejects his offer. Whether true or not (though seemingly true, considering he tries to kill her off later), she thinks that Kylo would rather kill her than let her make her own decisions in life. No matter how you look at it, that's just not the way to start a good, loving, respectful relationship.

Should Kylo and Rey become canon, it will be hard not to seem their relationship as toxic and potentially abusive. However, shipping a couple and seeing it represented in an actual movie are two very different things. There's no harm in shipping any couple you like, but for the reasons listed above, let's hope that Reylo remains just a fan ship.