No Sith: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ Kylo Ren’s Force Allegiance Revealed

He's a Nazi memorabilia collector.

We already knew that Kylo Ren, the new baddie in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is a member of the Knights of Ren, but what is that group exactly? Is it a new order of the Sith? Not at all, says JJ Abrams, being shockingly forthcoming in an Empire interview: 

"Kylo Ren is not a Sith," confirms JJ Abrams in the new issue of Empire. "He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

Snoke is the character Andy Serkis is playing, and he's CGI. His appearance is being kept secret from us - he's not included in the first wave of toys for the film hitting stores in time for Christmas. Now we have to wonder if Snoke's look is a spoiler or just another one of those things Abrams keeps secret for his own reasons. 

So if Ren isn't a Sith what about the First Order? Is it just the remnants of the Empire? Not quite: 


This all sounds very cool, and it brings into focus something a source told me a few months ago: Kylo Ren is basically a Nazi memorabilia collector, and Darth Vader is his Hitler. The question I have, and that I hope is answered in the film, is what was the philosophy of the Empire that appeals to these guys? Because the original trilogy is such a black and white morality tale the Empire existed basically only as a controlling force of evil order, with no broad philosophical underpinnings of which to speak. The Nazis had philosophies and ideas, and they believed in things that resonate today with ill-informed racists, but in what did the rank and file of the Empire believe? What's the unfinished work? 

Just as a note: these are the kinds of mysteries I like. Ones that give me enough leeway to think and play within the universe of the movie. I don't like holding back the names of characters or their designs, but I love teases like this that are like a loose tooth that you can't help but idly play with.