Was Luke aware of Kylo Ren's fall from the beginning?

Was Luke aware of Kylo Ren's fall from the beginning?

It is widely debated among fans whether Luke Skywalker was aware of Kylo Ren's fall to the dark side from the very beginning. According to the narrative in "The Last Jedi," the answer appears to be a resounding 'no.'

The Fall of Ben Solo

In the movie, Luke did not sense Ben Solo's transformation into Kylo Ren from the outset. In fact, when Rey confronted him with the news, Luke was shocked and refused to believe it at first. This is evident from the following scene:

When Rey tells Luke about Ben Solo's turn to the dark side, he looks incredulous and denies it:

Later, despite his earlier reservations, Luke confronts Ben on Crait and realizes the full extent of the dark side's grip on him. In this moment, Luke laments his failure to prevent Ben's journey to the dark side, highlighting the realization of a late discovery rather than an early awareness:

Luke's Shaken Conviction

While Luke may have had some doubts or concerns about Ben Solo's path before the events of "The Last Jedi," he did not have a clear sense of his fall to the dark side until Rey gave him the information. Initially, he considered Ben to be a potential ally who could still be brought back to the light:

Rey tries to convince Luke that he needs to help bring Ben back to the light, but Luke remains resistant. This resistance suggests a reluctance to fully accept the gravity of the situation:

Luke's Dark Sensation

Despite his doubt, Luke did sense a darkness in Ben long before "The Last Jedi." In one scene, he even considered killing Ben to prevent the future destruction he foresaw.

However, he ultimately decided against it, allowing the tragic events of the film to drive Ben further away from the light. This decision and its consequences formed a pivotal moment in the film's narrative:

Conclusion

Thus, while Luke may have initially had concerns, he did not have a clear realization of Kylo Ren's fall until Rey's revelations. This reflects the thematic complexity of the film and the character journey of both Luke and Ben Solo.