Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's 'Force dyad' explained

The connection between Kylo Ren and Rey was something that underpinned the entire Star Wars sequel trilogy. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker their relationship was put to the test as once again Kylo tried to turn Rey to the dark, while Rey tried to redeem Ben Solo.

The Rise of Skywalker promised us a satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga, which Digital Spy readers agreed it did. But it also posed a lot of questions that remain unanswered.

Note: there are spoilers ahead!

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One new inclusion to Star Wars lore was the concept of a Force dyad. According to the Star Wars Visual Dictionary, a dyad in the Force is a phenomenon that occurs when two Force-sensitive individuals share a unique Force-bond, connecting their minds across space and time (via ScreenRant).

The Visual Dictionary also notes that Force dyads are naturally occurring, but this one was strengthened when Kylo tried to penetrate Rey's mind in The Force Awakens.

If you think back to 2015, Kylo Ren kidnapped Rey and tried to break into her mind to figure out where Luke was. But Rey could force him out – so to speak – and in turn learn more about him than he wanted. This strengthened their Force connection into a dyad.

The Visual Dictionary also links the Force dyad to another piece of Star Wars lore: the Sith Rule of Two, established in the prequels.

The dictionary includes a sketch of a Sith Eternal incantation in Sith hieroglyphics. The description of the incantation is "carved in the Old Tongue" and "denotes the nature of the dyad, a pairing in the Force. Curiously, it is nearly identical to text describing the Rule of Two – a Sith doctrine that there could only be two living Sith Lords – but inflexion marks and line breaks change specific meaning in certain words".

The Last Jedi saw the two able to communicate across time and space. By The Rise of Skywalker, the dyad was so strong they could reach each other physically through it.

It was also so powerful that Palpatine could use their Force power to revive himself to his fully functioning glory. But the Force dyad wasn't just a connection: it meant that they were both one within the Force, which helps explain their intimate bond (ruined, in our opinion, by that kiss).

Whether the Force dyad becomes something intrinsic to the Star Wars canon and further explored remains to be seen. There's been no mention of the Force dyad anywhere else... yet.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is out now.

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Gabriella Geisinger

Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance film critic and journalist, with a focus on J-drama & film, and the Japanese production industry. She was previously Locations Editor at Screen International and Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. Her writing can also befound in Curzon, 1883, and more. A born and raised New Yorker, she loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.