So my wife and I exchanged valentine's day gifts a few days early (because reasons), and she got me the Star Wars 7 Visual Dictionary as part of my gift. Do I know how to pick 'em or what! :)

Anyway, I was flipping through it last night and stumbled across a few details that I thought some of you may find interesting, given all the Star Wars discussions around here lately. Obviously, I'll be posting spoilers here, including some backstory details not overtly covered in Episode 7.

Kylo Ren

The book describes Ren as being filled with rage (which I'd say is obvious to anyone who watched the movie), and also makes a point of stating what a skilled swordsman he is. We know Ren is largely responsible for the destruction of Luke's new order of Jedi. This book implies that Ren took a very "hands on" approach to wiping out the other Jedi trainees, and that his skills with a lightsaber were unmatched by any of the other apprentices. So when we think back to the final fight in Episode 7 between Fin, Rey, and Kylo Ren, this info helps provide some context. a) Ren must have been seriously injured by Chewie's bowcaster. b) As Xenos pointed out, I believe Ren was toying with Fin until Fin managed to land a hit, at which point Ren stops messing around and completely destroys him. c) Rey is that damn good.

If we understand that Ren is a power to be reckoned with despite his youth and lack of experience compared to Darth Vader, it helps shape our understanding at how he must feel as he witnesses Rey suddenly display such immense bursts of power. As the emperor feared Anakin Skywalker's potential, I suspect Ren also fears Rey's potential. In the case of the emperor and Vader, things worked out perfectly for Palpatine. Vader was injured beyond true repair. His new body and appearance made him more imposing and terrifying than ever before, but he was no longer strong enough to pose a direct threat to Palpatine (or so the emperor believed). Yet even in his weakened state, Vader was powerful enough to destroy the remaining Jedi and serve his purpose as imperial thug/enforcer.

I wonder how things will play out between Ren and Rey? In a way, Episode 7 saw both Rey and Ren establishing their commitments to what they each believe in. I believe Episode 8 will be largely about both characters establishing their power. Rey will train and learn under Luke Skywalker, allowing her skills to flourish. And Ren... I think we'll see Ren really assert himself in an attempt to cement his dominance. I'm calling it right now: Ren will kill (or at least defeat) Luke Skywalker in Episode 8. There will be no questioning his badassery by the end of the film.

The Senate

The movie really didn't handle information about the new senate very well, so I was glad to see some clarification in the Visual Dictionary. To avoid any appearance of favoritism, the senate now travels from planet to planet. They'll set up "camp" at a planet and stay for several years, then choose a new home base and move again. The planets we see destroyed in Episode 7 are not in the Corusant system. Unfortunately the dictionary doesn't seem to explain why the Republic and the Resistance are two separate organizations. I would have loved some clarification there.