STAR WARS Just Gave the Light and Dark Sides of the Force Two New Names
The Force has always been divided between the light side and the dark side in Star Wars, but it turns out the Knights of Ren have their own way of describing these powerful forces.
Two new terms have been introduced into Star Wars lore, and they offer an interesting look at how different groups in the galaxy understand the Force.
The new terminology comes from Marvel's Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren comic series by writer Charles Soule and artist Will Sliney, which expands on Kylo Ren's story and the mysterious warriors associated with him.
As reported by ScreenRant, the Knights of Ren refer to the dark side of the Force as "The Shadow," which certainly fits their sinister reputation. Now, the comics have revealed that they call the light side "The Shine."
The revelation comes from Tava Ren, the woman who took command of the Knights of Ren after Kylo Ren joined forces with the First Order. Her terminology gives us another perspective on the Force, one that differs from the traditional Jedi and Sith teachings.
There's another interesting detail in issue #3, where Tava describes someone as potentially "radiant." That could be the Knights of Ren's own term for someone who is Force-sensitive, although that hasn't been confirmed.
It's an interesting addition to Star Wars mythology. The Jedi and Sith have dominated our understanding of the Force for decades, but they're far from the only groups that have developed beliefs around it. The Knights of Ren having their own language for the light and dark sides makes the galaxy feel a little more expansive.
Whether "The Shine" and "The Shadow" become important concepts in future Star Wars stories remains to be seen, but they add another interesting piece to the franchise's growing Force mythology.
Speaking of expanding our understanding of the Force, Ahsoka Season 2 is also preparing to explore some of its stranger and more mystical elements, including the Mortis gods and the World Between Worlds.
Dave Filoni has already confirmed that the mysterious Mortis gods will factor into the upcoming season. "It's definitely a thing," Filoni previously said about their involvement.
He also discussed how George Lucas originally introduced these powerful beings in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the bigger ideas they represent.
"It was so surprising when George [Lucas] created these archetype god characters," he also explained. "What were we examining there in Clone Wars? What was the metaphor? A lot of it is about power, and what you do with power, and how you wield power. For a Jedi, I think it's a natural story path to get into these questions."
Between the Knights of Ren introducing their own names for the Force and Ahsoka exploring the cosmic mythology surrounding it, Star Wars continues to find new ways to explore something fans have been fascinated by since 1977.
Star Wars: Ahsoka Season 2 arrives January 20.