In a Star Wars: The Force Awakens TV Spot there is a scene of Kylo Ren saying "I will finish what you've started" to Darth Vader's mask.
If I recall correctly, this scene appears pretty much as-is in the movie.
Do we know what exactly Kylo Ren means? What does he want to do? What did Vader leave unfinished?
The main goal of all Sith - including Vader - was ruling the galaxy. Once Sidious achieved that, he and Vader resorted to maintaining their domination.
As we know from the original trilogy, the Rebels animated series and the Lords of the Sith novel, Vader was mainly tasked with stopping any rebellion movements across the Galaxy. I am not sure if this is established by new Canon, but he probably also hunted down any Jedi who managed to survive Order 66.
Personally, I am not convinced that Kylo Ren could refer to any of these things. So what he did have in mind when he said these words?
I am mostly interested in Canon answers, but if there are none yet, I am eager to hear fan theories and speculations.
Answer
JJ Abrams largely addresses this in an interview with IGN.
“Kylo Ren idolizes Darth Vader, not Anakin Skywalker,” Abrams explained. “He idolizes what Vader represents and what Vader was trying to do. The idea that Vader didn’t succeed, if you look at it from Ren’s point of view, he was seduced by the enemy and failed because of that seduction. So the idea is that Ren wants to complete the thing that Vader started.”
Vader was attempting to rule the galaxy through strength and power and to destroy the Jedi, but was seduced away from his goal by the enemy - his own son. This echoes to Snoke's concerns about Kylo, leading to Kylo's killing of
his own father.
From the novelization:
“Kylo Ren, I watched the Galactic Empire rise, and then fall. The gullible prattle on about the triumph of truth and justice, of individualism and free will. As if such things were solid and real instead of simple subjective judgments. The historians have it all wrong. It was neither poor strategy nor arrogance that brought down the Empire. You know too well what did.”
Ren nodded once. “Sentiment.”
“Yes. Such a simple thing. Such a foolish error of judgment. A momentary lapse in an otherwise exemplary life. Had Lord Vader not succumbed to emotion at the crucial moment— had the father killed the son— the Empire would have prevailed. And there would be no threat of Skywalker’s return today.”
“I am immune to the light,” Ren assured him confidently. “By the grace of your training, I will not be seduced.”
“Your self-belief is commendable, Kylo Ren, but do not let it blind you. No one knows the limits of his own power until it has been tested to the utmost, as yours has not been. That day may yet come. There has been an awakening in the Force. Have you felt it?”
Ren nodded. “Yes.”
“The elements align, Kylo Ren. You alone are caught in the winds of the storm. Your bond is not just to Vader, but to Skywalker himself. Leia…”
“There is no need for concern.” Despite the Supreme Leader’s cautioning, Ren’s assurance remained unbounded. “Together we will destroy the Resistance— and the last Jedi.”
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