Anna Daniels
There is no shortage of controversy, memes, and criticism since the release of The Rise of Skywalker late last year. However, following the #ReleaseTheJJCut trend on Twitter, fans are participating in something much more light-hearted and funny.
On Jan. 6, 2020, a Twitter user coined the Ben Solo (Adam Driver) challenge, where Star Wars fans post videos of themselves pulling out a lightsaber from behind their back. Let’s take a look at where this scene came from and seven of the most ridiculous items fans are using instead of a lightsaber.
[Warning: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker spoilers ahead ]
Where did the Ben Solo Challenge come from?
Near the end of the final movie of the Skywalker Saga, Kylo Ren reclaims his heritage as Ben Solo when he follows Rey (Daisy Ridley) to Exegol. Before he can get to Rey and Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Ben faces the Knights of Ren.
It is this moment that inspires the #BenSoloChallenge. Ben pulls out from behind his back a blue Jedi lightsaber instead of a red Sith lightsaber. He then gives a halfhearted shrug and proceeds to defeat the Knights of Ren.
“I now present the #BenSoloChallenge,” captioned the Twitter user, @testtube27, when he tweeted a video of himself reenacting Ben’s lightsaber work and shrug. “I expect to see people pulling baguettes and umbrellas from behind their backs,” Mike continued in another tweet. “Don’t let me down.”
The social media world did not let him down. Star Wars fans pulled out everything from baguettes and umbrellas to fly swatters and even children.
Ben Solo of Asgard
Several Twitter users wield Thor’s hammer, and fans find it hysterical. Others ask who would win, Ben or Thor?
A Glass of red wine in the hair
Another user pulled out a full glass of red wine. She told fans later that she spilled it in her hair, trying to get the video right—well worth it.
Rubber mallet subverting expectations
This Star Wars fan pulls out a rubber mallet and proceeds to destroy the first two movies in the trilogy in the name of #ExpectationsSubverted. He intentionally smashes The Last Jedi first to indicate how much it didn’t live up to expectations.
One daring fan wields a cat
“Does this count,” tweets another Star Wars fan while holding her cat. “Meet Storm, the beloved creature who allowed me to use her as my saber, a very good sport, and a chunk!
Luckily she adds the disclaimer, so we know that no animals were harmed in the making of her #BenSoloChallenge.
May the Force pee with you
Twitter user, American Dad, pulls out a plunger while staring dramatically at his toilet.
The Dad version
“That’s some serious dad energy,” commented one Twitter user after watching the man pull a child from behind his back. It took some muscle to pull a 6 or 7-year-old boy over your back. Maybe he is wielding some Jedi powers over there.
This one is for ‘broom boy’
“I think you win,” wrote one fan in response to the Star Wars broom boy reference.
Last but not least, we have our beloved broom boy from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. When Luke Skywalker inspires individuals around the galaxy that anyone can be a Jedi, we catch a glimpse of broom boy using the Force.
The Ben Solo Challenge created a lot of laughs—for a change—in the Star Wars fandom, which has been filled with controversy since the last film in the trilogy premiered.
Written by: Cheat
