Intro: The Big Bad… But Who Is He Really?

So, here we are, talking about Snoke. This guy. He looked like a weird, terrifying mix of a melting candle and a villain out of a bad horror movie. But you know what? He also became one of the most fascinating characters in the Star Wars saga. A figure wrapped in mystery, Snoke was the dark force behind the First Order’s rise. But seriously, how much do we actually know about him? I mean, I know we were all hyped to find out his backstory… and then poof, it’s like, “Here’s a puppet for Palpatine. Enjoy.”

Anyway, let’s break down who Snoke was (or wasn’t?), what he did, and why, in the end, we were left with more questions than answers. Spoiler alert: I’m not gonna have all the answers for you, but I’ll give it my best shot.

Who The Heck Is Snoke? Really.

Okay, first off—let’s talk about Snoke’s debut. The Force Awakens rolls around, and bam, we’re introduced to this creepy giant hologram of a dude who looks like he spent a few too many days on a tanning bed. But he wasn’t just some crazy force user looking to be emperor, right? There was something deeper going on.

• The dude was a leader, but of what? The First Order? Some new Sith uprising? Seriously, no one knew for sure. We were just told that he was like a puppet master for Kylo Ren. Which, I mean, how did he get to that point? How does someone get so wicked powerful? That was the question that haunted me during the entire sequel trilogy.
• And here’s the kicker: the dude’s backstory was basically nonexistent. There we were, trying to figure out if he was some ancient Sith Lord, or just a figment of Palpatine’s really messed-up imagination. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t buying it. Too many unanswered questions, too much space for fan theories. (Looking at you, Reddit.)

Fast forward past three failed attempts to answer these questions, and we’re still left with… confusion.

Snoke’s Big Power Moves

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of it: Snoke wasn’t just some “I’m gonna sit in my chair and look evil” kind of guy. Nah. The dude had some serious Force mojo going on.

The Kylo Ren Effect

Look, if Snoke had one thing going for him, it was that he knew how to manipulate Kylo Ren. Seriously. If I had a dollar for every time Kylo did exactly what Snoke wanted, I’d be rich. Dude was a straight-up puppet.

• Emotional Manipulation: Snoke knew that Kylo was all messed up inside. I mean, everybody saw that. So Snoke played the emotional card like a pro—using Kylo’s guilt and rage to control him. Honestly, it felt like a dysfunctional relationship, but, you know, with more death and destruction.
• Mentorship or Brainwashing?: I’ll be real here. At first, I thought Snoke was like some kind of Dark Side Yoda. A Sith mentor. But then, as I rewatched the trilogy, I was like, “Wait. Did this guy actually care about Kylo, or was he just using him to get to his ultimate goal?” Yeah… I’m leaning toward the latter.

And let’s not forget the emotional wreckage he left in his wake. Seriously, Kylo’s tantrums were a whole other level of tragic.

The Force: Snoke’s Unseen Power

Here’s the thing: Snoke wasn’t just a figurehead. This guy could throw down with the Force. In fact, he was hella strong with it.

• Telekinesis: Oh yeah. When Snoke didn’t get what he wanted, he just waved his hand and—bam—stuff would float around. He even threw Kylo and Rey around like ragdolls in that one scene. Impressive? Yeah. Unsettling? Also yeah.
• Mind Tricks: Snoke also knew how to mess with people’s heads. I mean, controlling Kylo Ren’s thoughts? That’s next-level creepy. And it seemed like Rey was next in line for a dose of that manipulation, too.

Now, here’s the weird part. We never really got to see how Snoke got this power. Was he born with it? Did he study under some ancient Sith? Or is he just… that powerful? I’m still scratching my head. Wait, was it Sith alchemy? Let me Google that again…

Snoke’s Mysterious Past: Theories Galore

Ah, yes. Theories. So many theories. Some fans went wild trying to figure out who or what Snoke actually was. I mean, he could’ve been anything: an ancient Sith Lord, some dark Force experiment gone wrong, or just some random guy Palpatine picked up at a cosmic flea market.

Snoke and the Sith: What’s the Deal?

There was one theory I actually bought into—Snoke had to be tied to the Sith somehow, right? There were too many hints.

• Snoke’s Legacy: It’s hinted that Snoke could have been connected to the old Sith. I mean, he looks like he could’ve been hanging out with Darth Sidious in the prequel days. Maybe he was part of the old Sith Empire, lurking in the shadows until the right moment came along to strike.
• Sith Experiments: Then there’s the theory that Snoke was a product of Palpatine’s experiments in Sith alchemy. I mean, let’s be honest. Palpatine’s creepy lab probably had a few Snoke-like failures in it. He seems like the kind of guy who’d think creating a 9-foot-tall evil puppet was a great idea.

The Snoke We Didn’t Get

So, in The Rise of Skywalker, we get the big reveal: Snoke wasn’t his own guy. Nope. He was just a puppet for Palpatine, which—whomp, whomp—felt a little anticlimactic.

• Snoke’s True Role: Palpatine just created him as a tool to control Kylo Ren, which I guess is a cool plot twist… but also, really? We spent two whole movies speculating about Snoke’s backstory, and he’s just another pawn in Palpatine’s evil scheme?
• Snoke’s Death: Honestly, Snoke’s death was wild. I mean, after all that buildup, to just have him get offed by Kylo Ren in a matter of seconds? Talk about a let down. (Also, was anyone else kind of rooting for Snoke at that point? No? Just me? Cool.)

Snoke’s Influence on the Galaxy

Despite his lack of a fleshed-out backstory, Snoke was still one of the major drivers behind the rise of the First Order and the Dark Side in the sequel trilogy.

The First Order’s Rise: Snoke’s Master Plan

• The Big Bad Empire 2.0: Snoke was all about reestablishing the Empire, but this time, he was trying to do it with a new, even more terrifying force. No more Emperor’s lackeys—Snoke was calling the shots.
• Snoke’s Leadership: He was ruthless, using fear and manipulation to make the First Order an unstoppable force. His mind games with Kylo were just part of the equation. He needed Kylo to be his ultimate weapon.

Snoke and Rey: An Unlikely Connection

Even though Snoke and Rey barely interacted, the way their stories overlapped is crucial. Snoke tried to use Rey as part of his dark plan.

• Rey’s Dark Temptation: Snoke wasn’t stupid. He knew Rey was powerful, and he tried to tempt her to join the Dark Side. If you ask me, he saw her as his backup plan for Kylo if things went south. Big mistake, buddy.

Conclusion: The Snoke We’ll Never Fully Understand

Okay, so we didn’t get the full Snoke origin story we deserved, and honestly, that kinda sucks. Was he just a puppet? Was he something else entirely? We may never know. But here’s the thing: Snoke left a big, dark mark on the galaxy—and on us. His rise and fall were a rollercoaster, and while we may never know the full extent of his power or his origins, one thing is certain: the Dark Side of the Force is hella complicated.

Final Thoughts
Snoke might’ve been a letdown in the end, but the questions he raised about the nature of power, control, and the Dark Side will keep me thinking for years. So here’s to Snoke, the villain who never fully explained himself—but sure kept us on our toes. RIP, big guy.