Now, we’re ready to get moving. We can finish this.
This is probably my favorite scene in the movie. It is goddamned fascinating to analyze Hux’s lines here, when one keeps in mind all that we know about his character.
Hux is gentle with the first ‘that’s enough’. He is almost even soothing. He recognizes that Kylo is losing his mind and he has to save everyone from whatever mess Kylo’s emotions might lead them into. So he barks out the order again because Kylo just can’t.
Then Hux sasses him. It is meant to taunt Kylo, but it also serves as a harsh lesson. He is saying ‘Look you are being childish, grow up and lead us reasonably.’ Kylo is too far gone to even retaliate. He is shaking. He knows on some level that Hux is right.
Hux doesn’t allow anyone, not even Snoke, to silence him with fear. In the TFA novel he DIRECTLY questions Snoke’s orders to destroy the Illeenium system, instead of simply weeding them out with a fleet and keeping several planets intact to utilize their resources. Snoke even respects his points but tells Hux to fire the weapon anyway.
Hux also doesn’t raise his voice the final time he addresses Kylo Ren: “Supreme leader don’t get distracted—(gets thrown)!”
This is actually consistent with TFA novelization: Hux restrains himself from yelling at his officers during times of crisis, because it will only make them nervous and prone to mistakes. This is something that Kylo DESPERATELY needs to learn. Hux is trying to help him make a rational decision. Hux knows on some level that facing down Luke is a waste of time and potentially ruinous.
Hux may want to kill Kylo, but he realizes that this kid actually NEEDS guidance. It’s not just a power struggle for the throne anymore, Kylo needs a fucking teacher or the whole First Order will suffer.
This is why I cannot see the cowed, cowering Hux there was so much of in fanfic directly after the movie. This is Hux after being choked by Kylo. He’s still sassing Kylo and he’s still genuinely trying to do his job.
And then when he’s trying to do his job later and gets thrown into a wall for it, he goes from lippy cooperation to ‘this is intolerable. He’s going down.’
I think he’s as fearless in TLJ as he is in TFA – ie, he knows perfectly well that these Force Users can kill him with a thought–so he’ll obey as much as is necessary to stay alive–but he’s still confident in his own ability to work around them.
Can You Bring Me The Gun of Rambo? 