Star Wars: The Sith That Just Keeps Giving
I’m sure this has already been discussed, at length, several times. But I’ve decided to give my two cents about it. And then about thirty cents after that. So, let’s talk about the Sequel Trilogy.
We’re going to talk about some key factors, and the pros and cons of the trilogy that concluded the Skywalker Saga. You know, at least until Disney turns around and tells us that Rey’s pet dolphin was actually Anakin’s uncle, and we launch into the “Epilogue Trilogy”.
Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Rey
Pros: The potential she had
When we were first introduced to Rey in Episode VII: The Force Awakens, we saw a badass, staff-wielding pilot, with an extremely powerful connection to the Force and the fated Skywalker lightsaber. She was separated from her parents as a child, and knows nothing of her family or why her connection to the Force is so powerful. I enjoyed watching her just being a badass in the first film.
Her introduction left us with questions about how she was so powerful, who her parents were, and why the lightsaber called to her, specifically. I was intrigued, and with two more movies on the horizon, I had faith that there was development to come.
Cons: Failure to develop
…Turns out, I was wrong.
Rey simply did not develop enough as a protagonist. Her backstory is rushed and unoriginal, her moral struggle lacked enough suspense for there to be any tension about a potential turn away from the Light.
She was strong, and good, and had an all-powerful, evil grandfather.
The unrealized potential haunts me almost as much as knowing that Palpatine was a father. But more on that later.
2. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo
Pros: His villain arc
The trilogy starts with Ren as the primary antagonist. We witness his moral struggle, as he strives to achieve the power that Lord Vader once possessed, while attempting to turn his back on the Light. His attachments to his parents make it difficult for him to completely sever his connection, however. His moral struggle is realistic and captivating. Compelling to watch, left me wanting more.
In Episode VIII, there is a back-and-forth between him and Rey, with both attempting to bring the other over to their side. After Kylo uses the Skywalker lightsaber to end Snoke’s life, it seems as though Rey might have finally gotten through to him. However, he instead takes Snoke’s place as Supreme Leader. He offers Rey another chance to join him, which she declines. Ren is outraged, and more ruthless than ever.
This was a very interesting route to take. To see Ren go further down the dark path he’d landed himself on, see him commit, after the struggle between Light and Dark, see him work to be the major antagonist. To see Kylo Ren as a full-fledged villain in his own right, rather than just one living in Vader’s shadow.
Cons: His redemption arc
Much to my dismay, the final installation in the trilogy has Kylo Ren do a complete 180, after a stern Force connection talk with his mother.
It’s not that I’m anti-redemption. It’s that Kylo’s redemption was just so darn predictable, and I’d much rather have seen him go full-time villain. The turnaround was abrupt and unsatisfying, given how it ended. Ultimately, Ben’s redemption is used as little more than a tool to keep the protagonist alive. More on that later.
3. The Rey/Ben Dynamic
Pros:
The dynamic between these two was one of the strong points of this trilogy. They were two sides of the same coin. Both strong in the Force, with powerful, pasty-faced Sith Lord grandfathers. One desperately trying to leave his family behind, the other desperately trying to find hers. A connection, an understanding between them that resulted in respect, even grudging admiration, despite the fact that they fought on opposing sides.
Cons:
In all honesty, I felt like the romance at the end was unnecessary, serving as little more than fan service. The mutual but begrudging respect made more sense to me and was far more interesting than a “sacrifice for love”. I’m not anti-romance, I’m just against the idea that romance is a requirement to give one’s story closure.
4. Supporting Characters
Pros: Likeable new characters
The Force Awakens did a good job setting up the supporting cast. Finn had a great dynamic with everyone he interacted with, and he was just an all-round lovable character that I wanted to see more of. Poe was the classic witty, charismatic pilot who was a lot of fun to watch. BB-8 was adorable. Overall, the new characters were fun and brought some good material to the table.
Cons: Hollow storylines
The problem lay in the follow-up film’s inability to utilize the characters. The Last Jedi introduced Rose, who had the potential to be a more versatile character, had they linked her story more to the sacrifice her sister made in the film’s opening sequence. Instead, both her and Finn spend their part of the film completely detached from the main plot. They end up on a forgettable, inconsequential adventure which feels like it was written solely to fulfill a contract for minimum screentime. A waste of Finn’s established character, and the potential that Rose had.
Poe’s storyline features him being a hotheaded rogue, having trouble following orders and eventually going around his commanding officer to do what he feels is best, as he does not believe she has the Rebellion’s best interests at heart. Why does he believe this? Because, though she did actually have a plan, a fairly good one, she chose not to share it with him, for…reasons. Ultimately, it was manufactured conflict that served no real purpose besides padding out the runtime.
5. Force Abilities
Pros: The Force connection between Rey and Kylo Ren
I’ve talked about this earlier, I’ll say it again. This was a good addition to the story. What made their dynamic such an interesting one was the fact that they understood each other, and their Force connection helped demonstrate that.
Cons: Curing Death
Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis The Wise?
After the climactic all-hands- (literally, every Jedi and Sith ever) -on-deck final fight, Rey collapses, her life-force spent. A freshly redeemed Ben appears, transferring the last of his life-force to her, bringing her back from the beyond.
Time and time again, this trilogy has cheapened the stakes that death is supposed to have. From Poe in Episode VII, to Leia in Episode VIII, to Chewie in Episode IX, and finally Rey being brought back from the dead after the final fight, fake-out deaths became something of a pattern with this trilogy. Any emotional impact a scene can have is lost the second the audience stops believing that there are stakes. It removes the depth and meaning the scene would otherwise have.
The inability to commit to impactful events is a fundamental problem for the series. Which brings me to my next point.
6. Return of the Emperor
Ah, here’s the man of the hour. The Sith that just keeps giving. Let’s talk about the Emperor’s new groove.
Pros: His flawless dental work
Credit where credit is due, guys.
Cons: Absolute failure to tell a new story
The Sequel Trilogy did not work hard enough to tell a unique story. Rather than forging its own path, Rise of Skywalker calls upon an old villain to bring the crowds in for its final curtain call.
Palpatine’s return completely nullifies the ending of the original trilogy, cheapening the impact of Vader’s sacrifice and everything about Luke Skywalker’s life.
It brings us back to the point that death has no real meaning in this galaxy, there will always be a convenient, cop-out way to bring any character back.
For instance, Obi-Wan Kenobi didn’t die. It was just laundry day.
Rise of Skywalker’s failure was rooted in its desire to ignore the existence of its predecessor. Yes, The Last Jedi was a flawed movie. But by pretending it never happened, Rise of Skywalker distances itself not only from The Last Jedi, but also from the opening act, The Force Awakens. Any world-building, character growth, or plot foundation that was laid down was thrown out the window, and replaced with a hasty Palpatine revival tour.
In summary:
The Force Awakens had potential. It leaned a little on the nostalgia factor, but did its job in setting up a base on which to build the new generation.
However, that base was never utilized, a new story never told. The Sequel Trilogy had a lackluster conclusion, relying almost exclusively on nostalgia to build up to the trilogy’s last hurrah.
Well, I’ve said my piece. It’s been fun. I’ll catch you guys at the next reunion concert.
~Nikita
