Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,
I will first start by saying that I enjoyed the Rise of Skywalker. I felt it fixed many issues from the Force Awakens and Last Jedi and gave the fans a satisfying end to the Skywalker Saga. But if viewers were not readers of the other Star Wars media, such as comics and books, the Rise of Skywalker may have been confusing. From Palpatine's return to the Force Dyad, there was a lot to unpack, and not a lot of explanations to back up the many questions that surfaced.
I wanted to share with my readers my thoughts on the entire new trilogy before I read the expanded novel by Rae Carson. Remember, these are my opinions and are not meant to tell you how to enjoy your fandom.
Here are ten observations I came away from the new trilogy with:
1. Captain Phasma- she was a cool character that was vastly underused in the films. Her armor's capability, training, and even escape from Starkiller Base were all shown off-screen in novels and comics. It would have been great to see much of what was written brought to the big screen. With Kathleen Kennedy's emphasis on female-driven storytelling, Phasma would have been an excellent addition to this; it was an opportunity missed.
2. Emperor Palpatine- his return ushered in many fans scratching their heads as to why he was even in the Rise of Skywalker. But to readers, his return was not a surprise at all. The Aftermath trilogy by Chuck Wendig introduced the Emperor’s contingency plans should he be killed. This included a purging of Imperial forces, retribution against planets that opposed the Empire, or were deemed unworthy allies (Operation: Cinder), and secret laboratories across the Unknown Regions. Cloning was introduced into canon once again with the Darth Vader comics. And the game Fortnite included a foreboding message from the Emperor telling of his return. But with all of this build-up happening off-screen, many fans had no idea why Palpatine was back. It was a mishandled return that could have been better.
3. The Force- the meaning and distribution of the Force was explored extensively throughout the new Disney canon. Everything from lightsaber colors to the introduction of the Force Dyad gave us a flesh-out understanding of the power that binds and surrounds us. I was happy that Leia and Luke’s use of the Force varied between them. It gave the Skywalker twins a different purpose as Force wielders. The Dyad was a fascinating addition that was used wisely, bringing the grandchildren of two of the galaxy’s Sith to unite in the Force. I also loved the message that anyone can connect to the Force on different levels, eliminating the need to be a part of a Jedi or Sith family. Maz and Finn both were Force users and don’t forget Broom Boy from Canto Bight.
4. Force Friday- An event I had the most fun attending in the beginning during Disney’s newest trilogy, was being a part of Force Friday. Many stores had midnight openings that featured new merchandise. I was at the first Force Friday at Toys R Us and Disney Store. Both events were a lot of fun and it was great interacting with other Star Wars fans. The YouTube Live event introducing the new toys was viewed worldwide. As the movies were released, I saw a diminished attendance at the events as fans became divided on how Disney was handling the franchise. The last event, Triple Force Friday, was moved from September to October and had barely anyone in attendance. This had a lot to do with New York Comic Con being on the same day.
5. Forces of Destiny- this group of animated shorts were told by Maz Kanata and attempted to fill in gaps between different events in the Skywalker Saga. From how Leia got her bounty hunter disguise for Return of the Jedi to more of Luke’s training with Yoda, they were a delight to watch. And surprisingly Rebels' Hera Syndulla was revealed to have been part of both the Battle of Endor and the Battle of Hoth. It was a great way to get extra stories and see moments in Star Wars history from another point of view.
6. Kylo Ren- one of my favorites of the new trilogy, Kylo Ren was a complex character with a deadly balancing act between the light and the dark. His fan-worship of his grandfather, Darth Vader, gave him a savage edge. He was calculating and reckless, much like Anakin was before and after becoming Vader. His treatment on-screen was excellently portrayed. And in the comics, novels, and video games, he was given even more depth. He was a great villain, but his fight with his light side made for a story that was unpredictable.
7. Princess Leia Organa- she received the largest boost in the trilogy, in my opinion. With the acquisition by Disney, this already amazing character was given a lot of back story and a host of new adventures. Writer Claudia Gray's novels expanded on Leia as a teen and as an aging senator. And the comics gave us many insights into her future actions in the films. Her abilities were on full display in the Last Jedi as she used living energies in the Force to save herself from death when she was blown into space. She trained Rey as a Jedi even though she knew that Rey was descended from the Emperor. And for the first time in film history, we saw Leia's training as a Jedi. I was incredibly happy with Leia’s treatment under Disney.
8. Luke Skywalker- This was a mixed bag for me. I was impressed that The Last Jedi had the forethought to show us a more human Luke. But his overall treatment in the new films left me a bit flat. Meanwhile, the comics, video games, and books gave us the heroic and legendary Jedi, with many interesting nuances that added a lot to his character. From his adventures across the galaxy to find Jedi and Sith relics to the forming and downfall of his Jedi Academy, we were given a lot of Luke. In the Rise of Skywalker, I was happy that in death he came to the realization that his self-imposed exile to Ahch-To had been a mistake, and he prevented Rey from following in his footsteps. The best moment in the new trilogy for Luke was the revelation that the Jedi Master was able to Force Project himself across the galaxy. That made him even more legendary in my eyes.
9. Rey- she was my favorite of the stories. She was a fantastic addition to the franchise. I loved her tenacity and patience. She shined in every tale told in the new canon. She defeated her very bloodline to save the galaxy, and never once gave in to the Dark Side no matter how much it called to her. She knew her limits and built upon them to become the Jedi she strove to be. I am happy that I have more Rey stories to read.
10. Supreme Leader Snoke and the Knights of Ren- two excellent additions to the franchise that were made out to be big deals in the new canon. By the Rise of Skywalker they were sent to the background. Snoke was just a clone created by the Emperor. And the Knights were less menacing than they had been initially touted as. Both became less of a mystery and more of a disappointment. However, Snoke’s death in the Last Jedi served Kylo Ren’s storyline very well, letting Ren achieve what his grandfather did not: rule the galaxy.
If you have a comment for me, please leave it below. I would love to know how your reading is going so far this year.
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2019 Reading Challenge (blank version)
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