Star Wars - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Overview: The final installment of the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, faced immense pressure to conclude the epic narrative. While visually stunning, the film struggled with rushed pacing, underdeveloped characters, and divisive plot decisions that left many fans dissatisfied.

Specific fan and critic reactions emphasized these shortcomings. Many fans expressed frustration over the rushed introduction of plot elements such as Rey’s Palpatine lineage, which felt disconnected from prior films. Critics highlighted the lack of cohesion, with one noting that the film "operates at hyperspeed, but forgets to develop its emotional core," a sentiment echoed across reviews. Additionally, moments like Finn and Poe’s sidelined arcs drew ire for "wasting promising character trajectories."

Issues Identified:

Rushed Pacing: Key plot points were introduced and resolved too quickly, undermining emotional depth.

Underdeveloped Characters: Central figures like Rey, Finn, and Poe lacked meaningful growth.

Redundant Villain: The reintroduction of Emperor Palpatine felt unnecessary and disconnected from the preceding films.

Missed Emotional Payoffs: Moments like Leia Organa’s farewell were underwhelming due to limited integration.

Proposed Fixes:

Strengthen the Core Narrative: Focus on Rey’s struggle with identity and connection to the Force. Reframe her as a self-made Jedi instead of revealing her as a Palpatine.

Unified Villain: Build Kylo Ren into a more complex antagonist, ultimately transitioning him into a reluctant hero by the climax.

Expand Pacing: Allow the story to breathe by spacing out the search for Exegol and the Sith Wayfinder, exploring the galaxy’s stakes more deeply.

Enhance Emotional Payoffs: Integrate Leia’s wisdom meaningfully into Rey’s journey and provide a climactic moment uniting Rey, Finn, and Poe against fear and oppression.

Rework the Final Battle: Center the climax on a personal confrontation between Rey and Kylo Ren, symbolizing redemption and balance in the Force.

By focusing on character-driven storytelling, improved pacing, and cohesive themes, The Rise of Skywalker could have delivered a more satisfying conclusion to the Star Wars saga.