Over the past week and a half, I have been re-watching every Star Wars episode released (so every theatrical film minus Clone Wars, Rogue One, and Solo). Why? In a recent interview, director J.J. Abrams stated that his newest film, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, isn’t just the ending to the recent sequel trilogy, but the ending to the entirety of the Star Wars trilogies. So, okay – he’s not just trying to wrap up The Force Awakens and Last Jedi – but Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi too?
I guess the former sounded too easy to him. No, I get it – if this truly is the last one (and I think it is), then there should be some ‘full circle’ elements going on that encompass the other trilogies. So…that’s what he went for. Did he do it? Yes, but the result is not pretty and sometimes downright painful. Let’s get into it: (warning: minor spoilers)
Colin McMahon 