Star Wars' core story came to an end in 2019, with The Rise of Skywalker bringing things to a satisfying ending. Over the course of the saga, many characters were introduced, with some becoming the stuff of Hollywood legend in the process. Some, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, stayed the same pretty much throughout - but others ended up changing considerably from how they were first introduced.
So here are five characters who were altered for the better, and five that weren't. Hindsight can be a beautiful thing...
Best: Anakin Skywalker
Chronologically, the character of Anakin Skywalker was first introduced in 1999's The Phantom Menace. Then just nine years old, it's clear he's a talented Jedi in the making - especially after navigating his way to glory at the Boonta Eve Podrace. However, given he's so young, innocent, and likable, it was pretty hard to see him transforming into Darth Vader, perhaps the biggest bad guy in the whole saga.
Yet the other two installments of George Lucas' prequel trilogy ultimately see Anakin change. He's arrogant at the beginning of Attack of the Clones and slides towards the dark side when he wipes out the Tusken Raiders shortly after the death of his mother, Shmi. And it's a similar story in Revenge of the Sith, with Anakin's mood shifting throughout that blockbuster. He transforms into Vader - a complete different person to who he was many years previously.
Worst: Yoda
Yoda is a fearsome warrior during the prequel trilogy. He has an epic lightsaber duel with Count Dooku, saving both Anakin and Obi-Wan after they're nearly killed. And he shows how courageous he is in Revenge of the Sith, too, locking sabers with Emperor Palpatine before ultimately being forced to flee.
However, when he appears again in The Empire Strikes Back, he's a far cry from the Jedi he used to be. Using hindsight, it's a pretty underwhelming shift in character. Yoda has clearly lost his mind after so many years of lying low on Dagobah and that's to the belittlement of the powerful Jedi Knight.
Best: Han Solo
Han Solo is a loveable rogue throughout the whole saga. But when he's first introduced during the events of A New Hope, he comes across as both cocky and careless. Han makes no secret of the fact he doesn't wish to help the Rebel Alliance in the fight against the Galactic Empire but, fortunately, changes his mind.
That leads to Han becoming an integral part of the Alliance. He helps destroy the first Death Star, protects Leia Organa on the planets of Hoth and Bespin and, in Return of the Jedi, plays a key role in the Empire's crushing defeat on Endor. Having not originally intended to stick around, it's quite the turnaround for Harrison Ford's character.
Worst: Finn
Finn is awesome in The Force Awakens, a complex character with much potential. After fleeing the First Order, many fans expected him to be a significant character - especially given how there were suggestions he may be force-sensitive. He is during the first installment of the sequel trilogy but, after that, gets shunted to the sidelines.
Even John Boyega was critical of Finn's arc and story in the two movies that followed, with the character very much taking a back seat while Rey and Kylo Ren share the spotlight. He doesn't really have much dialogue and that's a major shame given Boyega's obvious talents as an actor.
Best: Rey
Daisy Ridley's character certainly wasn't universally popular, with some fans criticizing her for being far too powerful far too early on. They have a point, too, especially considering she gets the better of Kylo Ren during both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi - despite being inexperienced by comparison.
However, The Rise of Skywalker actually adds layers of depth to Rey's character. She's no longer entirely angelic, coming precariously close to killing both Chewbacca and Kylo Ren. And she's left weakened by the revelation Palpatine is her grandfather, with that bombshell nearly tipping her over to the dark side. Make no mistake about it, Rey emerges from Episode IX far better than how she started it.
Worst: Palpatine
It's now time to bring up Palpatine. Certainly, he's a stellar bad guy throughout the franchise and an enjoyable part of The Rise of Skywalker. However, the decision to bring the Sith Lord back from the dead for one final fight actually belittles him.
Palpatine doesn't appear a credible threat in Episode IX because he was always destined to die again. Compare that to the original trilogy, where there was a genuine fear factor about the character, and it's true that the Sith Lord isn't the same as he was before. It was good to see him one last time but Disney would have better off leaving him dead, rather than resurrecting him in a bid to boost their ratings at the box office.
Best: Kylo Ren
In The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren comes across as a petulant teenager. He throws a tantrum when he learns BB-8 got away on Jakku and comes across as weak after being defeated by Rey in their lightsaber duel on Starkiller Base. Even in the opening stages of The Last Jedi, Ben Solo doesn't come across as a legitimate dangerman.
Yet that all changes when he kills Supreme Leader Snoke, in one of the biggest twists in Star Wars history. As the new Supreme Leader, and with a major kill under his belt, Kylo Ren comes across as far more villainous than he previously was. It complicates his character and makes his sudden transformation back into Ben Solo in The Rise of Skywalker all the more surprising.
Worst: General Hux
When The Force Awakens came out in 2015, comparisons were quickly made between new character General Hux and Grand Moff Tarkin, who was a loathsome imperial powerhouse during A New Hope. Having wiped out the Hosnian system, sending shockwaves across the galaxy in the process, Hux seemed a genuine rival to Kylo Ren when it came to ruling the First Order - something Adam Driver's character appeared to sense.
But Hux loses his fear factor early on during Episode VIII, being bullied by Supreme Leader Snoke and even getting put in his place by Rose Tico. The revelation he's a mole within the First Order damages his character, too, further emboldening many fans' belief that he's lost his aura. He's eventually killed by new character General Allegiant Pryde and Hux is certainly a good case of what could have been.
Best: Jar Jar Binks
A bit of a light-hearted one, Jar Jar Binks does change for the best in the prequel trilogy. And that's because, by the end of Revenge of the Sith, he's an individual very much in the shadows when it comes to telling the story.
He was prominent during The Phantom Menace but, after Jar Jar was panned by critics and fans alike, George Lucas decided to cut down his role. That means he's only in Attack of the Clones for a few seconds and, regarding Episode III, for a few insignificant seconds, This is all good, however, because Jar Jar's character definitely left plenty to be desired.
Worst: Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker really was the poster boy for courage and bravery everywhere after Return of the Jedi in 1983, where he stands up to both Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine by refusing to join the dark side. He's even willing to die for the cause yet, fortunately, because of Vader's dramatic intervention, it doesn't come to that.
However, Luke is a shadow of himself during The Last Jedi. The advice he gives Rey, telling her to run away from the fight, is in stark contrast to how he behaved while the Empire were operating at their peak. Many people had an issue with the handling of Luke's character and the sequel trilogy version of the iconic Jedi night definitely felt disappointing by comparison.