For the past 42 years, the world has been captivated time and again by the universe of Star Wars. As hard as it may be to believe, both the Skywalker Saga and the sequel trilogy will be ending once and for all in December of 2019 with the upcoming release of Episode IX, The Rise of Skywalker.
Expectations are high for The Rise of Skywalker, especially after all the radical changes (and some pretty controversial ones at that) introduced to the world of the saga by Episode VIII, The Last Jedi. Looking back at Rian Johnson's critically acclaimed entry in the Skywalker Saga, it's clear that there are some things that J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker could really improve on - but also some narratives that need to be matched in terms of quality and importance.
Improve: More balanced plot focus
It's definitely true that every single Star Wars film manages to make the most of its run time and pack in as much plot and adventure and emotion as it possibly can. Sometimes, that works really well. Other times, you get an extended adventure on Canto Bight that could have been trimmed down and characters like DJ who genuinely add very little to the overall narrative.
It's clear that The Rise of Skywalker will have similar plot detours, such as the one that finds our heroes on Pasaana. Hopefully, the duration of that story will be more balanced compared with The Last Jedi's uneven focus.
Match: Stunning cinematography
The Last Jedi might have been one of the most controversial films to date in the now expansive Star Wars saga, but there's one thing that can't be denied: it was absolutely stunning to watch, from start to finish, regardless of how you felt about the actual content of the plot.
Rian Johnson's direction allowed for the film to feel like a truly artistic, cinematic experience, as opposed to your standard run of the mill science fiction, action movie fare. Hopefully, J.J. Abrams learned from some of that artistic vision and allowed the natural beauty of a galaxy far far away to shine through.
Improve: A more unified Resistance
At the end of The Last Jedi, the Resistance is more depleted than it's ever been and in truly dire straits, even if Leia insists that all they need is right here. But truth be told, for the entire movie, the Resistance is pretty much a hot mess.
There's internal conflict within the ranks, thanks to Poe's childish entitlement and attempted coup against Vice Admiral Holdo in Leia's absence. But there's also the growing sense that the Resistance have no allies in the entire galaxy - a message that is simply impossible to bear, when The Rise of Skywalker will be even more filled to bursting with villainous threats, old and new.
Match: New characters who shake things up for the better
The Last Jedi introduced many characters that changed the scope of the saga in meaningful ways, including Laura Dern's Amilyn Holdo, Kelly Marie Tran's Resistance mechanic Rose Tico, her heroic sister Paige Tico, and of course the adorable porgs who quickly took over the title of the franchise's cutest creature.
The Rise of Skywalker already looks to have a whole array of new characters - including Zorii Bliss, Jannah, Allegiant General Pryde, Babu Frik, and D-O. Hopefully, these new additions won't detract from all the film needs to accomplish and answer, and will instead add to the film's overall meaning.
Improve: Villains with clear motives
We're going to be brutally honest here: literally what was the point of Supreme Leader Snoke? What did he hope to accomplish? It was significant that he had manipulated Kylo Ren for his entire life, as the expanded universe novels reveal. And it was important that Kylo Ren be allowed the opportunity to turn on his master and feel the pull toward the light.
But other than that, what did this mysterious monstrous being accomplish – or intend to, at least? Absolutely nothing. With Emperor Palpatine having returned to the fold somehow, it's clear that the series has a lot in mind for its final, villainous narrative. Hopefully, it will actually make sense.
Match: Embrace the Heroine's Journey
Joseph Campbell's concept of the Hero's Journey is one that all archetypal, successful Hollywood films use, in addition to countless works of literature. Star Wars is just about as archetypal as it gets, and George Lucas was even open about the legacy that Campbell's works had on his own conception and creation of the saga.
But an alternative narrative theory has emerged, one with a feminine influence, in the form of Maureen Murdock's Heroine's Journey. From day one, it has been clear that this is the journey Rey is taking - a journey born from the acceptance of the masculine and feminine, of resolving inner wounds and healing, and of finding oneself in ways atypical to the conventionally male journey. The Rise of Skywalker needs to allow Rey's journey to conclude in accordance with this ideology, rather than forcing her into the conventional Hero's Journey narrative typical of the previous two trilogies.
Improve: Poe Dameron
The Last Jedi did a lot of things really, really well - even if certain groups of fans refuse to admit it. But arguably the worst decision the movie made was the way in which it expanded Poe Dameron's role, turning him from a stock Resistance hero with little personality into a sexist, aggressive, short-sighted troublemaker.
Many of the Resistance's problems and losses in the film can be laid squarely at Poe's feet. The Rise of Skywalker is clearly setting him up for a more significant leadership role so, hopefully, he'll have learned from his many, many mistakes.
Match: Keep focus on character, not spectacle
A big part of what's wrong with so many Hollywood blockbusters these days is the over-emphasis on action and conflict, rather than focusing on the more interesting emotional narratives inherent within any human. The Last Jedi was groundbreaking for Star Wars in the fact that it was arguably the saga's most character-driven film, even if it had plenty of fighting and conflict, too.
The Rise of Skywalker has plenty of meaty emotional material to contend with, as it represents the final film not only in the sequel trilogy, but also a saga 42 years in the making. Hopefully, the film doesn't cater to conventional emotionless action film expectations.
Improve: A clearer timeline
A lot happens over the course of The Last Jedi, but it's never exactly clear just how much time has passed. Furthermore, the film's many narratives seem to coexist, but function in entirely different timelines. Rey's training takes place over the course of a few days, but Finn and Rose's journey in Canto Bight surely seems like it happens much more quickly than that, for example.
It's hard for a fast-paced film like these to establish a clear and cogent timeline while also maintaining a sense of urgency and importance. But hopefully, The Rise of Skywalker will find a way to do so, while also allowing the plot to breathe a bit more, too.
Match: Reylo
Without question, the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren is the most significant thing to come out of the sequel trilogy so far, and arguably the most unique dynamic in the entirety of the Skywalker Saga. The Last Jedi took this relationship to a breathtaking new level for the series, allowing the characters to have the first live-action representation of a Force Bond.
The duo ended The Last Jedi on opposite sides once again, though clearly still wishing they could join one another in some way. The Rise of Skywalker, therefore, has an undeniable obligation to bring the relationship to its natural, fitting conclusion: since The Last Jedi had them end on bad terms, so The Rise of Skywalker has to fix that wound and allow them to make things right once and for all.