It’s been over half a decade since J.J. Abrams brought the Skywalker Saga to a crashing, lightning-filled halt. Honestly, walking out of the theater in late 2019 felt like waking up from a fever dream where horses ran on Star Destroyers and Palpatine was somehow back from the dead. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker remains one of the most polarizing blockbusters in modern cinema history. Some people love the breakneck pace. Others can’t get over the "Somehow, Palpatine returned" line that launched a thousand memes.
Whether you think it’s a fun space adventure or a narrative train wreck, the movie changed the franchise forever. It wasn't just a film; it was a massive corporate pivot. Disney and Lucasfilm were trying to course-correct after the backlash to The Last Jedi, and you can see the fingerprints of that struggle on every single frame of Episode 9.
The Palpatine Problem and the Script That Never Was
The most chaotic part of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker isn't even on the screen. It’s what happened behind the scenes. Originally, Colin Trevorrow was supposed to direct a movie titled Duel of the Fates. If you've spent any time on Star Wars forums, you know the leaked concept art for that version is legendary. It featured a Coruscant uprising and a much darker arc for Kylo Ren.
But things changed.
Carrie Fisher’s passing in 2016 forced a massive rewrite. Then Trevorrow left over "creative differences," and Abrams was brought back to finish what he started in The Force Awakens. This created a weird tug-of-war. The movie spends its first forty-five minutes basically undoing the plot points of the previous film. Rey isn't a "nobody" anymore; she’s a Palpatine. Snoke wasn't a mysterious dark lord; he was a clone in a vat.
It’s fast. Too fast? Probably.
The pacing of the first act feels like a trailer played at 1.5x speed. We hop from Pasaana to Kijimi to Kef Bir so quickly that the emotional weight of the locations rarely has time to sink in. We finally get to see the remains of the Death Star II, which is genuinely cool imagery, but the movie is already sprinting toward the next MacGuffin.
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The Chemistry of the Core Trio
One thing the movie actually got right was the chemistry between Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac. We finally got to see Rey, Finn, and Poe together on a mission. It took three movies to get there! Their bickering feels real. Poe’s history as a spice runner adds a layer of grit to his character, even if it felt a bit shoved in at the last minute to give him a backstory.
Rey Skywalker and the Legacy of the Force
The decision to make Rey the granddaughter of Sheev Palpatine is still the biggest sticking point for many. In The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson argued that greatness can come from anywhere. You don't need a famous last name to be a hero. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker took the opposite approach. It argued that your bloodline doesn't define you—which is a classic Star Wars theme—but it did so by tying Rey back to the most recognizable villain in the galaxy.
It's a "nature vs. nurture" story.
Rey's struggle with the Dark Side is visually represented by her "Dark Rey" vision and her accidental use of Force Lightning on Pasaana. That moment was shocking. It showed a raw power that we hadn't seen in a Jedi protagonist before. But the resolution—Rey taking the Skywalker name at the Lars homestead on Tatooine—remains a "love it or hate it" moment. To some, it’s a beautiful tribute to her mentors, Luke and Leia. To others, it feels like identity theft.
The Redemption of Ben Solo
Adam Driver carried this trilogy. His performance as Kylo Ren, and eventually the redeemed Ben Solo, is the emotional anchor of the film. The "memory" of Han Solo on the wreckage of the Death Star is arguably the best scene in the movie. It’s a mirroring of the bridge scene from The Force Awakens, but this time, it’s about forgiveness rather than murder.
When he finally sheds the Kylo Ren persona and starts fighting the Knights of Ren with a shrug and a saber toss? That's pure cinema. It’s just a shame he didn't have any dialogue after his redemption. He just grunts, fights, and dies. It felt like a missed opportunity for a deeper conversation between him and Rey.
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Technical Feats and the Return of Practical Effects
Say what you want about the script, but the production value is insane. Neal Scanlan’s creature shop outdid themselves. Babu Frik is a masterpiece of puppetry and character design. He became an instant fan favorite for a reason.
The duel on the Death Star ruins is another highlight. Instead of the overly choreographed dances of the Prequel era, this was a heavy, exhausting brawl. You could feel the weight of the lightsabers. The crashing waves of Kef Bir provided a scale that made the fight feel operatic.
Then there’s the score. John Williams, at 87 years old, delivered his final Star Wars score. He brought back themes from the entire 42-year history of the saga. If you listen closely during the final battle at Exegol, you can hear bits of "The Emperor's Theme," "The Force Theme," and even hints of the Prequel scores. It’s a sonic farewell to a galaxy far, far away.
Why the Ending Still Sparks Debate
The Battle of Exegol is basically "Star Wars on steroids." Thousands of Star Destroyers with "Death Star tech" guns. A literal fleet of "everyday people" showing up to save the day. It’s a spectacle. But it also raises a lot of questions about the internal logic of the universe.
- How did Palpatine build all those ships in secret?
- Where did the crews come from?
- Why did the Sith Eternal wait so long?
If you think about it too hard, the plot starts to wobble. But Star Wars has always been about "space fantasy" rather than hard sci-fi. It operates on the Rule of Cool. If it looks cool, it stays. The "Force Ghost" voices at the end—cameos from Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, and others—were a nice touch for the hardcore fans, even if we didn't get to see them physically.
Lessons from the Sequel Era
Looking back, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was a lesson in the dangers of not having a roadmap. The Sequel Trilogy felt like three different directors trying to tell three different stories. Abrams started a mystery, Johnson subverted the expectations, and then Abrams had to scramble to find a middle ground.
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Since then, Lucasfilm has shifted its focus. We’ve seen the success of The Mandalorian and the critical acclaim of Andor. They’ve realized that Star Wars works best when it has room to breathe. The "Golden Age of Star Wars TV" exists partly because the movies became so congested and controversial.
How to Re-watch Episode 9 Today
If you’re planning a re-watch, don't look for a perfect narrative thread. Look for the character moments. Focus on the relationship between Rey and Kylo. Appreciate the practical sets. If you treat it as a high-octane celebration of Star Wars tropes, it’s a lot more enjoyable than if you try to treat it as a tight, logical conclusion to a nine-film arc.
Actionable Steps for the Star Wars Completionist
If you want to get the full context of what happened in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, don't just watch the movie. The expanded media actually fixes a lot of the plot holes.
- Read the Novelization by Rae Carson: It explicitly explains how Palpatine survived (he’s a clone body inhabited by his original spirit) and gives more depth to the "Force Dyad."
- Check out "Shadow of the Sith" by Adam Christopher: This book is essential. It tells the story of Luke and Lando searching for Exegol years before the movie takes place. It makes the Ochi of Bestoon plotline actually make sense.
- Watch the "The Skywalker Legacy" Documentary: It’s included in the Blu-ray/Disney+ extras. It shows the sheer amount of work that went into the practical effects and the emotional toll of finishing the saga.
- Listen to the Soundtrack Separately: John Williams’ work on "The Rise of Skywalker" suite is phenomenal and stands alone as a great piece of orchestral music.
The movie isn't perfect. It's messy, loud, and frequently confusing. But it's also a testament to the enduring power of these characters. We care about this stuff enough to argue about it years later. That’s the real legacy of the Skywalker name. It doesn't matter who your grandfather was; what matters is what you do with the lightsaber once it’s in your hand.
Explore the "Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" comic series to see how the Resistance rebuilt itself after the losses on Crait. It fills in the gap between Episode 8 and 9 much better than the opening crawl does.
Stay curious about the lore, but don't let the internet's cynicism ruin the fun of a good old-fashioned space opera. Sometimes, you just need to turn off your brain and watch a golden droid get his memory wiped by a tiny alien mechanic. That’s the magic of Star Wars. It’s weird, it’s flawed, and it’s ours.