Star Wars: Spoilers ahead for both the Star Wars and MCU films
Disney has the market cornered on expanding and fleshing out universes both here and in the MCU via this streaming service. We are entering a new era in story telling.
Rise of Skywalker may salvage the sequel trilogy and improve other films in the series (Last Jedi) by filling in certain gaps similarly to how Infinity War and End Game improve Age of Ultron. Maybe they explain Snoke’s backstory. Maybe he was just a pawn that was used and or propped up by The Emperor all along.
If there ever was a time to bring back Hayden Christiansen, it’s this movie. It would also help explain his presence in the special edition of Return of the Jedi. Bring Qui Gonn back as well.
Speaking of ROTJ, I have mixed feelings on The Emperor’s return.
A New Hope, he’s just mentioned in a throw away line. Empire he appears in the hologram. Jedi, he’s a great character, but it’s not until the prequels that his character and motivations are fleshed out. I think it’s very important that Luke refers to him as Darth Sidious in Last Jedi when discussing with Rey. The Sith and Sidious are never mentioned in the OT. They were created for the prequels.
So whose series is this?
Lucas stated that the Star Wars saga was Anakin Skywalker’s story; his rise, fall, and ultimate redemption. It’s clear that in the original Star Wars (ANH), this was not the case. He’s only got about twelve minutes of screen time. It’s not until the retcon in Empire that he’s part of the bigger story.
Where I’m going with this is that I hope they don’t cheapen Anakin’s redemption at the end of ROTJ when he throws The Emperor down the elevator shaft. If The Emperor survived somehow, it completely cheapens Anakin’s sacrifice.
Now, as to Palpatine. Is this HIS story? Will we get answers to the Darth Plageius story? Are we to assume that Palpatine killed him off and created Anakin? Did Palpatine and the sith truly find the path to cheat death?
Does this make the entire 9 episode saga in fact Palpatine’s story? Is everyone else merely a part of HIS saga? Could it be that in creating Anakin, he ultimately created the lineage of Jedi who would be his undoing?
Curious to see how they end this. It feels as though Last Jedi already had its Iron Man “snap” moment with Luke offing himself. Han was offed in TFA. I’m sure Leia will have a nice moment, but it feels almost as though all the big guns have been fired.
Needless to say, I’m intrigued.
Here’s to a fall spent speculating!