A Satisfying Conclusion Against the Odds

Rating: 7/10 (24 December 2019)

After the train wreck that was TLJ, JJ Abrams was left to pick up the pieces and plot threads / characters that Rian Johnson seemed to have no interest in developing. Could Abrams give this trilogy a satisfying conclusion in light of Johnson's seeming intent to disrespect and disregard all that had gone before with his film? Well, for the most part the answer (somewhat against the odds) is yes. Elements of TLJ that annoyed / enraged some long time Star Wars fans (myself included) are addressed / countered to give at least some context to some of the previous film's most baffling plot choices. How Mark Hamill must have loved delivering the line about a jedi 'respecting their weapon' in light of his (and many fans) disappointment at the treatment of Luke in the previous film! Sure, the plot seems somewhat cobbled together and re-treads familiar themes / plotlines from previous entries, but Abrams keeps the pace up to make this seem almost (?) irrelevant. As with The Force Awakens, this actually FEELS like a Star Wars movie. Some might call it 'fan service', but I prefer to look at it as understanding your audience and their expectations. So while the sequel trilogy never reached the heights of the original trilogy (how could it?) and at times during TLJ seemed to sink to the depths of the worst of the prequels, this final film is a solid enough entry to see the Skywalker Saga out, if not in style then at least in respectability.