Would have been better with a stronger second film

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2019)

Yes, this fan catered to Star Wars fans. I don't see how making a Star Wars film catering to it's fanbase is a bad thing. Rian Johnson doesn't share that view, and it's evident in how uneven the final trilogy is.
JJ clearly had an overall story arc in mind for the trilogy. If you ignore the second movie, Rise of Skywalker fits perfectly. The only problem it faces is the rush to cram so much into it.
Had the second film built upon the first instead of retconning character development, introducing tertiary characters no one cared about, separating the three main protagonists, had a plot that advanced the trilogy arc rather than engaging in a slow speed chase in space that OJ and the white SUV could overtake, and and and...
Yes, it is a tad rushed as a result of the second film. Yes, most critics hated it despite loving Last Jedi. Yes, it caters to devoted fans that have spent billions of dollars for a story they have grown up with.
No, that's not a bad thing. Sabotaging a franchise with glee is. Thank you JJ Abrams for not only salvaging the finale, but for making what might be my favorite Star Wars movie.