A Sith Hiding In Plain Sight

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2017)

"In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way."
First off, I'm well aware of all the negative reviews here on IMDb. That being said, their grievances are warranted if, and only if, Mr. Abrams and Mr. Johnson didn't have something more devious planned all along, only to be revealed in Episode IX. That being said, here's my take on it all.
Deep, complex, brooding, machismo Kylo Ren stumbles and matures in this space opera designed to get you mad, but also to get you thinking. (I apologize if most of this review ends up being massive spoilers for Episode IX.) This appears to be setting up Ren for an epic humbling when he discovers his lineage to be that of the irrelevant. Ever wonder why Kylo looks nothing like Han or Leia? That's right! He was most likely adopted. His redemption arc could truly be one for the ages! Our heroine, on the flip side, is only coming to grips with her lineage issues fueled by a well-timed misinformation reveal, only later to find out she is actually the granddaughter of the Emperor. He has found his way back and is posing as Snoke to create a training tool (Kylo Ren) for his all-powerful heir. Women do not get enough chances to play dark, complex, and totally unexpected villains. What a treat for Daisy Ridley to get to bring this all to fruition! And what a job she is doing! There are hints of suppressed darkness in almost all of her scenes. Adam Driver's Ren conveys the exact opposite beneath his vicious exterior. He conveys an obvious love for all things Grandpa Vader which must, of course, also include his long, but satisfying redemption arc. You definitely see the parallels between Hayden Christensen's Anakin and Driver's Kylo Ren.
As for the other characters, I genuinely liked them. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were both excellent. As for Leia in space, I wouldn't have chosen to include that scene, but it's up to personal tastes. There is no ambiguity in Fisher's portrayal of Leia. She is good, and she is wise. Mark Hamill's Luke this time around is nowhere near as easy to read. Is he Dark, or is he Light? I have absolutely no idea. Poe, Finn, and Rose are all likeable and, for the most part, competent. The Officers in the First Order were mostly wooden and were not really intimidating.
Okay, I do acknowledge that I infer quite a lot about where the writers are heading on this journey. This is one scenario that makes sense to me. The only one that doesn't is Rey is omnipotent and benevolent, Snoke was no one of importance, Rey's parents were nobodies, Kylo Ren is pure evil and intimidating instead of annoying, Han died for nothing, Luke is weak and super strong at the same time and died for nothing, and the Light has finally brought imbalance to the Force in its favor. If a majority of this is their actual intent, then it just plain sucks.
"I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. Makes you stronger."