Let’s start with Lost. When you create a series as intriguing as that, you really need a clear idea of where you are going. So regardless of how long Abrams was involved, the lack of an ending falls on his shoulders. The fact that they couldn’t pull it out seems to be because he likes creating things that don’t go anywhere. The number of plot holes on TFA that you have to just accept for the action to lead to the map is appalling. Very bad writing.

His work in Star Trek is full of plot holes. He is the plot hole king. His lack of familiarity with the material is glaring. He made some loud, bright, fun movies, but no substance. Both Star Trek and Star Wars have substance and Abrams has had 4 tried and not captured that substance once. From the comments about his other work that I haven’t seen, that is the norm.

The man is a good director, but he is a bad writer and a bad editor (while directors don’t often actually do the edits, they are still in charge during the editing process). The only hope for this film if he is directing is if his co-writer does the hard work and the ending and if Kennedy supervises him during the editing process. Otherwise IX will end on a whimper or maybe a WTF. I really wish that Rian was going to write it and co-direct it. That might save it. Abrams has no sense of story. He does great characters and scenes, but string them together into a story isn’t one of his talents.