I think what is throwing some people off is this movie goes against expectations. It was a huge gamble to go against the grain and go darker than ESB ever dreamed of being. The Rebels were on the run in ESB, but never did we see them decimated like this, literally down to one command ship and enough people to fit in the Falcon. And the last sliver of hope allies will come and save the day is met with radio silence. Things have never been this bad for the good guys.
Luke has felt the burden of being the hero of legend and a few seconds of fear and indecision has cost everyone dearly. We are light years from that night on Endor with our heroes surrounded by happy Ewoks.
I honestly don’t know where the next film will take us, because a lot of this felt like what should have been saved for it.
There is a power vacuum in the First Order now, and I doubt Kylo is going to be able to throw everyone who disagrees with him into a wall. Someone even worse than Snoke could be waiting in the wings seizing the opportunity to take control.
This is something I loved about TLJ, it didn’t take the middle movie safe route any more than ESB, and like you said, went even further. Can’t wait to see where Kylo goes from here.
I’m actually curious about that direction too. Of all the things TLJ made interesting for me, it was the way it subverted Kylo Ren’s possible redemption. I’m more annoyed that it was a little too hamfisted in how “failure is the best teacher,” as it feels like nobody won at the end.