fmalover said:
The fact that everyone is excited about Mr. Copy-paste returning for episode IX baffles me.

Abrams is a mixed bag for me. When TFA came out, I too was disappointed that it wasn’t more creative. I mean, despite the EU no longer being canon (a dumb, no-good-reason move on Disney’s part), there are still good story concepts embedded in it (e.g., Thrawn has been re-canonized). Why they couldn’t have tapped that treasure trove is beyond me.

Ah, but then came the dud that is TLJ. Ruin Johnson not only dissed the whole franchise – he even stupidly ignored questions and implications raised by TFA. The two movies are barely related to each other.

Say what you want about Abrams: at least he respects what has come before. And it’s for that reason – not cuz I think he’s a “genius” – that I’m glad he’s directing Ep9. I’m confident that if he makes an honest effort he can fix at least some of what Ruin ruined.