logo Sign In

NeverarGreat

User Group
Members
Join date
11-Sep-2012
Last activity
28-Mar-2024
Posts
7,643

Post History

Post
#1329450
Topic
Star Wars: <strong>The Rise Of Skywalker</strong> Redux Ideas thread
Time

act on instinct said:

Also for colorists be mindful you’re not crushing any existing detail at least before finalizing, noticed in the Ren fix (which I still prefer) the blacks reduced the amount of information in the padding of his outfit and some of his hair.

Maybe there is a very slight amount of detail loss in the deepest blacks, but if you look at the histogram the red channel was already being clipped before the correction. The green and blue channels were elevated, which created that bluish haze, so either I raise the red floor (which would cause undesirable effects) or decrease the blue and green to more closely match the red.

DominicCobb said:

NeverarGreat said:

My attempt at reducing the color cast (more screencaps in each comparison):

http://www.framecompare.com/image-compare/screenshotcomparison/DZYG7NNX

http://www.framecompare.com/image-compare/screenshotcomparison/JC1EJNNU

These look great, much more of a throwback look. Personal preference truly, I actually don’t think the Rey is too much red but I’d say in both of the Rey stills you’re kind of shifting into a more monochromatic look, less pop of the green jungle vs. Rey, and the sky vs. the desert. Probably a little too far in that desert pic in general (look at Finn’s pants and the stripes on his vest).

Thanks, throwback look is what I like! Agree that the desert shots are not quite there yet.

Post
#1329437
Topic
Star Wars: <strong>The Rise Of Skywalker</strong> Redux Ideas thread
Time

No that’s fair. When trying to remove a cast, it’s difficult to avoid going too far in the opposite direction. In this case the green and blue had to be reduced, and this meant that the red was always going to be more prominent. Maybe bright yellow/red scenes will need individual correction, but I bet with more delicate correction these scenes can be preserved.

Post
#1329141
Topic
What are you reading?
Time

Anakin Starkiller said:

Currently reading Duel of the Fates. It’s so much better than TRoS in some ways and yet so much worse in others. It’s kinda frustrating. And both of them needlessly add to the story of Rey’s parents, taking away from what was established in TLJ (obviously TRoS’s meddling is much worse, but still). It’s honestly kinda hilarious how, had this film been made, every film in the trilogy would’ve given Rey a different love interest. I really don’t get why they went for Rey x Poe. It comes outta nowhere (aside from that one scene Trevorrow requested be put in TLJ, and the romance was just as weird there), and is so much less interesting than Reylo, which was established. I’m also one of the twelve people on the planet who wanted Palpatine back, so there’s that. But I can’t help but wished they’d kept things like the inclusion of Coruscant and Mortis. It’s clear the people writing DotF had a love and understanding of SW as a whole whereas Abrams and Terrio just saw it as five movies.

I’m 2nd of 12 who thought Palps could have been good. And the weird thing is that his inclusion actually worked to make previous trilogies better from a lore perspective, which is almost unheard of with the ST. Too bad that he was crap in this one though.

And yeah, Coruscant should have been in Episode IX no matter what, there’s really no excuse. I’m definitely taking more elements from DOTF than from TROS for my rewrite, which goes to show how many more details it got right.

Neither TROS or DOTF really give Rey a decent character arc in keeping with the previous two films though, which is really what sinks both attempts.

Post
#1328603
Topic
General Writing, Illustration, and Publishing Thread
Time

Per Silverwook’s request, a thread pertaining to general writing and book projects. I’ll go ahead and provide some links to Youtube channels I’ve found helpful and educational:

Writing:

Just Write

Lessons from the Screenplay

Savage Books

Matthew Colville
(A writer/D&D Dungeon Master who shares tips helpful to both writers and game designers)

Illustration/Visual Design:

Sinix Design

The Art of Aaron Blaise
(An animator for Disney for such projects as The Lion King and Aladdin)

Feel free to share your own thoughts, projects, questions, and resources! If anyone has good publishing how-to’s or other resources, this would be welcome. I have only had a few things published and those years ago under special circumstances.

Post
#1328503
Topic
Episode IX: THE SHATTERED SWORD - DETAILED SUMMARY COMPLETE
Time

In the forward hangar, the former captain, Lieutenant Connix, and Ben are engaged in conversation. The former captain asks Ben if he’s sure he doesn’t want to take the captain’s Yacht. Ben says that he’d rather take his chances with the ship that blew up two Death Stars. The former captain is sure that this can’t be right, but Connix says that it is somewhat true. Besides, Ben says, they need the fastest ship in the fleet if they are to quickly recruit the Knights of Ren. The new Red Squadron leader shouts from across the deck that he will be missed.

Rey and Finn stand under the Falcon. Rey tells Finn that there’s something he needs to know, but Finn says that he was wrong to pry before. He tells her that she’s the most capable, talented, and powerful woman he has ever met and she doesn’t need to tell him, he trusts her no matter what. Ben wanders over, a crate slung over his shoulder. Finn pulls Rey closer and says that if Ben tries anything she has Finn’s permission to beat the hell out of him for the fourth time. Chewie brushes past on the ramp carrying three crates, knocking the crate off Ben’s shoulder and roaring at him to hurry up. Ben scoops it back up and follows Chewie. Threepio and R2 arrive, Threepio trying to dissuade his mechanic friend from his decision. R2 beeps resolutely. Threepio maintains that he will remain on the destroyer, as this mission seems too dangerous for the preeminent authority on the Jedi Texts. He must have thought for his safety after all. R2 says something unmentionable and rolls up the ramp along with Rey. ‘May the Force be with you.’ Finn says, from the depths of his being. Rey smiles, but looks like she’s about to cry.

In the cockpit, Chewie is already in the copilot’s seat starting engines. Ben takes the pilot’s seat. Chewie stares. Rey comes up and asks him what he thinks he’s doing, Ben replies that he knows more about the ship than anyone other than Chewie. Rey begs to differ, and Chewie roars in agreement. Ben acquiesces and moves behind Rey.

On the bridge of the destroyer, Poe and Finn stand together watching as the Falcon disappears into the clouds. Poe voices his unease at the situation, wondering what issue Rey was working through. Finn exudes calm confidence in her. A meaningful look passes between them. Finn shouts to Rose to pull up simulation 421. The crew groans as the lights dim to battle-ready status.

Breaking out of the nebula, the Falcon’s crew is greeted by the vast sea of stars. The stars turn to starlines.

Post
#1328448
Topic
Happy Birthday, OT.com - now 18 years old (as of 10th March, 2021)
Time

Nope, but when I joined in 2012 I remember that the best source for the OT was the GOUT.

Now we have 4K versions of 2/3 of the trilogy, something that nobody would have thought possible even then.

This place has probably had the biggest impact in spreading awareness of Star Wars in all its original glory, and I think that’s absolutely wonderful.

Post
#1328445
Topic
Episode IX: THE SHATTERED SWORD - DETAILED SUMMARY COMPLETE
Time

Thunder echoes through the empty halls of the darkened compound. As Thrawn passes a shuttered window, a lightning flash illuminates his path toward a door at the end of the hall. Behind him, at a respectful distance, a Noghri bodyguard follows silently. He reaches the door and after a moment it slides open, a small cloud of dust rising from the unused surfaces. He enters. Inside is a stately, if spartan, office. Accolades in frames festoon one wall, while behind a modestly decorated desk leans a painting of a large, severe man in Imperial uniform. From beneath a black commander’s hat fall several strands of red hair. Thrawn inspects this painting for a moment, then turns his attention to the desk. He disturbs the dust of the drawers, opening each in methodical fashion. Finally he sees something that catches his interest. Thunder crashes and lightning flashes from the hall. A beep sounds, and Thrawn answers the communicator. The officer on the other line says that Hux is approaching the station, and Thrawn responds that he will be there shortly. Outside the compound, sheets of rain lash the platform. The Noghri rushes to start Thrawn’s shuttle, the Grand Admiral himself walking at his own pace. The shuttle takes off, quickly flying above the clouds and into a clear star-studded sky marred only by the traceries of an orbital shipyard far above the planet Arkanis.

From the panoptic window of a spacious, expensive-looking office, Hux surveys the remnants of Kylo’s fleet, suspended in the traceries of metal and swarming with repair craft. Thrawn enters the room, dismissing his Noghri bodyguard and coming to stand next to Hux. The Supreme Leader asks why Thrawn has requested his presence here, and that it is interrupting a mission of some urgency. Thrawn asks about this mission, and Hux responds that it’s none of Thrawn’s business. The Grand Admiral is amused by this air of mystery and responds by noting that Hux has brought quite a military force of his own to accompany him on this mission, a curious thing given that few places in the galaxy would require such protection. In fact, he says, only the pirate-infested territory of Hutt space remains outside the iron grip of the First Order. But, he says, there is no reason to go into that territory since none of these worlds have been considered worth invading, all except one: Gramelon. By Hux’s expression Thrawn knows that he has guessed right. Thrawn notes that Kylo’s fleet, arrayed below them, is being repaired but that their crews are no doubt contaminated by Resistance propaganda and will need to be reconditioned or terminated. He says that by going to Gramelon, Hux has indicated that he will opt to terminate the crews and replace them with new recruits. Again he has guessed right. But, Thrawn continues, this is not the primary reason for going to Gramelon. Commander Brendol Hux, he says, once attempted to cultivate an Order of dark Force users for the Emperor, an attempt which failed. Hux turns on Thrawn, bristling at the very mention of his father. He grinds out that though Thrawn says that the Force is a distraction from power, he knows that Thrawn was once defeated by a mere whelp of a Force user, and that such a force could end the Resistance once and for all. Hux believes that beneath Thrawn’s calm exterior is a black hatred for their kind, dark or light, as a piece that doesn’t fit into his delicate calculations of power. Thrawn reaches into the fold of his coat for something, and Hux goes for his blaster. A duo of Death Troopers leap out of the shadows and pin Thrawn’s arms to his side. Hux warns Thrawn that he is still the Supreme Leader and Thrawn merely his servant. Thrawn agrees, calmly saying that his only wish is to serve the First Order. The Death Trooper pulls the coat open to reveal a lightsaber at Thrawn’s side. Hux takes it, igniting the yellow blade. Thrawn states that Hux should consider it a gift from the late Brendol Hux to his son, to aid him in gaining the fealty of the Knights of Ren. He only asks that Hux refrain from terminating those on Kylo’s Destroyers until he has gained them as allies. Hux agrees, releasing his Grand Admiral and ordering him to use all his resources in discovering the location of the Resistance. He leaves. Thrawn remains at the window, joined again by his bodyguard. The Noghri says that he didn’t tell Hux of the probable survival of Kylo Ren, and Thrawn replies that there is no reason to worry the Supreme Leader unduly. Besides, he adds, now they can easily predict where the Resistance will inevitably go.

Thunder echoes through the empty halls of the darkened compound. As Thrawn passes a shuttered window, a lightning flash illuminates his path toward a door at the end of the hall. Behind him, at a respectful distance, a Noghri bodyguard follows silently. He reaches the door and after a moment it slides open, a small cloud of dust rising from the unused surfaces. He enters. Inside is a stately, if spartan, office. Accolades in frames festoon one wall, while behind a modestly decorated desk leans a painting of a large, severe man in Imperial uniform. From beneath a black commander’s hat fall several strands of red hair. Thunder crashes and lightning flashes from the hall. A beep sounds, and Thrawn answers the communicator.

Outside the compound, sheets of rain lash the platform. The Noghri rushes to start Thrawn’s shuttle, the Grand Admiral himself walking at his own pace. The shuttle takes off, quickly flying above the clouds and into a clear star-studded sky marred only by the traceries of an orbital shipyard far above the planet Arkanis.

The First Order high command sits on one side of a long table which has been positioned next to a large observation window overlooking Kylo’s fleet. The ships sit in drydock around the planet Arkanis like a necklace of dark gems. Among the assembled officers sit also captains of galactic industry, most attired in severe dark suits save for one man in white with a red Plom bloom on his lapel. Thrawn’s captains sit as models of Imperial calm in stark contrast to the standard First Order officers who are lounging and bickering among themselves. Hux paces along the empty side of the table, expounding on the new division of power under his command. He awards the ships of Kylo’s fleet to Thrawn and several captains express dissention, not trusting this alien who seems to be already calling the shots in this Empire. One general expresses disdain and says he would never have been employed under the Emperor and another, general Pryde, retorts that Thrawn was employed under the Emperor. Angry barbs are exchanged, and into the chaos Thrawn arrives.

He announces that he has no need of these ships and furthermore they will take quite some time to be crewed by new officers so no immediate decision need be reached. Hux tells Thrawn that the crews are being reconditioned as they speak and so he will not need new bodies. However, the First Order will need many more ships to ensure order in the newly conquered galaxy, so quotas of harvesting must be increased. Many look uncomfortable at this, most of all the man in white. Hux says that if they are not able to accomplish this, the First Order will find men who will.

Hux also announces that he is taking temporary command of Thrawns fleet in order to go to Gramelon and accept the fealty of the Knights of Ren. Thrawn’s captains sit straighter in their chairs. Thrawn narrows his eyes at this, saying that he knights are of little consequence. Hux disagrees, saying that the backing of Force users is necessary for retaining power in the galaxy. The assembled officials and businesspeople are split on this, with the First Order officers mostly disagreeing and a majority of the businesspeople nodding in agreement. Notably, one older businesswoman claps her hands. The man in white, who sits next to her, adopts an inscrutable expression. Thrawn says that regardless of their importance, he himself should remain in command of his fleet and recruit the Knights. Hux is adamant that he alone be in command, ordering Thrawn to remain on Arkanis and oversee the operation of refitting Kylo’s fleet.

After the officers and financiers have left the office, Hux whirls on Thrawn. He accuses the Grand Admiral of undermining his authority, coming dangerously close to insubordination. Thrawn responds with a comment about Brendol Hux, Armitage’s father. Hux is taken aback, unsure where this is going. Thrawn continues that Brendol once tried to create an order of Darkside users to ensure the survival of the Empire, and Thrawn says that it’s only natural that his son would wish to do what his father could not. Thrawn maintains, however, that the Force is a distraction and he will show the galaxy how it has no true power.

Thrawn reaches for something on his belt, and two Death Troopers emerge from the shadows and drag him to his knees. Hux takes the object from Thrawn’s belt, and with a snap-hiss he activates Kylo’s lightsaber. Thrawn says that he is merely delivering to Hux his birthright, with a warning that it could be his undoing. Hux demands a test of Thrawn’s loyalty, and tells him to bring forth his hand. Thrawn does so, pulling his sleeve to the elbow. Hux raises the blade to strike off the hand and swings in a blur of motion, stopping the blade expertly a hairsbreadth from the alien skin. Thrawn doesn’t flinch. Hux says that he knows something of Thrawn’s hatred for the Jedi and the Force, having investigated Thrawn’s long disappearance, and knows that it is strong. But now he knows that his loyalty is just as strong. Thrawn asks if he will reconsider his decision about leading the fleet. Hux smiles quixotically.

Two Star Destroyers fall out of Hyperspace, their signatures clearly visible through the nebula. Finn barks out orders: ‘Raise shields! Red Squadron, Black Squadron, launch!’ A collection of TIE fighters and Resistance ships pours out of the main hangar bay, collecting into two distinct groups on the underside of the Destroyer. Rose stands to the side of the bridge with Threepio, asks him his projected time. Threepio responds that they will probably last at least 30 seconds longer this time against the simulation. Finn commands his squadrons, ordering them to flank the Destroyers just below their equatorial turbolasers and come about to attack them from the rear. In this way the squadrons will avoid most of the Destroyer’s field of fire. The holographic forms of the ships appear on out of the nebula, and Ben leads Red Squadron towards the leftmost Destroyer. Poe in his X-wing goes to the right, a motley collection of Resistance ships close behind. Rey flies formation with Poe in a battered A-wing. Poe hits the intercom, telling everyone to get in attack formation and orient themselves down in the direction of the projected enemy fighter launch. Both squadrons fly upside-down, headed toward the simulated Destroyers. Finn flashes a grin at Rose. Her expression is skeptical.

The two Destroyers gun their engines, quickly picking up speed as they rush to close distance, angling nearer to themselves as well. Rey asks why they haven’t launched fighters yet, and to scan for fighters around them in the cloud. Poe answers that scanners pick up nothing, and to keep going. Just as the squadrons converge with the prows of the enemy Destroyers the huge vessels begin spinning against their long axis. The sudden spin seems too fast to be possible, and Poe’s X-wing bobs drunkenly with his disorientation. Both formations waver as batteries of ventral cannons and turbolasers come into view directly in front of the squadrons and open fire.

On the bridge of the real Destroyer, Finn stares openmouthed as the two simulations roll opposite each other in space, every gun on their equators and upper decks now trained on him. With a single burst of holographic light the battle is over. Ben spins his fighter in a playful arc, the only pilot to avoid a simulated destruction. He asks why Thrawn didn’t have to even launch a single fighter, and Poe shouts that the simulation was unfair, that no Destroyer can rotate that fast. Finn’s voice comes on the line, saying that Poe is wrong. The simulations, he says, used their tractor beams on each other in addition to their maneuvering engines, and this gave them the speed to pull off this rout. Finn gives the order to return to the ship. Rey continues flying, saying that there’s still one ship left to destroy. She guns her engines and goes after Ben’s fighter. Ben smiles, warming to the contest, and he cuts across the surface of Finn’s vessel before looping under the bridge and disappearing into the nebula. Rey follows, matching his movements. Finn sighs. Rose tells him it’s no wonder he has trouble keeping order with them around.

Kylo’s TIE fighter and a battered A-wing settle onto the docking bay floor, Rey leaping from her cockpit and waiting as muffled curses emanate from the TIE interior. Rey spies BB-8, R2, and Threepio huddled in conversation near Poe’s X-wing. BB-8 looks up at the TIE and rolls over, followed by the two other droids. Threepio asks Master Solo if he needs a hand, and a metal appendage flies out of the upper hatch to strike him on the chestplate. Rey sweeps up the prosthetic hand and joins the droids by the TIE fighter, asking where the others are. Threepio responds that they are in the mess hall. Rey leaves the bay holding the hand, followed by BB-8.

There is a clatter from the TIE fighter and Threepio rushes over to Ben, who has collapsed in a heap in front of the ship. He asks Master Solo if he is all right, to which Ben responds with a withering stare, staggering up and following Rey to the mess hall. R2 beeps derisively at Threepio, who turns away with something approaching wounded pride. ‘What could I do? I’ll have you know that among my other talents I’m now the galaxy’s foremost authority on the Jedi religion.’ R2 beeps sassily. Threepio turns to him. ‘And what would you know about something like that?’

The mess hall is a scene of barely contained chaos. Tables and chairs have been pulled from their brackets and now form clusters throughout the hall. Helmetless troopers chatter and shout, their armor decorated with bright paint and duct tape. Red squadron sits across from the bridge officers, their flight suits festooned with splashes of red paint. In the center of the room, alongside several tables of Resistance soldiers, sits Finn, Rose, Poe, and Chewie. Rose is going over all the mistakes made during the day’s exercises. She laments that they don’t have more ships since they have crews and pilots for almost two Destroyer compliments.

Rey walks up to the table, a tray of First Order rations in her hand, sitting in the open space between Poe and Finn and setting Ben’s hand beside her tray. Finn asks her if she had a nice flight. She gives him a black look, and he mutters to her that any other Captain would have thrown her in the brig for what she did. Poe overhears, speaks up in Rey’s defense, that it’s normal to need to blow off some steam after a defeat, and that everyone is on edge right now. Finn responds that ever since Kylo has returned as Ben, Rey has been acting strangely. Rose remarks that it’s nice to see Finn and Poe talking directly to each other. Chewie nods. Rey throws down her fork. She admits that Finn is right. Silence falls at the table. She seems ready to admit her secret weakness, and everyone looks at her expectantly.

Before she can say anything Ben arrives in the mess hall. A quiet descends on the hall, but a shout goes up from Red Squadron. Their spokesman shouts ‘Let’s hear it for the leader of Red Squadron, Master of the Knights of Ren, Heir to the Empire…Ben Solo!’ Three cheers go up from the pilots and the rest of the soldiers join in. Everyone at the table turns back to Rey in expectation, but she is now staring at Ben as if seizing on a lifeline.

He sits at the table across from Rey, his expression unreadable. He asks for his hand back. She has put two and two together and realized that these Knights are comprised of Luke’s students, and asks if any of them were knowledgeable of the mysteries of the Force. He says that one was, and slyly asks why she wants to know. She responds evasively that they need people strong in the Force if they are to rebuild the Jedi Order. Ben shakes his head, saying that he believes it to be a fool’s errand. Poe wonders why this is the first he’s hearing about these Knights, and Rose answers. She says that the Knights were once students of Luke’s Jedi school but they chose to join with Kylo and now each rules over a planet largely independent of the First Order. Ben clarifies that these students originally joined Luke’s school to protect their home planets as the Jedi of old had done before the Republic, and that when it became clear that they were to join or die Kylo Ren, they chose to join in return for control over their planets. Now their planets are off-limits to the First Order and their child-harvesting, and these knights care only about protecting these worlds. He says they will not join an unlikely cause, and in fact may already have pledged fealty to the Supreme Leader. Rey says that this is all the more reason to act quickly and try to gain their help or their fight will already be doomed.

Those at the table look in confusion. Finn asks why this should be since they have among them the two greatest Force-users in the galaxy. Before Ben can answer Rey comes to a decision. She announces that she will seek out these knights and gain them as allies in their fight, and Ben will come along to help. Ben seems reluctant. The planet they must travel to in order to convene the knights is in pirate space, he says, and will not be easy to approach. Chewie roars, Rey translating that he and Han once cultivated Rebel allies on Gramelon and Chewie will come as well. Rey reaches to give Ben his hand. He takes it but Rey doesn’t let go, instead saying that they will do this for the Jedi and the memory of Leia. Finn places his hand on the metal hand as well, saying ‘For Leia.’ Poe follows suit. ‘For the General.’ Rose says ‘For our Leader.’ Ben says something as well, but it’s inaudible to the assembled team. Chewie places his paw on top of the pile and roars. Rey translates ‘For the Princess’. Ben asks if he could please have his hand back. He pulls it away from the group and as they all get up from the table to make preparations, he reattaches it to his arm, clenching it into a fist and looking to the departing crew with new resolve.

Post
#1328375
Topic
Episode IX: THE SHATTERED SWORD - DETAILED SUMMARY COMPLETE
Time

Updated the previous scene of Thrawn slightly. To continue:

The Resistance fleet falls out of Hyperspace inside a dusty pink and blue nebula, Tantive ships and carriers surrounding their captured Destroyer like minnows. The Falcon undocks from the Tantive IX and shuttles over to the Destroyer.

Ben, Finn, Kalonia, and much of the Tantive crew march down the halls where Resistance fighters are escorting First Order troops into the main hangar bay. Ben sports a new prosthetic leg and arm, his saber at his side. In an anteroom, Poe and Rose voice their concern for this stage of the mission. The Resistance is barely able to contain this many prisoners and Poe doesn’t trust that Ben has had a change of heart. Poe jokingly says that they might have to just open the hangar to space. Rose looks at him in a ‘don’t even joke about that’ way. Finn tells Poe that Rey believes he has changed, and Finn trusts her. Poe asks where Rey is, anyway. Finn evasively says that she is still recuperating from her ordeal. Poe finally decides to trust Finn and Rey on this, so he lets Finn and Ben through to a balcony overlooking the hangar.

On the balcony overlooking the assembled officers and soldiers, Ben arrives to a holo broadcast of Hux declaring himself the new supreme leader. Ben cuts off the video and announces that the First Order has betrayed them and is their enemy as well as his. He names Hux and Thrawn specifically as leaders who will suppress all religions of the Force under their fist and in so doing bring disorder to the galaxy. The soldiers cry out at this, but Rose pulls up the video of Thrawn destroying the city of Amma, telling them that their fellow soldiers were betrayed and murdered in this cold, calculating blood. The soldiers quiet down. Ben continues. He says that as one who was dead and returned to life, he has seen the reality of the Force present in all people, not just those of noble blood. He is no more worthy of command than another. He bequeaths his title and authority to Finn, the man who slew Kylo Ren. Henceforth, he wishes to be known only as Ben. Finn takes this solemnly and the soldiers salute him. He motions this down. His first order to them is to remove their helmets and see their fellows for who they truly are. They fight for the First Order no longer!

Ben wanders through the secondary hangar of the Destroyer, inspecting the TIE fighters in their racks and his own modified TIE racked close to the Falcon on the deck. From that ship he hears cries and sounds of banging metal. He turns to the Falcon and enters its darkened interior. Crates and tools are strewn everywhere. He sees half of Luke’s lightsaber lying amid the scattered trash and he picks it up. Rey sits cradling the other half in the middle of the cargo bay, shaking. Ben tries to console her, saying that even Luke couldn’t heal a broken crystal with all his powers. Rey says that she must heal the crystal, that she must resurrect the Jedi Order, that she must make Leia proud. Ben tries to tell her that perhaps their powers might not return, that the texts could be right. Rey says that Ben is clearly wrong, for the Force is always with a person. It is inconceivable that it would simply betray her. Ben disagrees, but admits that he is no expert on the mysteries of the Force. There were others at Luke’s school, he says, that were far more knowledgeable.

A Porglett wanders over from its nest, roused by the commotion. Ben picks it up with his good hand and gives it to Rey. He says that all life is connected by the Force, and that she is no more or less important than any other, and to gracefully accept these changes as the will of the Force. Luke tried to teach him that, but he wouldn’t listen. He feels that Luke was right that the Jedi should end, and he was right that the Sith would never again return. He sees how the galaxy is now controlled by those entirely without the Force, and that perhaps this is its will as well. Rey recognizes that Ben’s near death experience has changed him, but she says bitterly that it has made him give up. She leaves the Falcon for the Destroyer bridge and her friends, the ones who will still fight.

The bridge is a hive of activity. The former captain of the vessel and his officers are showing many Resistance officers the controls. The captain is in conversation with Finn and Poe when he is drawn away by the insistence of an officer. They go to a corner to converse quietly together. Finn and Poe survey the crews in the pit and look out at the blue and pink clouds surrounding them.

Suddenly a shout goes up in the pit, and an officer points out the viewscreen at a TIE fighter flying off into the clouds. Finn whirls and asks which soldier had gone rogue. An officer replies that they’re checking the registry now. Rey walks onto the bridge and replies that it’s Ben. Poe asks if he’s running away, and Rey says it wouldn’t surprise her. Finn turns to Poe, asking what he as Admiral will do about this. Poe replies that he leaves this to Finn as captain of this vessel. Finn orders the launching of the TIE interceptors to go after Kylo. Officers scramble to alert the crews, who are not at all ready for this test. The former captain and the officer are unperturbed by this event and start manipulating the controls of a computer terminal in the darkened corner of the bridge.

Another shout goes up, this time about two unknown objects approaching them from behind in the nebula. Finn pulls up an overlay on the viewscreen to visualize the new threat and orders the ship to turn about. Poe barks orders for his Resistance ships to follow suit and go into a delta formation on either side of the arrow-headed Destroyer. The shapes resolve themselves as Destroyers, and Finn and Poe both shout ‘Thrawn!’ in unison. Finn orders shields up, double front. The Destroyers continue to close distance as Poe scrambles Resistance fighters into action. These launch and begin to fan out in front of their fleet just as Finn’s TIEs finally begin to launch and fall in behind them. Poe barks that one of these Destroyers will have a Hyperspace tracker, and to prepare the droid controlled transport for a Holdo Maneuver.

Suddenly a new group of signals appears from behind their fleet, coming from the direction of Ben’s escape. The shapes resolve as TIE bombers, and before Poe or Finn can react they launch a blistering array of missiles directly toward the unshielded aft end of the Destroyer. There is no time to alter shields, and everyone braces for impact. A second passes, then another. Rose dares to open her eyes, which had been shut tight in anticipation of disaster. Poe realizes that Finn has taken his hand in panic. They disengage with an embarrassed shifting of eyes and clearing of throats. Suddenly the bridge is rattled by the passage of Ben’s TIE fighter sweeping its wings inches from the windows. The radio crackles to life. Ben’s voice appears on the com, dryly stating that their ship has been blown to atoms. Poe stares in confusion and starts to ask how Ben could have controlled that simulation from a TIE, but then sees the former captain and his officer nonchalantly leaning against a console in the corner. The former captain adds that their Holdo Maneuver wouldn’t have worked either, since the First Order fleet has officially phased out such active trackers after their weakness became apparent. They give a salute to Ben, who continues flying circles around the Destroyer’s bridge giving the Resistance a good dressing-down. This is Thrawn’s modus operandi, Ben says, drilling and testing his crews every spare minute of the day, and it’s what the Resistance will need to do if it wants to survive even a minute against him.