Gimpy said:

Hal I just saw the edit, and HOT DAMN. The dramatic tension was way better in this version to the point that the Starkiller actually mattered to me. All you guys did great work, Wow. I also love R2 searching his database. 😃 Love it.

Having seen The Last Jedi, I thought it might be a good idea to edit the final duel a bit in The Force Awakens. Ren’s wound being in the wrong place is a bit jarring, but more than that, Knowing what’s coming vis Kylo and Rey gave me some ideas.

I think it would be good for the overall narrative for Rey not to kick Kylo’s ass in TFA. The duel should be cut in such a way that there is merely a stalemate, with Rey running and defending herself, until the crevice opens between her and Ren ending in stalemate.

Ren’s temporary scar could easily be explained as “he just got it while leaving the base.”

Rey beating Kylo so easily makes Kylo Ren seem very weak and ill suited to be worthy of his eventual arc in The Last Jedi since no time has passed between films.

If their duel ends in a stalemate, it leaves more room for the ambiguity that arises in the next film’s narrative. George and JJ initially developed Kylo Ren as “Jedi Killer,” not the “Emo Ren” who gets his ass handed to him by a neophyte.

After seeing the Last Jedi, it seems fitting that Kylo and Rey should have a stalemate (by Snoke’s design.)

I think the scar is a deal breaker but this doesn’t pertain to the edit at hand either.