DrDre said:
And while the head has been cut off from the Republic, the First Order has not conquered the galaxy. They are trying to conquer the galaxy which is a much different thing. The galaxy free of the Empire still stands. A few worlds might have fallen under First Order control in the days since the Republic capitol and fleet were destroyed, but he question of whether they are the only ships capable of defense and if any of the planets being attacked can repel the attack remains to be seen. And in a vast galaxy, there is no way the First Order can have conquered everything in the days that have passed in the story.I copy NeverarGreat’s response:
“The FIRST ORDER reigns. Having decimated the peaceful Republic, Supreme Leader Snoke now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the galaxy.”
Reign:
a : royal authority : sovereigntyb : the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch
Furthermore it is stated in TLJ, that the FO will control all the major systems in weeks.
I’m quite sure that the first Order will take over quite a few systems that were relying on the Republic. But the ones who listened to Leia won’t be so easy and will put up a fight. And even if the FO takes over a planet, they still have to impose their will on it and after 30 years of freedom, the people won’t take so kindly to totalitarian orders. The fight is not over and the FO will spread itself too thin to hang on in the face of opposition. Snoke has the same over confidence as Palpatine. But look at what the good guys did here. Snoke is dead. A full invasion force could not kill Luke. Kylo Ren could not kill Luke or capture a paltry band of rebels. And the story spread. The spark of hope that Leia knew they needed is exactly what they got. TLJ is an embarrassment for the FO. Like the British at Bunker Hill, more victories like that will cost them the war. Exactly what Leia is hoping for. She just made a PR coup against the FO. The Resistance/Rebels have taken out Starkiller base and Snoke’s flagship and escaped out from under them. (Yes most are dead, but Leia isn’t).
You’re joking right? The FO has decimated the New Republic, and reduced the Resistance to a single ship with a few dozen people on board. The rebellion has no personel, equipment, or funds. TLJ was a huge victory for the FO, with the Resistance getting a consolation prize with the legend of Luke Skywalker, that may have lit a spark to start rebuilding a rebellion over the years to come. This being fiction they naturally will. However, if we can call the Alliance’s victory at the end of ROTJ tenuous in real world terms, the Resistance is as dead as a door nail by TLJ’s end credits.
Until Leia goes to help her most powerful ally repel the FO invasion. Until that spark of hope she wanted spreads and grows the new rebellion. The key is that she sent out a message in hopes of a rescue. Knowing that there is a FO fleet overhead and a full scale assault army attacking, that means there are enough allies out there to make her hope of rescue logical. That they don’t come indicates they expect to have fleets coming after them just as Leia likely warned would happen. The resistance is dead, but long live the Rebellion. And this time they have the home field advantage. They aren’t throwing off the remnants of the ancient Republic, but repelling a new invasion. Nothing in this film indicates that the FO yet controls anything. They don’t control the communication system. It is coming unless it can be stopped.
Now it remains to be seen if the next film is days or years in the future. If days, then the FO is going to be defeated before they succeed. If years, then the fight is harder and they will have to win back what they lose. In either case, the Republic formed after their defeat will be stronger and still a legacy of the ROTJ victory.