I will say that I feel like the druids and non-human creatures are way underused/misused in this trilogy.
I thought this was something RO did well, even with a new Droid character.
Maybe now that the trinity are all dead (either on screen or off) they will give Chewbacca a bigger role. Or 3PO/R2 will be given to some of the new characters.
I felt the same, but more so I felt C3PO was especially treated badly. When Poe just outright tells C3PO to shut-up, almost hostily, I almost felt insulted myself with how the character was treated. It was the old “be quiet C3PO, we know and it’s not important right now while serious shit is happening” but it was so harsh and actually disrespectful to C3PO that it actually took me out of the movie and made me feel bad for him 😕
On another note - below is a recent interview with Mark where he further confirms in plain speak, that there was never any grand vision or overarching plan to the ST and the way he explains it, it was nearly a race as to who would get their script in first and that they’re just running up to the next director and handing the baton over (except in the case of TLJ Rian just tosses it over his shoulder and goes in a different direction altogether). Mark also again demonstrates how even he is going “wtf is going on, this movie doesn’t work with the other”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLrzBLH5I2s
I agree with one of the commenters in that many of the interviews I’ve watched of Mark, he often walks a fine line between promoting the film and absolutely shitting on it and should actually be commended for cleverly telling people how badly written his character is without openly saying it and drawing the wrath of Disney and obviously his contract.
.Val