While I agree with a lot of people’s issues with Maz’s cameo in TLJ and can understand people who would want to remove it altogether, I wanted to suggest a lighter trimming of that scene for those who would rather make smaller changes throughout.
First, if one were to remove the trade dispute reference, you could try to infer that she is fighting the First Order on another planet. It might help get the idea across that there is fighting going on across the galaxy. Maybe some additional sound effects could help with this.
Second, I also wonder if cutting Maz saying that she could do it herself would raise the stakes a little because then only the Master Codebreaker would be good enough to do it.
So, something like, “Can I do it? I can’t do it, but lucky for you, there is exactly one guy I trust who can crack that kind of security.” or “Can I do it? Of course I can do it! But I can’t do it, I’m a little tied down right now. But lucky for you…”
I’m not saying these changes would make it better. But the scene always felt a little off to me, and I wonder if something like one of these ideas could help with the scene a little. Just some thoughts.
I thought the scene had to stay for just making sense of the plot but I cut out the sexual joke of her saying “He can do everythingggg…”