TFA has tropes played straight, with objects intact. TLJ deconstructed tropes and the objects representing them (the saber and the helmet. Now IX is reconstructing the tropes and objects. Interesting visual metaphors.
On the subject of Kylo’s mask, TLJ only made explicit a point TFA was already making.
That sort of spelling-out kind of strips the subtlety and even dignity from the characters, don’t you think?
If the mask had been destroyed in TFA like the film implies, it would have meant that Kylo has developed as a character between movies to the point where he is comfortable owning his role in the galaxy. Instead the character is devolved and the mask briefly and awkwardly brought back so that we can laugh at its absurdity.
Why should the character develop between films when TLJ happens immediately after? Kylo doesn’t shed his Vader worship in TFA, it’s only after he realizes that killing his father didn’t do what he thought it would that he does that. The explicitness in TLJ of the TFA deconstruction is important because it’s Ben having to face the facts and come to terms with what the audience can see is true, but he previously wouldn’t admit.
I’m not sure in what regard the character has devolved.
It’s the same for the rest of the characters, honestly.
Finn’s character is regressed almost back to Maz’s castle, where he has no interest in helping the Resistance and cares only for Rey. A reading of TFA where he’s not at least a little willing to help the Resistance would be really uncharitable.
Finn literally says on Starkiller base that he’s “only there to get Rey.” Obviously he’s a little willing to help the Resistance, he decides to help them in TLJ the second he realizes that there’s a way to jam the Supremacy’s tracker.
Do I even have to mention Rey, who got over her absent parents in TFA only to have that return as her defining character flaw?
When did Rey get over her parents exactly? She was able to move onto help the Resistance and not go back to Jakku, but I’m not sure why that should imply “I don’t care anything about my parents at all anymore and will never think about them again.” Not to mention, her fixation on her parents in TLJ is really just a fixation on how she sees and defines herself, which is not something she necessarily figured out in TFA.
Or Hux, the human punching bag?
Hux, the man who did so much in TFA and could never be a punching bag because he was so cool and badass?
Or Snoke, who is now half the character he used to be?
Is this a joke? Because he’s smaller now? Because he’s cut in half? Literally have no idea what else this might refer to. Snoke is a lot more clearly defined in TLJ and comes across a lot more dangerous.