I’m cautiously optimistic about episode IX. I’m not expecting it to be the second coming, but an entertaining film nonetheless, and I guess after 40 years of history, that’s not a bad way to end the Skywalker saga.
Makes me think Return of the Jedi, or Revenge of the Sith, now Rise of Skywalker going through the ringer. I accept that the last bite at the apple in each instance gives equal rise to high criticism as well as a sense of hey let’s all get along and have a good “last” ride. I don’t think either reaction is wrong, even feeling both at the same time. After reading about the differences between what Lucas, Kasdan and Gary Kurtz wanted for RotJ, a fan can still appreciate the fun of their childhood favorite while dreaming of what might have been.
The real difference is that those other examples (ROTJ and ROTS) were actually completing a story. While the OT was obviously written on the fly, it still had questions to be answered (Han’s fate, the truth of Luke’s parentage, who was the ‘other’ etc etc), and ROTS had to document the fall of the Republic and the details of Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader.
In this instance there’s no story. Abrams planted his ‘mystery boxes’ for the sheer heck of it and then left Rian to do whatever the hell he wanted (which he clearly did). By his own admission JJ went into episode 9 thinking “well, I’d better come up with a story…”
I’m not saying it won’t work - I’m really hoping it will - but the fact that these people didn’t think to at least write some kind of overall plot absolutely baffles me…