Again, it makes me wish that Trevorrow’s version had been made because at least it did not have Palpatine. Something like Kylo being betrayed by the First Order and having to work with the heroes, and maybe a Stormtrooper Rebellion for Finn’s plot, could’ve set up an ending where the war ends in peace and unification rather than destroying the enemy, which would have set it apart from the way ROTJ ends.
Jannah tells this story about how her entire regiment of stormtroopers laid down their weapons when they refused to kill their enemy. Imagine instead of being told this, we actually saw it.
After Hux and the First Order council depose Kylo Ren, they could begin kidnapping children tenfold as a reaction to the growing Resistance. The final mission could have been to go to the planet where they take these children and free them. Maybe they fail and are at the execution block, but the stormtroopers, witnessing their attempt to save the children, finally turn on their masters. I also think an ending reminiscent to Temple of Doom, with children reuniting with their parents, would have been rather powerful.
This sounds exactly like what I wanted for Episode 8. I hadn’t written my own version going in, which is probably why I can defend a lot while still not enjoying it that much, but after seeing Episode 8 I was wanting these specific plotlines. In Episode 9, I think the way Kylo would have turned in Trevorrow’s just because his army turns on him would be too little, too late. It would make me dislike him a lot. Not sure how to convey anymore without going on a novel-long vent. The Temple of Doom ending is also what I’ve been thinking anytime my head goes to a stormtrooper rebellion, you hit the nail right on the head. I’m sad that it appears they cut a lot of context with Lando and Jannah, as I feel it deserves far more attention.