Thinking about the opening to TLJ, perhaps we could go crazy and break convention:
After the ‘a long time ago’, open on the blackness of space. A light appears in the stars, glowing red and getting larger. A beam of energy streaks across the frame, and descends on the world of Hosnian Prime. Sella and others look up in horror as the beam incinerates the planet. Cut to black.
STAR WARS
Catastrophe! On the eve of a declaration of war, the New Republic has been devastated by a mysterious weapon from beyond the stars.
Determined to complete their victory, the First Order has tracked the shattered remnants of the Republic fleet to the planet D’Qar, determined to capture General Leia Organa and the location of the last Jedi.
With not a moment to spare, Leia orders an immediate evacuation, desperate to preserve the last spark of hope for a return of galactic peace…
I really like this!
I would go a step further and say put that before the Force Awakens. The ST doesn’t have a clear understanding of how the galaxy works. There’s a Republic, but we never visit it. There’s a Resistance that is technically not a rebellion but in practice really is. There’s a First Order that is technically not an empire but in practice really is.
If TFA had a cold open destruction of the Republic, and everything the OT stood for, I think we’d instantly understand…
- Why the ST has reset to the OT, which builds on the themes from TLJ, without feeling contrived.
- Why the First Order is a threat and Luke is necessary NOW.
- That everything was fine before the dark side got involved.