Overall, I think a lot of the hate towards TLJ comes to… ok I’m sorry for bringing this quote up again… but your subversion of expectations.
TLJ set some concepts up and I think maybe in part of the constant debate that’s ensued over the past two years, the majority has come to a basic conclusion of what Episode 9 must do. Without considering RJ left things very open.
–Rey should struggle with being no one
–Rey should find a balance between the old and new
–Rey should rebuild the Jedi Order
I understand your point of view. It is kind of hypocritical that TLJ fans constantly say, “You just didn’t like TLJ because your fan theories didn’t come true!” while simultaneously making fan theories about TROS and being upset when they don’t come true.
The thing is TROS goes in another direction that remains consistent with The Last Jedi. Rey never was too shocked about being no one in TLJ. She cried, yes, but an hour later was happy as can be and two hours later talking to Leia about rebuilding. So why do we have to follow Rey coming to terms with something she already did off-screen? TROS gives us something new, and honestly, I was invested in whether Rey would join Palpatine and we’d get a dark Rey / good Ben fight. Kinda sad we didn’t actually.
Maybe you were invested, but a lot of people weren’t. I feel like TROS shouldn’t have brought up Rey’s parentage at all. Rey already came to terms with it in TLJ, and most people didn’t like the “I am your father” ripoff twist pulled out at the last minute.