I think having someone else do 9 would’ve alleviated that. As it turned out, it feels like a well-executed but shallow opening, an interesting shake-up with the power of myth, then a return with a vengeance to shallow that tries to sidestep the meat of the trilogy.
If you like JJ better, RJ’s chapter is gonna stand out as the spoiled meat in the sandwhich. And if you like RJ, JJ seems like he slapped pop tarts on either side of roast beef.
JEDIT:
JJ’s plan was probably crap and Rian realized that it was crap.
lol, indeed.