Has anyone considered cutting the Palpatine hologram call to General Pryde from later in the movie? Then reusing that footage for a Palpatine return message to Pryde earlier on, almost like he’s in on it. (Pryde almost does just show up out of nowhere)
That could work, though I think Pryde was elevated partially because of the animosity between Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and General Hux, especially after Hux’s failures and attempted assassination of Kylo…
Which also gives Hux motivation to aid the Resistance against Kylo and Pryde.
(If only more of that was laid out in the film…)