I think I would keep Palpatine, but only as a resurrected spirit, rather than having a tangible body.

Calamity Palpatine?

See also Giygas and Sauron. It’s a tried a true approach, so I think it could work.

So, during a majority of Act 2, Kylo is working alongside our heroes, albeit with a lot of tension and reluctance, for obvious reasons.

Oh I like that.

And speaking of ATLA, I feel like Zuko and Kylo Ren get compared for obvious reasons, and I wish Kylo’s redemption arc could’ve been as strong as Zuko’s!

I remember thinking that when TFA came out.

Overall really like your pitch RogueLeader, and it makes for a nice change of pace instead of repeating RotJ’s throne scene for the billionth time.