Rogue One was probably better before the reshoots. The reshot ending was most likely conceived based on “rule of cool” and doesn’t really line up with ANH. I suspect the original ending was more consistent and thought out, only being changed at the last minute to make it “punchier.”
I’ll never understand why people think the ending is such a great segue into ANH. Like Leia is going to pretend that she’s on a mercy mission after fleeing from this intense battle? And then Vader, who seems intesnely focused during the climax of RO, just casually walks onto Tantive IV like he’s on a routine inspection.
Vader’s casual, unworried entrance is really well done. I just realized this now after watching these films hundreds of times.
The Opening Crawl of Star Wars always implied to me that that the Rebels had ambushed an Imperial Fleet and captured some of the vessels. While going through the databanks of one of the ships they found the Death Star plans.
Now Leia’s lie that she is on a “diplomatic mission” would be nonsensical if she and the Tantive were at the actual battle itself. The plans must have been transferred to her later on - perhaps on Coruscant, were she is a sitting member of The Senate. She then makes some excuse to go on a “mercy mission” to some planet in need of “foreign aid” (Tatooine). Imperial Security gets wind of this and The Emperor entrusts his most capable “agent” with the task of securing the data tapes.