I suggest a little experiment.
Try watching TLJ after watching the OT, and you’ll find it works pretty well as a coda to the saga.
I’ve posted previously that if it were up to me, I would have started the ST with TLJ or at the very least a movie that bears a strong resemblance to it.
Well, that’s what George would’ve done and I agree with it. In his story Kira (one of several names) who became Rey finds a secluded Luke and helps him find his spark of hope in his Episode VII. So we nearly had it to some degree. The context would’ve obviously been much different but the core idea is similar to what we got.
The Last Jedi is certainly the best of the trilogy. I’ve definitely come around to accepting its flaws and find myself enjoying it more and more. I don’t know if it works on every level as a connection to the previous six but it at least tells the most compelling and interesting narratively speaking of the Disney trilogy. It tries some new things to a degree despite its clear references and beat for beat copy and paste at times. I appreciate it more than the other two for that reason alone. Even if it does at the same time I feel break the story and go heavy on the meta commentary.
It’s one of those things as in context to the Disney films it’s great but as a continuing of the story (of even The Force Awakens) I don’t think it works. However it’s really good and even great for what it is and certainly better than the other two in the trilogy.