One thing I like about the ewoks is how they’re cutesy and therefore easily underestimated. It’s clear that even with limited resources, they’re frighteningly ingenious when it comes to making weapons, and they have no qualms about burning living beings to death for food. Sure, the deceptive appearance is pretty comical, but let’s not be too uptight about Star Wars having to be edgy and dark. It isn’t. I agree with another point made by Sam Witwer, that the storyline around Luke confronting Vader and the Emperor is obviously taken seriously and is enough to ground that portion of the film in dramatic sincerity; the ewoks are there to offer a lighter contrast to that drama, making for a more dynamic film. It’s also worth pointing out that even Shakespeare’s King Lear has some comic relief, and that’s probably his most depressing tragic play.
RIP William Shakespeare. You would have loved the ewoks