But as I stated, the scene with the children establishes a connection with the galaxy in just TRoS (as if it were a standalone movie and not a sequel) and raises the stakes. It’s more personal and thus meaningful than just reinforcing TLJ. The heroes are fighting for the future of the galaxy, which the children symbolize.
But the problem with that statement is that this is a sequel in a very disjointed trilogy, and any connections to help make it feel more connected should be a welcome change.
The stakes are still there. The kids have hope for the future because of Luke’s sacrifice, just like Rey. It’s another reason for Rey to want to fight, to make Luke’s sacrifice worth it.