Testing, could you stop beating us over the head with the same talking points you’ve scavenged from Reddit? This is a small board, everyone has had a chance to see what you have to say. I don’t like the Marvel movies either you’re treating everyone here like a hivemind when it doesn’t even apply it’s very condescending.
@act on instinct When does ANH establish that?
To answer your question, while ESB has Cloud City operating outside of the Empire (before Han and co. led them there) we can infer from ANH alone the Empire is still not in full control of the galaxy by the construction of the Death Star, without it the Empire was still playing games with the senate. Deleted scenes has Biggs spell it out for Luke and the audience, but Tarkin establishes how important the station is during the imperial briefing scene, they were losing ground as the rebellion was gaining sympathizers and were hanging their hopes on the Death Star to control systems through fear. Then before the destruction of Alderaan we have this exchange:
TARKIN: Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be my
guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No
star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.LEIA: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems
will slip through your fingers.TARKIN: Not after we demonstrate the power of this station.
Further context fills us in on just how brand new some of these developments are. At best this seems to put us in the same place we were in TLJ. Of course, if a status quo reset isn’t a problem for you that’s all a big “who cares”, but to say it’s not feels like splitting hairs.