Unlike a lot of people, I was very disappointed in TFA. It had two great points. Great character introductions and some really great scenes, but there really wasn’t much of a story there. People compare it to the 1977 original, but the original was a self contained story with a solid end. TFA felt incomplete and open ended. Especially when the tacked on Rey meeting Luke to the end. So I don’t consider it an echo of ANH in the slightest. It failed some basic film making tasks and for me it is the worst of the saga films.

I think the trilogy redeemed itself with TLJ and rose to the occasion with TROS. Those two films for me are the best saga films since ROTJ. For both of those films, I was glued to the screen and mesmerized in my first viewing. Not many films can do that so I consider them very well made.

With the way the saga developed, I can deal with TFA. It has flaws, but it is a solid introduction to the characters. It is like a prologue to the following 2 parter.