I’d have been happy with scene setting in the TFA, the layout of the galaxy actually explained, to give some emotion for when New Republic Govt and its fleet are wiped out. To feel the consequences of it, to give it some weight. With Starkiller Base being replaced by some with a super weapon that is a little more fresh than making a large planet into yet another Death Star.

Apart from some of the jokes in TLJ, and the Canto Bight scenes, which were okay, but didn’t quite land for me, I’d leave TLJ alone as it is. Maybe with more leanings of stormtrooper unease in the First Order’s ranks.

I’d go with a riff on DOTF, more than TROS for the finale. Play up that stormtrooper unease and eventual revolt. Maybe even have some old Imperial ships from the Outer Rim and beyond join the FO in the fight, to further explain what has been going on in the galaxy, and to give some credibility to the FO’s survival, their eventual return, and ease of which they defeated the New Republic in TFA.