I get the criticism about the lack of a Han - Kylo interaction, but for me, the reason it was emotional for me is because going into the film, I was hoping Han would die since Harrison has wanted that since the end of Empire going into Rotj. A character whom somehow always lucked out. Add onto how I’ve grown up watching these films over and over that these characters are pretty much ingrained in my mind. So while the writers did a shoddy job with the setup (or lack of) between Kylo and Han, I still felt this emotional tug since I’m seeing one of my favorite characters die in front of me. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but man, I was thinking back to his great scenes in a ‘flash’ before my eyes. I KNEW it was coming in that sequence, yet I was suckered into it. I’m glad Harrison Ford got his wish all these years. I think knowing that fact just built up inside my mind going in and actually seeing it happen was pretty… riveting.

Still, I DO understand where people like Alderaan are coming from. That scene could had been better managed indeed.