The fact that we’re even having this discussion proves the point. If you want to complain about “contrived” situations in TFA, you have to admit similar contrivances in the OT…or you just aren’t being realistic because you have to bend yourself into a pretzel to deny it.
Well… not exactly, at least in my opinion. The problem with The Force Awakens for me, and I apologize, you’ll never convince me otherwise, is that it is a copy of A New Hope, in terms of story. It takes that story, mixes it up, adds things, but then doesn’t explain certain crucial elements of the remixed story. A New Hope actually went out of its way to make sure the audience understood everything that was going on and didn’t leave us with questions hanging, which is something The Force Awakens fails to do: explain. I personally blame the rushed storytelling and absence of any kind of scene where someone explains what’s going on. One example is Maz saying, “That’s a story for another time.” after Han asks where she got it. Lots of stuff is just unanswered. I know people say that it’s part of a trilogy and it will be explained, but I don’t buy it. A New Hope was a self-contained movie that people could watch by itself and not watch any of the other movies, and still get a satisfying experience.
I understand you enjoyed it TV’s Frink for what it was, but I had major problems with it that no amount of creating theories and attempting to explain would change my mind. The fact is, I’m basing my opinion on my viewing of the movie. I saw it in the theater and I left unsatisfied and with many questions left unanswered.