NeverarGreat said:
There were indeed coincidences in the OT, especially Star Wars, but they seem to be of another kind. There was a reason for Ben and Luke to be in the same area on a desert planet, since Ben was watching over Luke. There are potentially good reasons why the Droids land near Luke and Ben, since they could have Ben’s coordinates and were piloting the pod in that direction (as the Radio Drama suggests).The explanations you point weren’t explained until many years Later. In the case of the pod landing near Luke, it was a fix by a writer other than Lucas. In the story presented in 1977, that pod is in an obvious free fall. The NPR drama came out four years later and Ben’s reason for being on the same planet wasn’t explained until decades later. If the first film gets a pass because things are assumed, or left unexplained for decades, or there are “potentially good reasons”, then the new film should be given the same pass.
Your point about the pod is well made. However it brings to mind another possible convenience from TFA that I hadn’t even considered, that of the damaged TIE landing within walking distance of Niima outpost. To me, it is just as unlikely that Poe would have any control over the TIE (since it was in ‘obvious free fall’) as R2 would have over the escape pod. So I’m willing to call it even on that count. Both conveniences stand or fall together.
As to Ben being on the same planet, the reasons for him being there are given both in the Radio Drama, and as subtext within the actual movie. Obi-wan was the teacher to Luke’s father, and was tasked with giving Luke the lightsaber when he came of age. I don’t see how anyone could chalk Ben’s presence up to mere coincidence. Tekka on the other hand has only a tenuous association with Luke due to his possession of the map, and gives no indication that he is aware of Rey’s existence at all. So until there is even an inkling of a reason why they should both be on the same planet together, I feel justified in chalking it up to coincidence.