That’s just a lazy excuse, which is okay if it propels things forwards but sadly it’s more of a cannibalistic nostalgia thing.

Which eventually will run out of steam. In order to survive the series has to go beyond nostalgia (my main fear for Doctor Who too which still seems to think it’s in it’s 50th anniversary year).

Already the saga has done the whole good guys blowing up planet smasher routine twice.

For me that limit has already been passed.
My suspicion is that after receiving their first wave of training a force user will make a shocking boss/family discovery which will throw them off guard in the next episode.
It might not be the one I have been very vocal about but in terms of being parasitic on the two films that keep getting referenced it is the predictable element of the next episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrlPKW4mU30

Watch this space and maybe you will hear my sighs.