I finally watched The Last Jedi, and it was not what I expected.
I'm still relatively new to the Star Wars fandom, so there are many things that I'm not entirely aware of, but after watching the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy, I understand the basics. I don't understand how the Disney trilogy somehow ignored the basics.
The trilogies created under LucasFilms were consistent in defining the Force and the prominent characteristics of each character. One of my favorite aspects of the movies was the spectacular world-building, where the technology and ideologies are all distinctly described.
I'll admit Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story were pretty decent, but I don't know that I can say the same about the Disney trilogy.
Full disclosure I have yet to see The Rise of Skywalker, but I'm weary about watching it after The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
The Force Awakens had so much potential for character development with Finn and Rey, but it fell short in the end. The Last Jedi, however, completely obliterated the "rules" of the Star Wars universe.
It didn't make sense.
How did Leia make it from one ship to the other after being sucked into the vacuum of space during an explosion? Since when does the force allow people to connect in a semi-physical form while on different planets? Why is Rey capable of "moving rocks" without struggle despite zero training when Jedi's train for years to master such techniques?
After all, he went through; I don't think Luke would renounce the entire Jedi religion and refuse to help the rebellion in their time of need. Yoda speaks "backward" using anastrophe, but he spoke almost normally. All those scenes in Snoke's lair looked like a low-budget BDSM dungeon and lacked all of the flairs previous Sith lairs had.
My biggest pet peeve of all is that almost nothing happened in the movie. I watched them talk about doing stuff for over two hours instead of just doing it. Everyone contemplated a plan for nearly two hours without telling anyone else, yet everything somehow worked out.
The best part of the movie was George and I making hilarious jokes about the ridiculous nature of the film.
Luckily, Disney improved their Star Wars storytelling in TV shows like The Bad Batch, Kenobi, Andor, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett.
These shows stay true to the previously established lore and character development of beloved characters without shattering the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief. When the puppet that plays Grogu flips through the air in excitement, I believe he's using the Force to propel himself. When a female clone without accelerated growth is introduced, it is a plausible occurrence. Even when stars like Lizzo and Jack Black appear as royals on a secluded planet, I believe it. But, when a knockoff-style Yoda who's supposed to be dead sets fire to a sacred tree and laughs about it so hard he slaps his knee, I don't believe it.
Disney needed to change its approach to the Star Wars franchise, or it had the possibility of ultimately diminishing its value. Their shows aren't perfect by any means, but it allows for healthy debate amongst fans instead of an entire fandom rallying together in their disappointment with the first Star Wars movie released in years.