What’s Been Missing from the Sequel Trilogy?

With all the back and forth when it comes to the current trilogy. We here at Shootin’ the Sith want to get to the bottom of what has made these films so divisive.

Recently I noticed something incredible. The complaints which are brought up in regards to the current films may not be the real issues with them. Things like, “Rey is a Mary-sue!” or “The Last Jedi doesn’t understand Luke.” are all reasonable complaints, even if I may not see them like that.

I’m sure there have been others who have mentioned this in the past but when you realize what is missing you will totally understand.

We weren’t just taken on an adventure in the Original trilogy No, we also made friends with those we were going with. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, R2, and 3PO became household names overnight and for that matter part of our family.

The Final trailer for the The Rise of Skywalker released recently which captures the problem with the current trilogy.

In the scene, shown below, 3PO calls these current characters his friends.

HOLD UP! WAIT A MINUTE!

3PO, to this point in the films, has had no interactions with Finn or Rey. Poe has had small amount of time with him, maybe more due to his closeness with Leia.

So, how are they your friends C-3PO?

The line and scene would be tear inducing had Luke, Leia and Han been standing there. But we get three characters who hardly know each other, much less 3PO.

This leads us to what the real issue with this current trilogy is. We have little to no Emotional connection to the main characters.

Rey is a nobody who, just like her, we know almost nothing about. How do you build a connection with someone who had nearly no character growth in two movies?

Finn (FN-2187) was the one we connected with the most in The Force Awakens. Unfortunately, Rian Johnson forgot what character development is and Finn regressed back to who he was at the beginning of Episode VII.

Poe went from a level headed ace pilot to a hot shot know it all. Who nearly destroys the Resistance himself. Only to then realize how to be a competent leader when “Not real Luke” faces down the First Order.

Kylo Ren, who is the Villain mind you, is probably the one character who has the most development over the two films giving the fans the most to connect with. Though, this is probably only due to his connection with the legacy characters.

When I was kid, Luke, Leia, and Han were my friends. Despite them being fictional characters I watched them grow and become better versions of themselves through three movies. Rey, Finn, and Poe have all stayed pretty stagnate, or regressed, as to who they are. We have very little reason to care about these new characters and that is a real shame.

Look, I will hear you out on your complaints about the current films. I may not agree with them but I will always listen. But there is no denying that the lack of connection with these new characters is what has hurt not only these films, but the franchise as a whole.

Do you agree that there is essentially no reason to connect with the current main characters of Star Wars? Let us know in the comments.