As someone who has been a die-hard Star Wars fan since I was a kid, watching the sequel trilogy unfold has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The anticipation and excitement that built up after The Force Awakens were unparalleled, only to be followed by the polarizing reception of The Last Jedi.
The eighth installment of the Star Wars franchise, titled Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, debuted on December 15, 2017. Since then, the series has undergone a significant transformation. At its release, the film was met with both praise and controversy, a debate that persists to this day – despite other Star Wars movies receiving even more harsh criticism. As we approach seven years since its premiere, examining the public’s reaction to this movie offers valuable insights into the franchise’s trajectory and allows us to ponder where it might be headed in the future.
Nowadays, it’s often heard that the sequel trilogy as a whole is criticized as being bad, but this overlooks the fact that the initial installment, Episode VII — The Force Awakens, was generally praised by both critics and casual viewers. At the time of its release, it was highly acclaimed for rejuvenating the franchise and focusing on new stories instead of retreading old ground like many prequels did. However, in retrospect, some fans have criticized The Force Awakens for being too similar to A New Hope. With such high expectations set by its predecessor, The Last Jedi had a lot to live up to when it was released in 2017.
Instead of heavily relying on “The Empire Strikes Back,” as its previous installment did, “The Last Jedi” forged its own narrative path. The story is primarily set aboard a convoy of Resistance vessels, where General Leia’s group is escaping the First Order. Meanwhile, Rey embarks on a journey to locate Luke Skywalker and deepen her knowledge of The Force. Simultaneously, a subplot unfolds involving Finn, Rose, and BB-8 as they unsuccessfully try to undermine the First Order.
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Divisive is an Understatement
Films like “The Last Jedi” are frequently branded as “controversial” due to the diverse reactions they provoke, but rarely do opinions span such a broad spectrum. On one hand, some ardent Star Wars enthusiasts express intense dislike for this movie. Contrarily, others passionately adore it. In the years 2017 and 2018, it was not unusual to hear this film being praised as the best Star Wars production since “Return of the Jedi“. Remarkably, professional critic reviews were heavily biased towards the positive – “The Last Jedi” boasts a 91% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.1 out of 10.
Initially, it appeared as though this apparently favorable reaction fueled the movie’s critics even further on social media. There were instances of review-bombing and vote manipulation in online polls. Some individuals even developed automated bots to intensify their unfavorable opinions. Over time, various critics have hypothesized that these tactics may have deceived the studios into thinking that The Last Jedi was disliked more broadly than it actually was, potentially affecting some subsequent decisions.
Bigotry
It’s clear that sexism, racism, and intolerance significantly impacted the negative reactions towards “The Last Jedi“. Some viewers had expressed dissatisfaction even before its release, due to the female and Black male protagonists. The film then introduced Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) as another key character, which further fueled backlash. Regrettably, this disapproval of the casting choices resulted in severe online harassment for the actors portraying these roles, altering how stars of the franchise engage with their fans for many years.
In a twist of events, some studios have faced criticism for yielding to the persistent demands of a specific group of fans regarding this particular movie. However, it’s comforting to note that women and individuals from various racial backgrounds have still been cast in the Star Wars series. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that such decisions left an enduring mark on the franchise – John Boyega openly expressed his dissatisfaction over the diminished role of his character in the final film, while Kelly Marie Tran’s character was completely absent. Moreover, one might speculate about numerous other skilled actors, team members, and creators who opted out of Star Wars due to this toxic environment.
Fan Theories
As a passionate film buff, I can’t help but reflect on the divisive response to a recent blockbuster – it seems that fan theories played a significant role in shaping audience reactions. Following the release of The Force Awakens, an intricate web of speculation about future events was woven by fans, who became emotionally invested in these imagined narratives, eagerly anticipating their realization on screen. Disappointment ensued when these theories didn’t align with the movie’s plot developments, fueling a sense that the film had fallen short in delivering on its initial promise. This sentiment was particularly strong among those expecting Rey’s parents to be Force-users and those who believed they had unraveled Supreme Leader Snoke’s backstory.
In both instances, the developments in “The Last Jedi” were swiftly undone in “The Rise of Skywalker”. These changes left many viewers struggling to follow along, but overall, “The Rise of Skywalker” left a lot to be desired among fans, regardless of their feelings towards “The Last Jedi”. The Star Wars franchise hasn’t experienced such a dramatic change or retcon since then, and here’s hoping it stays that way.
Looking Ahead
Looking back, what’s been most unexpected about the Star Wars universe over the past seven years is its focus on prequels and “interquels,” shying away from new narratives. The sequel trilogy initially captivated audiences with unprecedented numbers due to its commitment to progressing the story, rather than revisiting the past or presenting episodic events.
Since 2019, we’ve been inundated with fresh Star Wars content, mainly TV series launched directly onto Disney+. The majority of these stories unfold years before “The Force Awakens,” including shows like “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and so on. Even the ongoing “Skeleton Crew” is set during this timeframe.
It’s been shared that movie productions will continue within the Star Wars universe beyond “The Rise of Skywalker”, but development has been sluggish. In 2021, it was disclosed that Daisy Ridley would return as Rey in “Star Wars: New Jedi Order”. However, in October, the screenwriter for this project departed and the studio began searching for a replacement. As the script is still being written, there’s no clear timeline for when we can witness this portion of the story unfold. The future storylines are even less certain at this point.
It’s not implying that prequels are a poor decision for the Star Wars franchise; on the contrary, its world-building could greatly benefit from them, and the past provides more opportunities for Jedi characters to contribute to the narrative. However, to rekindle the excitement and passion that the series experienced between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, it must offer something fresh and captivating once more. To achieve this, it needs to take risks, face criticism bravely, and remain steadfast even during challenging times.
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2024-12-16 00:40