Star Wars: Moments Disney Wants You To Forget!

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Continuing with the Star Wars saga will always be on the table given its financial success, but after facing numerous critical disappointments, Lucasfilm’s movie division is taking a fresh approach. The inconsistencies in the sequel trilogy have played a significant role in this shift, as these movies lack cohesion and continuity due to an absence of a unified plan before handing direction to filmmakers like J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson.

The Rise of Skywalker” further fuels controversy by reversing several key moments. Ultimately, it seems Disney is making an effort to distance itself from certain elements of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

1) The Knights of Ren Being Something

In “The Force Awakens,” laying the groundwork for the ensuing two films in the trilogy, it’s challenging to identify scenes that seem unfavorable when considering retcons (retroactive continuity changes). However, one such instance that stands out is the hint of Kylo Ren’s bodyguards, the Knights of Ren.

In just a short spell during Episode 7, they appeared as a formidable band of fanatics who seemed destined to give Rey and her companions a tough time, but in the end, it was not so. Although the Knights of Ren garnered much attention in additional content, their most lasting impression on the silver screen is one of them receiving defeats at the hands of the transformed Ben Solo.

2) Luke Skywalker Throwing Away His Lightsaber

As a star wars fanatic, I can’t help but feel my heart race when recalling the thrilling moment in ‘The Force Awakens’ where Luke Skywalker makes his stunning reappearance, standing before Rey on an enigmatic island. Over time, we uncover his purpose for being on Ahch-To, yet before I could utter a word, he nonchalantly flings his legendary lightsaber across his shoulder.

In “The Last Jedi,” it is revealed that Luke has grown disillusioned with the Jedi Order and desires its demise. However, after training Rey, he eventually changes his mind by the film’s end. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” they retract Luke’s earlier dismissal of the lightsaber by depicting him as a Force spirit catching it when Rey throws it in exasperation.

3) Rey Being Nobody

In “The Force Awakens,” hints are given that Rey’s ancestry is more complex than it appears. This enigma deepens in “The Last Jedi” as Luke seems apprehensive about his student’s power. Eventually, Rey delves into her past by following the path taken by all noble Jedi: venturing into a dark cavern.

In a daring move, Johnson decides that Rey will learn she’s not tied to any specific identity and can create her own legacy. This revelation shakes her up, but it doesn’t last long because in “The Rise of Skywalker,” she discovers she’s a relative of Palpatine. After vanquishing her “grandfather,” however, she chooses to adopt the Skywalker name as an alternative to her family name.

4) Finn & Rose’s Kiss

In The Last Jedi, I find myself in awe as Finn demonstrates his commitment to the Resistance yet again, this time embarking on a daring mission with Rose Tico. Our journey leads us to the notorious city of Canto Bight, teeming with every sort of rogue and ne’er-do-well. Here, we seek out DJ, an individual who holds vital knowledge for disabling the First Order’s hyperspace tracker.

The duo face trouble when DJ deceives them, forcing them into a narrow escape from the First Order. They manage to reach Crait, where the Resistance is in hiding. This harrowing event strengthens their bond, leading them to share a tender kiss before the events of The Last Jedi. However, The Rise of Skywalker does not delve deeper into their relationship, instead focusing on Finn’s adventures with Poe Dameron and Rey, leaving Rose somewhat marginalized.

5) The Holdo Maneuver

In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Resistance is in constant flight from the relentless First Order, determined to control the galaxy. The leaders assign Rose and Finn a mission to discover a method for escaping via hyperspace, but when that fails, they find themselves with few remaining strategies.

It’s fortunate that Vice-Admiral Holdo doesn’t back down in the face of immense opposition, instead choosing to stay behind while escape pods head for Crait and intentionally crashing her cruiser into the First Order fleet using hyperspace. The scene is awe-inspiring, with the audio of the movie momentarily stopping as the ships collide, but it’s puzzling from a tactical perspective. Star Wars has largely avoided discussing the strategy behind this action since then.

6) Luke Skywalker’s Promise to Kylo Ren

In “The Last Jedi,” Luke wrestles with the thought of rejoining the battle against the First Order. Rey attempts to persuade him, but when events take a turn for the worse, he decides to remain on Ahch-To. Yet, at the critical moment when his comrades require him most, Luke appears on Crait.

It’s revealed that Luke can teleport his body using the Force, and he manages to keep Kylo Ren occupied while the Resistance escapes. Kylo isn’t pleased when he figures out what’s happening, and Luke further infuriates him by hinting they’ll cross paths again. However, in the films, we never see them meet up again, as Han Solo appears instead to Kylo when he turns back to the light side in The Rise of Skywalker.

7) Finn Being Force Sensitive

It appears that the advertising for “The Force Awakens” strongly implies that Finn may become a Jedi. Yet, it’s actually Rey who joins the Order, with Finn taking on the role of a Resistance hero instead. However, “The Rise of Skywalker” attempts to rectify this by hinting at Finn’s potential Force abilities.

Through the course of the film, Finn strives to convey to Rey his conviction that he possesses the ability to become a Jedi. Regrettably, this plot thread doesn’t seem to progress significantly, and given that Finn’s character is not yet confirmed for the next Rey movie, it appears this storyline could be discarded during editing.

The Star Wars sequel trilogy is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-06-02 21:42