Star Wars – The Skywalker sequels left many fans underwhelmed, but one film is singled out as genuinely worthwhile, from The Force Awakens to Rise of Skywalker.
A long time ago, Star Wars proved it could turn space fantasy into a global obsession.. But when the sequel trilogy arrived decades later, the results were messier than anyone hoped.. The push-and-pull around the Star Wars sequels has only grown louder over time. and one standout film keeps resurfacing in these debates.
It began with the franchise’s blockbuster return to theaters and imagination: between 2015 and 2019. three movies continued the Skywalker saga. carrying the weight of sky-high expectations.. The films weren’t dismissed as total failures, either.. Instead. they landed in a frustrating middle ground—often entertaining. but frequently disappointing. even as they introduced fresh faces and new plotlines alongside the return of beloved original actors.
Before that sequel era, Star Wars had already reshaped science fiction.. The original film—created by George Lucas and released in 1977—became a worldwide phenomenon. introducing audiences to a universe where good and evil collide through iconic characters. timeless storytelling. and unforgettable sequences.. That early impact set the stage for a larger saga. and it also explains why later moves always carried a particular emotional gravity.
The timeline shifted again with the prequel trilogy. arriving in 1999. which reexamined established storylines and expanded the lore with a new generation in mind.. Yet the larger universe didn’t stop there.. Once Disney took hold of Star Wars. it opened more storytelling opportunities. broadening how the franchise could evolve and where it could go next—an ambition that shaped what fans saw in the sequel trilogy.
For the trilogy’s first installment, Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens (2015) arrived with pure momentum.. The excitement around its release was described as palpable. and it was credited with reinvigorating a sense of wonder in the franchise—something that later enabled Disney+ series. spin-off films. and other media content.. The film followed Rey. Finn. and Poe Dameron as they teamed up with Han Solo and Chewbacca to protect BB-8. a droid carrying a map to Luke Skywalker.
At the same time. the movie’s biggest criticism was how closely it echoed A New Hope. raising the sense that it acted more like a reboot than a continuation.. Even so. the argument for its approach was clear: each generation. the story seemed to suggest. must repeatedly fight the same battle until order is restored.. And crucially. The Force Awakens didn’t just aim to bring familiarity back—it also set up key questions meant for future chapters. including Rey’s parentage and Luke’s lightsaber.. In the end. it was framed as an important addition that brought “magic” back to the franchise. with nostalgia and reverence for legacy helping it achieve its mission.
Meanwhile. Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi (2017) landed as the middle chapter of a nine-part arc. a position that the report treats as inherently difficult.. Written and directed by Rian Johnson. it follows Rey as she searches for Luke Skywalker’s help to turn the tide for the Resistance against Kylo Ren and the First Order.. At the same time. Leia Organa and the rest of the Resistance attempt to escape a First Order attack on their shrinking fleet.
The film also pivots into major character dynamics: Rey and Kylo Ren form a Force bond that leads to a confrontation with Supreme Leader Snoke. while Finn and Rose Tico try to disable a tracking device that culminates in an epic battle on Crait.. Despite all that. the tone of the review leans heavily on pacing and substance. arguing that The Last Jedi lacked “necessary” content and moved slowly compared with the saga’s expectations.
One major point of friction was Luke Skywalker’s portrayal.. The report described it as hard to warm up to—especially for longtime fans—because Luke’s characterization felt too extreme. even reaching an almost absurd level in how his behavior was framed.. Still. the film is also credited with striking visuals and with introducing the Porg. a new furry space creature that earned immediate affection.. Another emotional milestone cited was that the movie marked Carrie Fisher’s first posthumous film. with heartbreaking moments between Luke and Leia treated as particularly impactful.
Yet even with those highlights. the critique stayed consistent: the report characterizes The Last Jedi as a bridge film that moved the story from the first movie to the third. leaning toward subverting fan theories rather than delivering enough forward momentum.. That choice. in this telling. wasted plotlines and made the slow pace feel like the point rather than a flaw to be corrected.
Then came the trilogy’s conclusion. Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker (2019). which was framed as especially hard to nail.. The report notes that concluding an already hyped-up trilogy was difficult. and it describes the approach as trying to fix issues from the previous two movies while still keeping the door open for what might come next.
Episode IX follows Rey. Finn. and Poe Dameron as they lead the remnants of the Resistance into a final stand against Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and the First Order. who are now allied with the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. played by Ian McDiarmid.. The story’s lore expansion is portrayed as significant here. with emphasis on just how massive Palpatine’s influence was across the galaxy.
The strongest praise centers on the final battle between dark and light. along with an emotional arc for Kylo Ren that the report says allows the film to move beyond spectacle into a more complete familial story.. In that framing. redemption becomes a core theme. with Kylo’s journey treated as a character turn that carries weight beyond the action set pieces.
But the criticism is sharp once the review reaches the film’s ending.. The report argues that The Rise of Skywalker felt like it didn’t want to stop. yet still didn’t deliver a proper conclusion.. It claims the plot ran out of imagination while also hinting at more Rey in the future—without actually giving her a finalized arc. leaving audiences disappointed.. The overstuffed storyline is described as trying to cover too much in too little time. and while the Rey-and-Palpatine twist is called engaging. it’s also positioned as not landing with the same emotional resonance as Darth Vader’s reveal in Episode VI—Return of the Jedi.
There’s also a broader complaint about narrative closure.. The report compares the feeling of an unsatisfying ending to the kind of frustration people felt with Lost. suggesting that J.J.. Abrams can ignite major momentum without fully knowing how to finish it.. That unresolved quality, according to this view, undercuts the impact of moments that are clearly designed to hit hard.
Taken together. the reviews paint a clear pattern across the trilogy: the first film’s legacy-aware energy and setup for future answers made it an essential start. the middle chapter struggled to find the right balance between surprising ideas and storytelling momentum. and the finale offered some of the trilogy’s biggest emotional payoffs while failing to provide the clean. earned closure it promised.
This is why the question of which Star Wars sequel is “actually worth it” keeps mattering.. The debate isn’t just about favorite characters or coolest scenes—it’s about how the trilogy used its momentum. nostalgia. and new directions. and whether those choices ultimately served the story’s end point.. In this discussion. that “worthwhile” title goes to only one of the three films. even as all of them are acknowledged as part of the same larger attempt to carry the Skywalker saga forward for a new generation.
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