Forty-two years ago, we were first taken to a galaxy far, far away, and film as we know it changed forever. Star Wars not only produced a groundbreaking new way of filmmaking but created a fan base that is as divisive as it possibly could be. It’s one of the most passionate fan bases I know. While quite vocal over the past four years during the releases of The Force Awakens and 2017’s controversial, The Last Jedi, there is no denying that fans across the galaxy were ready for the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Without question, this film is the most flawed out of the “Disney” trilogy. A film, while full of fan service tidbits and nostalgia, has a difficult time distancing itself from that crutch to establish itself fully throughout its early run time. 

I believe that Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a real original look at what Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker could have been with unique storytelling. 

Rather than focus solely on the Skywalker name, The Last Jedi establishes that you don’t need Skywalker blood to become a Jedi, as the prequels and former Star Wars stories showed us with characters such as Mace Windu, Qui-Gon, and of course, Obi-Wan. Many fans rejected that concept, and that coincides with Rise of Skywalker’s most significant issue – it spends the first 45 minutes of the film “cleaning up” the choices made in the previous movie rather than pushing forward the last film’s different perspective. 

When the exposition in the beginning finally finishes, this is where Rise of Skywalker really picks up steam. J.J. Abrams never fails to deliver a polished, entertaining film that includes all the elements of Star Wars that have brought fans together over the past four decades. The film is a relentless thrill ride with some of the best set pieces In the entire Disney trilogy. While the lesser of the three films, Rise of Skywalker, comes the closest in matching the original trilogy in terms of humor, heart, and showcasing a team dynamic that was missing from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. 

Now, there are questions I can answer without spoiling. Carrie Fisher is used beautifully throughout the film and, quite frankly, a more significant focal point to the central story than I originally expected. It is well known that Episode IX was set to be Leia’s story, and J.J. does a great job of incorporating and elevating Leia and Carrie’s importance to not only the franchise but for a legion of Star Wars fans. Leia will forever be my princess.

Let’s discuss Emperor Palpatine. Ian McDiarmid has not lost a step. His return to the throne does not fail as he is as menacing and fear-inducing as before. However, a huge flaw was the explanation or lack thereof on how he was able to return. Was he always set to be the Big Bad of this trilogy, or was this course correction after The Last Jedi? We’ll never know, but we can enjoy his time onscreen. 

Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver are the MVPs of Rise of Skywalker. Both give their all in their final performances as Rey and Ben Solo. From the moment I laid eyes on Rey in The Force Awakens, I’ve felt that she was the perfect heroine to lead this new trilogy, and she does not disappoint, and Rey’s story pleasingly comes full circle.

While there are lesser fans of Ben, with criticism ranging from, “He should be working at Hot Topic with his temper tantrums,” to “He’s just always whining,” I’ve personally been a fan of his story and especially now with its conclusion in this film. My counter to those previous criticisms has always been, “He’s a Skywalker. Would you expect nothing less?” Ben’s obsession with becoming his grandfather was his motivation, and once he became Supreme Leader, as seen in this film, his attitude changes. He becomes more assertive and in control, adding more depth to his character, unlike seen before. His story was one of the best endings I’ve seen in the franchise. 

As always, the supporting players add a ton to the film. Finn, while I’ve never been a fan of, feels essential to the central story here, especially in the battle against the First Order. Poe channels his inner Han Solo, and Finn and Poe’s buddy chemistry is admirable. The return of Lando was a sweet treat for fans, and while not a massive player to the film’s overall narrative, his appearance is welcomed along with Chewie and all our favorite droids. They all shine bright in this film. 

In his final work in the Star Wars franchise, John Williams delivers a pleasing and impactful score. A score that with each beat calls back to every film in the franchise and molds them into one of his best works throughout the entire saga.

Star Wars is and will continue to be more than just a film franchise to me. There are decades of memories, good times, and bad times that this space soap opera have been a part of, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. As the saga comes to an end, Rise of Skywalker, while flawed in some areas, has successfully ended the story of the Skywalker family in a gratifying fashion.