#''oh clear sky is an intended villain with a redemption'' that is not what the books are saying and you know that.

[yuridovewing]

im going to become the joker

[ilcuoreardendo-fic]

Overall Thoughts on TROS

It's definitely a Star Wars movie. Full of pew pew and snap-hiss crackle. There's not much time to stop and absorb anything because it's just go go go: we have a lot of fanservice to give and not a lot of time to give it.

I enjoyed myself. I'm just kind of....whelmed. (Neither over nor under.) It was fun. But with the ending of the trilogy, I’m finally able to put all my thoughts together (or at least somewhat together) and I have a lot of them...but I think they can be somewhat summed up like this: I wanted the sequel trilogy to be something more than what it was. But I digress.

Spoilers under the cut. Including my peeve with "generational midichlorians." Yeah. Kind of like “generational wealth.”

Also, this is stream of thought. Not a well put together essay/analysis.

Specific things I liked:

Confirmation that Leia did train as a Jedi (and built a saber).

The festival on Pasaana. (Honestly, this is the kind of thing I like most about Star Wars - seeing the worlds and the peoples [humanoids or otherwise] on them.)

The Dyad Bond. More than a Force bond. Two sides of the same coin. Not just able to see the other but to physically interact with the other (Kylo taking Rey's necklace; Rey giving Ben the lightsaber.)

Poe and Finn running things together. (But it would have been better as space boyfriends. Come on, Disney.)

The voices of the past Jedi. In Star Wars, no one is ever really gone.

Things I didn't Like

A trilogy complaint: the lack of tight, cohesive storyline. For the love of god, this is not the 1970s and you are not George Lucas with a one-off idea. Disney is a megacorp that purchased the most well known story/franchise in history and you're going to come into this thing and fucking wing it? Stop!

Palpatine introduced in the crawl. This goes back to my issue with the lack of a solid overarching storyline for the trilogy. This feels like shoehorning in a bigger bad. There should have been some hint of this from the beginning. And since JJ did TFA, I'm looking at him. He could have laid down some foundation instead of just questions in TFA. (Outlines! People, come on.)

Tying on to those first two things: Exposition. Oh, Snoke? I created him. All those voices in your head? Yeah, that was me. I know there was a comic that showed the abuse Ben Solo suffered at Snoke’s hand. This stuff would have been good to see within the trilogy. Cut down on some of the extraneous characters and pew-pew moments and give us some depth by showing us not telling us. (I know it’s Star Wars, but come on.)

Retconning Rey's lack of lineage. Don't retcon things because some parts of fandom don't like it. Tell the story being laid out. Do not pander. The whole point of TLJ was that those of lineage don't own the Force. The Jedi and the Sith do not own the Force. The Force just is. And you don't have to be from a specific bloodline to have a strong connection to it. The reason Rey was so strong was already established in the earlier films. Snoke said: Darkness rises and Light to meet it. The Force isn't a passive element; it seeks a balance. That's why Rey was so strong. We didn't need the "Oh, well, generational midichlorians, ya know." Sigh. We could have even kept the whole Palpatine as the hidden big bad without having Rey related to him. "Darkness rises and Light to meet it" applies to Old Palpy as well.

Redemption and Death. This is a peeve for me. I'm tired of the "redeemed through sacrificing my life" trope. For once, I'd like to see the redeemed bad guy survive and go out into the world and work on actively making things right. Ben's death was poetic and all. And it did run counter to Anakin in that he was able to save/bring back to life the woman he loved. But.... I want more. I want different. I was never expecting Reylo on screen or happily ever afters and riding off into the sunset. But I was hoping for something different than Return of the Jedi, Part Deux. I don't even have to see it. (In a less than two hour movie, that's not going to happen.) Just give me a hint.

There are more things, but they can pretty much be taken from these articles:

The Lack of Anakin Skywalker

From a storytelling/craft perspective. All of this. In all of the newness and nostalgic fan service, we just didn’t get the ties to the first six movies.

https://screenrant.com/star-wars-9-rise-skywalker-disrespects-darth-vader-anakin/?fbclid=IwAR1JG34DPkgKF1ho9cs6cP_qDEcQB7Tu0mwBgA0KGLhK-AvDwoylp27eUiE

While the sequel trilogy shouldn't be bogged down by too many ties to past movies, it should be the culmination to a nine-part saga that had, thus far, revolved around the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker. To feel cohesive as episodes 7, 8, and 9 as opposed to just another trilogy that happens to take place after the first six movies, the final three movies should be tied to his legacy as well.

Lack of Substance, Lack of Loss, Too Much Myth

https://www.cbr.com/the-rise-of-skywalker-star-wars-rian-johnson/?fbclid=IwAR3TRCtLL-Uxehr7Vn2U2CmSkhbX4pmWXXUHcv3eWX-4RD0TCvpfhf6xipk

In The Last Jedi, Johnson uses conflict as a means to make the situation direr. Every flashy scene pushes the plot forward, but it pushes it in a way that makes it more clear the heroes are in over their heads. Holdo lightspeed ramming those ships? It's beautiful and epic, but it also leaves the Resistance vulnerable. The Kylo/Rey fight against Snoke's guards? That's a crowd-pleaser, but it also ends with Kylo Ren leading the First Order.

In every fight, there was some risk. And, as Yoda puts it in The Last Jedi, "The greatest teacher failure is." Every character learned from their failure, no matter how severe it may be.

There is plenty of fights in The Rise of Skywalker that are intended to entertain fans of action, but they add precious little. Chewie dying? Oh, no, he's fine. Wait, a planet blew up? Oh, no, don't worry, all the relevant characters on the planet escaped. Hold on, Palpatine electrocuted every ship in the sky? Oh no, none of the characters fans liked died. Don't worry. It's a lot of style, but we never get that substantial loss.

Things I'm Mixed About

There will probably be more of this as I digest but, right now:

The Kiss

I’m always the person rooting for the conflicted villain to come back to good. To become, if not a hero, then an anti-hero.

And I’m a Reylo shipper. I glommed onto the Bastilla Shan/Revan vibes, the Hades and Persephone symbolism, etc. from the get-go.

I’m glad to see a kiss between the two. It gives me a warm fuzzy. But it’s so sudden, it feels somewhat dizzying. But then Rey and Ben are probably having an entire conversation as they’re sitting they’re staring at each other, so...

The Tatooine Ending

It's fan service. I get the whole nod to where things started, with the dual sunset. Luke looked out on the horizon wondering what was out there in the galaxy. Rey's doing the same, but from a different perspective (she knows something of what's out there, but she still doesn't know what the future will hold for her as the last Jedi).

But functionally, I'm just like...why bury them in the sand? Keep them with you. Start a new training temple and keep them there.

Also...all that sand. Anakin’s turning in his grave. Rude.

Things People Have Complained About that I Don’t Mind

This has mostly been from other Reylo shippers, but....

“Rey stuck on Tatooine” She’s not stuck. She has the Falcon. She went to bury the lightsabers. Luke already told her, essentially, to not do what he did and cloister herself away. I don’t know why some people think she was going to build herself a new lightsaber and become a hermit on Tatooine.

“Rey’s lack of grief over Ben”

This is a Star Wars movie. In a Star Wars movie we don’t really see grief. We see a bit with Leia, but that’s in large part because Carrie Fisher died and this was essentially a memorial for her on film.

Beyond that...characters die all the time throughout every movie. (Look how many died in the battle between the Resistance and Final Order. And what do we get? Partying. Congratulations. Kissing. “Yay, we’re still alive!” Not grief.)  Maybe we get a funeral or a mention in passing, but we don’t really see characters working through their feelings.

I’m sure Rey did her grieving. And may still be. Grief changes form as time passes and it looks different from person to person.

[cdc1345711]

Cartoon-Force/My Hero Academia Crossover:Prison Massacre

(Note this is a story before the events of the Raid and the Peace talks-starting with the Cartoon-Force making their first appearance to the world of My Hero Academia wanting to leave a BIG message to the League of Villains and any other wannabe villains out there-enjoy)

(At a maximum state prison-housing the most horrible of villains-ones who attacked Thirteen’s USJ and the Hero Camp-were locked up for life or early parole.............until now)

Guard 1:So got any plans for after work?”

Guard 2:Got my daughter’s ballet recital tonight-said I’d be there”

Guard 1:How old is she now-3?”

Guard 2:6 actually and still cute as a button”

Guard 1:Usually are.....”

(But before more chatter can be made the lights flicker on and off)

Guard 2:What the.......?”

Guard 1:Probably just the rain-messes up the tech”

Guard 2:But-the weather didn’t call for rain........”

(And the power finally comes off and the 2 guards see out in the halls as other guards are being transported)

Guard 2:What the Hell is that?(Then he sees his fellow officer dragged into whatever is transporting them)WAKANOMI?????!!!!!”

Guard 1:I’m sinking fast kid......″

(And finally the last guard is transported-but instead of inside a volcano or in the sky every guard is on an island-far away from the prison-many guards are asking if it’s a villain attack but others say if it were than they wouldn’t be alive-this.............this was something else)

Muscular:Looks like the joint is all ours(activates his quirk)and these quirk nullifying necklaces have run out of juice”

Mustard:Let’s bust this joint.....I plan to get even with those UA brats”

Muscular:Me too”

(Every criminal makes it outside-the swimmers head for the water,the ground prisoners run out and the flyers fly but once they reach the prison walls-intending to break it-is blasted by what they perceive to be an energy weapon-and out of the smoke a bunch of shadowy figures become known)

Inmate:I’m guessing you’re the guys who did all this? did the League of Villains sent you to save us?”

(One of them just looks down at the prisoners with what can be said is an unfeeling expression)

Inmate:(Kinda getting scared)Is.......is this a rescue”

(The same person open his beak and utters the words in a cold,quiet,kinda creepy tone)

‘No’

(Then in mere seconds the figures with guns shoot down the prisoners)

Jerome:You heard our orders C-Force-Boss says not to let any of these pricks alive”

Muscular:I just gained my freedom-no way am I gonna(then a leg falls down near his feet)What the........good God”

(The sky rains blood and body parts from the flying villains)

Inmate:They......they just cut them down to pieces”

Carbon Villain:So let’s get them-the faster we kill them the faster we are to freedom”

(The villains attack the ones dubbed ‘C-Force’  in hopes of freedom-while below in the waters)

Aqua Villain:Ha-while those nimrods are busy being slaughtered we’ll be off Scott free”

Shark Villain:Hell yeah”

(But as the water themed villains reach the open waters they too are attacked-swiftly and without mercy)

Tiburone:Isn’t it sad not one of these bastards can put up a good fight?”

Slammu(Street Sharks):Yeah-but beating them is always fun”

(In less than a mili-second the water is painted red in blood-and on top side)

Pig-Gun Villain:It’s no use we can’t fight these guys-our bullets just either bounce off or are ineffective”

Gun Finger villain:Yeah”

Mustard:(Who sees the blasted down doors unguarded)No ones at the door c’mon,anyone who doesn’t want to die today follow me”

(The small villains make it to the outside)

Mustard:(Reveling in the outside air)I see the boats we’re home fr-(he is shot in the head)”

Gun Finger Villain:WHAT THE...... ?????(And he and the other escaped prisoners are shot in the head)”

(Because in the distance a Banana Slug with both eye stalks in 2 sniper guns shot anyone down before they escaped)

Talon:Nice shooting Slink-”

Slinkman:Thank-you and Kludd weren’t so bad hacking those Flyers to bits either-how’re our guys doing?”

Kludd:Still beating the bad guys........and gals”

(A gorilla armed villainess charges at a cyborg man only to be caught in his grip)

004:Sorry chick(snaps her neck)you chose the wrong target”

Inmate:Let’s get the dog.......”

Jerome:Speaking of ‘choosing the wrong targets’(he pops out his claws and starts slicing the villains to pieces)RAAAAAAAAAWR”

(Muscular was fighting an African American with unbreakable skin)

X:You killed those water hose heroes and tried to kill that Midoriya kid right?-then buddy this is gonna be fun.......(he continues to pummel Muscular)”

(Inside not all villains and villainesses left the gate-some stayed because they wanted redemption-and once the CFs entered inside they left those prisoners be)

(Outside again)

Jerome:Hit them fast and hit them hard boys-no one left standing”

‘HEY BITCH-BOY!!!!!!!”

(A villain lunges at Jerome only to be hit by a knife to the forehead)

Jerome:(Turns to see who threw the knife)You.........(seeing it was none other than-.......)”

Stain:I take it you got a boss who sent you here to ‘kill’ us all right?”

Jerome:Only those who were in the League of Villains with no shot of redemption(looking at Stain’s hands gripping his knives and he readies his claws)wanna bring it on boy bring it on.....”

(Instead he flings his knife at another inmate)

Stain:You don’t follow the laws of our society,you are not one of those fake heroes-so for now i’m your ally”

Jerome:Fine by me blades”

(He and Stain walk to meet up with the others)

Ozzy:(Blasting down baddies)How’s Jerry doing?”

Eric:(Using his telepathy)He’s fine-he’s actually got Stain with him”

Ozzy:He on the list?”

T-Bone(Extreme Dinosaurs):Yes(as he snaps the necks of 4 prisoners)”

Ozzy:Okay-hope he doesn’t stab any of us”

Black Dynamite:(Inside the base)Moonfish is dead”

Eric:Good job BD-and Tiburone and the sky boys called in their posts are clear too”

X:I still got this ass-hole(holding the head of Muscular now looking like battered and beaten underground pit fighter)thought he could help ‘send the message’ to his old friends”

Eric:Yes-but after we’re done here”

(And hour has passed since the attack and the news has already arrived)

Newscaster:I am here on a scene as a maximum state prison was under attacked-luckily no guards were harmed but(sees the prison)oh dear God(the side of the prison hangs the dead bodies .......and written in their own blood was ‘LoV is NEXT!!!!’)what....what I can describe ladies and gentleman is a house of horrors littered with the dead bodies of the villains behind the USJ and Hero Camp attacks-oh gawd-how this happened we go no.....”

‘I do......’

(A prisoner walks out and tell them what he saw)

Inmate:A group of heavily armed and very strong guys came in and massacred everyone from the skies,ground and seas-wanting to send this to you(it was a DVD and due to her curiosity the newscasters played it-showing a man in a black and red suit and wolf mask)

‘Charles:Hello-I am Knight Raider and this is the ‘Cartoon-Force’ we’v observed the horrid deeds your criminals have committed especially this piece of shit right here(his group brings out Muscular)we won’t talk long only to say that the age of villains is gone,anyone wishing to join the ‘League of Villains’ has sent their death warrant and will be given two choices-stay down or be put down-as for the league themselves-Shigaraki,Dabi,Toga,Twice,Compress,Kurogiri,Spinner and Magne-like the blood of the dumbasses that joined you wrote ‘You’re Next!!!!’ as for any other wannabe villain the same applies,and the heroes,stay out of our way,we’re dishing justice our way to make the world a better place-see ya now(they show the one named X pinning Muscular to the wall with metal pipes)’

Newcasters:As you’ve seen it folks there are new players on the field-Knight Raider and his Cartoon-Force are now on the loose-what will happen next-stay tuned for more”

(Charles turns off the TV)

Artemis:Was slaughtering all those villains real necessary?”

Charles:Yes-it’s to show that there’s people out there stronger than the League of Villains who don’t give two shits about putting them down-All-For-One’s world will dies”

Artemis:And Shigaraki-you plan to kill him too?”

Charles:Kill? no no no no-just to hurt him so hard he never wants to fight again-or even think about it-(walks outside to see his workers move their vehicles and guns)because now it’s time to bring out some much needed justice”

THE END