#not a judgment on people who enjoyed the finale or TLJ of course just my two cents

[thirddoctor]

I honestly don't get the Ruby thing. I saw people comparing it to Rey in The Last Jedi but that one made sense to me because on a meta level people were debating about Rey's parents since the character was first announced. The only reason we were commenting on Ruby's mother is because the show itself was doing it. So I don't get what they are trying to say here.

Well, RTD himself made the comparison - he said Ruby's story was inspired by Rey in TLJ. I'm personally very much not a fan of that movie and I actually think the reveal there suffers from the exact problem you mentioned, because 1. the sequel movies deliberately set up Rey's origins as a mystery (in a way that they didn't with, say, Finn, who also has an unknown background) and 2. TLJ acts as if Rey's question is the audience's question - are her parents important - when that was never what she cared about. TFA, TLJ, and TRoS all (in different ways) seemed unable to grasp what made the revelation about Luke's parentage work so well and instead bumbled about pointlessly.

I think Ruby's reveal is handled better and I was always onboard with her being an ordinary person, I just wish there was more going on with her character. I'm not fundamentally that interested in franchises engaging with their fandoms on some meta level if there isn't also a good, earnest story beneath all that. Something like the Impossible Girl arc worked for me because the answer to the mystery was entirely rooted in Clara's character and her choices. Ruby's most tangible effect on the plot - making everyone think her mother is Important because she's important to her - isn't something she chooses, it just happens. I spent the whole season waiting for her to do something and it doesn't quite feel like she ever did. That's where I feel cheated, far more so than about her parentage.

[mmusicofmysoul]

my experience with The Last Jedi

Okay, I LOVED The Last Jedi. I keep my tradition of judging things on the mesure of how I enjoyed them in the moment before listening to critics, and just like The Force Awakens, TLJ was a movie I'd actually want to watch again and again - not so much as what I felt with Rogue One, for example. I went to the theatre worried (especially with Luke's character, since I read so many people saying "they ruined his character") and it wasn't so bad. Spoilers ahead.

During the movie, I was worried about where they were taking Rey and Kylo's storyline. I didn't dislike their force link, but I was already cringing at the "misunderstood dark man finds redemption because of his love for the pure woman who puts up with his ways until he finally changes" cliché crap. But although Kylo killing Snoke was awesome, I was delighted to see that was not his redemption arc and he just wanted the power for himself. I don't know what they're doing with him in episode IX, I used to think he may find redemption via Heroic Sacrifice a la Vader, but it’s cheap and already seen and honestly an easy way to go rather than showing someone's redeeming themselves through constant good and hard choices (like Finn).

Basically I still don't care about Kylo. He was better fleshed than what we saw in TFA, but he's just...meh. I don't want to be cruel but I think maybe if a more charismatic actor were on the role I could've liked the character, but no. It baffles me all the support the r3ylo ship has over healthier Rey's ships like with Finn and Poe tbh.

Rey, Finn and Poe? I didn't think I could love them more but here we are. Rey and Finn kept being rays of sunshine and I loved we got to see more of Poe, who was okay in TFA but we actually didn't get to know him much 'cause he didn't get the screen time, but here he steals the movie. Rose was also adorable. I don’t know how much I liked her subplot with Finn ‘cause they didn’t accomplish much, but it was a nice take on subverting the expectations of Poe's plan and their bond was cute. Also, Leia and Holdo's respect for each other? Amen. I loved Holdo didn't turn to be The Bitch to Poe's Hero. Just trust Leia's judgment. Her Heroic Sacrifice was one of the best things of the movie.

I was torn about the revelation of Rey's parentage. Of course I was expecting something big, maybe not the "she's Luke's daughter"/"she's Han and Leia's daughter" theories since neither of them would've surprised anyone acquainted with internet's fandom, but idk I wouldn't have minded a R + L = J twist. OTOH, I did like she was not another Skywalker: she's a "no one" but she still is a hero not because of her heritage, but 'cause she chooses to do good and help people. All of them are nobodys - Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose, Paige, etc - this is not the story of a dynasty but the story of common people who are heroes because they choose to take the hard road and be good (and that's a reason I'm not interested in Kylo's redemption).

(my brother and I were actually expecting at one moment for Kylo to put an “I am your brother” on Rey, but it was okay)

I'm on the unpopular opinion here, but I did like what they did with Luke. I was not delighted at his new cinism and I did not like the "he doubts to kill his asleep student because of his fears" crap, but I did like this take on deconstructing legends in-universe, which resounded with the audience who was not so much pleased to find in Luke a flawed man with struggles on how to be a teacher and a jedi. He expressed his disappointment in the Jedi Order we actually saw in the prequels. Even if I don't like prequels!Anakin, Vader fell because the teachings of the Jedi were flawed and both Luke and Yoda acknowledged that. The cinism in Luke was understandable in a man who has gone through so much and who feels as a failure, it was realist even if it wasn't the nice thing to see. We have originals!Luke whose hope and desire to do good inspired the monster who became his father and inspired us all, and we have this Luke now who had to struggle to teach, overcoming failure. Also, he was absolutely badass, the theatre was cheering at his victory over Kylo. That must be one of my favorite moments of the entire saga.

I hope episode IX expands on this "nor Jedi nor Sith extremes are good" and that in the middle of both lies the real balance. Kylo says something about that on the lines of "both the Jedi and Sith must disappear" and even if he's a crazy power-hungry asshole, we already saw the damage the Jedi teachings did to galaxy and to men like Anakin and Luke. That line of Yoda to Luke that a good teacher pass also the failure is important and I hope we get to see Ghost!Luke teaching Rey that in ep.IX.

Leia owns my ass, as always.

Finnrose is okay, even if I’m still sinking with Finnrey. I have so many feelings for that ship like you have no idea. “You sure have many questions -”  “Where is Rey?”  And Rey was Finn’s main motivation through the movie and I love it.

Rey and Poe were more shippable in one scene together than Rey and Kylo were in the entire movie. Fight me.

Let’s end it with the marvel of the Rey x Finn x Poe ot3.

I’m Team Luke & originals and my brother is Team Anakin & prequels but we both agreed The Last Jedi was awesome.