#very obsessed with this new lando character of sticking with the most annoying Bit
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World's most irritating man vs his Australian team mate
Bonus: Australians React
#lando norris#oscar piastri#daniel ricciardo#the way my photoshop crashed in the middle of making this...#anyway i think this is clear demonstration of 2022 lando vs 2023 lando#very obsessed with this new lando character of sticking with the most annoying Bit#that's a great one i use it as a weapon against my little brother all the time#vs stupid and also stupid last year just doing dumber 2 dumbest communication#some lovely team dynamics here#nadia's things#this is for amanda <3
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A Star Wars Noobās ideas for fixing the Disney sequels
Okay so just to get this out there, because it wonāt leave my mind.
So Iāve been binging on SW lately and the sequels only annoy me more and more by the day. So just wanted to throw my character ideas out into the world. Focusing on characters because I like writing characters way more than plot. Hopefully if I ever actually write this thing, or even somehow pitch it to someone with the right connections to animate it with the actors as voice actors, this wouldnāt have gone viral. But since no one looks at my blog it probably wonāt lol. Hopefully.
But just in case, Iāll say that this will probably contain spoilers for a story which may or may not exist by the time you read this.
Iāve deliberately been trying to avoid as much emotional spoilers and normal spoilers as I can before the sequels despite the temptation, so sorry if some stuff is a bit off. Augh I hope I can get the time to watch the full OT and PT soon. I was too tired from hiking when I watched SW4 and I nowĀ reallyĀ wish my dad didnāt show me when I was half-asleep.
Rey:Ā Rainbow of possibilities; Cynical Scavenger, Adventure-seeking Audience Surtogate Geek, or Lawful Good to the core Paladin Padawan with a personal grudge, and may be descended from a family line, maybe not, but currently most likely a Skywalker by blood. Story and other character arcs change dramatically depending on which route chosen.
Finn:Ā Stoic soldier man learns power of friendship, finds meaning of life, causes Stormtrooper mutiny, probably becomes a Jedi and second main character and hooks up with Rey. āWhatās a joke?ā. Awkward dork and stunted socially but doing his best. May instinctively find it hard to disobey orders. He may be the one wanting to find his family; but thatās dropped soon enough to focus on whatās ahead.Ā
(Alternatively: Proud warrior guy who acts like a stereotypical North Korean soldier who finds himself outside the First Order, learns power of friendship etc. The rest is the same)
Poe Dameron:Ā What we Japanese people call The Aniki. The funny charismatic ace pilot who keeps everyone sane, overall bro. Wholesome but a bit rough, that guy you would want to share a beer with. But within that easygoing nature burns a hotblooded, determined, dutiful streak, and an even stronger snarky streak. The one with the social skills. Loves his droid like his son though Cynical!Rey and Finn find that initially kind of stupid/strange.Ā
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo:Ā Appears to be yet another quietly imposing Star Wars villain with added edgelord factor, but actually a mentally unstable, borderline yandere berserker of a man crushed under the weight of a legacy, with a horrifying inferiority complex, identity issues, and an unhealthy obsession with familial honor, constantly stuck between Dark and Light. Despite his high rank, basically the First Orderās attack dog. Usually has the emotional maturity of a 16-year-old, if not younger. If anyone is, heās the damsel in distress of this story.
Luke Skywalker:Ā Cuddly sunshine headmaster sage doing his best, has been on many adventures before that are hidden ads to future Lucasfilm projects. May have gone to search for answers as to what is causing recent events, or is still present at the beginning. May survive at the end. He could be anywhere from kind of jaded but at his core still that sweet optimist, to Basically Uncle Iroh, to can-literally-summon-Porgs-by-whistling/Space Sage Mr. Rogers.
Han Solo:Ā General of the Republic Armed ForcesĀ or courier who decided military life just wasnāt for him and now delivers important messages through still unstable areas of the New Republic, a war hero, and a dad doing his best. Wants to hold hope but may have at least outwardly given up on Ben, with Poe filling in the void. Has gone clean from his life of crime and still married 30+ years strong with Leia. He would be the one who is the closest to Poe if heās still in the military and Leia is a Jedi, with Poe being seen as his likely successor. He might die at the end of 8? Maybe Hamill and Carrie would somehow talk him into sticking around past 7? He might still die in 7?
(Side note: I wish we could have seen Old Harrison Ford in a military casual coat-cape. He would have looked awesome in it. I mean no one would really complain that he plays fast and loose with the dress code if there even is one, heās Han freakinā Solo and he gives no f*cks.)
Leia Organa-Solo:Ā Preferably a Jedi Knight, leader while heās away if heās away as well as their tactician, or senator considering her personality; maybe have basically what Colin Trevorrow planned for her (I meanā¦ why not just use CGI at this point? Theyāve done it before. Iām sure Carrie wouldnāt have wanted her swan song to be such a passive role either), with her bond with Luke being a major factor and us actually being able to see it in practice. May have outwardly given up on her son as well, but still is at the end of the day a mom doing her best. Basically a strong, smart lady like how sheās always been.
Chewbacca: How he always is, but he plays more of a role than basically the guy bussing the cast around, an active combat role definitely. Hanās second in command and maybe fellow dad. Possibly the part-time chaperone of the mess that is the new main duo. Also was Benās first friend, and you bet there will be drama here.
Lando Calrissian: Business mogul who probably helps the heroes out, maybe by selling them stuff and using his many connections to get information. And/or heās basically an economic diplomat for the Republic. Has known Ben since he was a child and may have snuck him on too many joyrides without telling Leia, to her chagrin and Hanās amusement.Ā
Grand Admiral Armitage Hux:Ā Basically how he was in SW7. Calculating, manipulative, coldhearted, intelligent, and ruthless, the brains to Kyloās brawn. Son of former Imperial officers, killed his own father to get where he is. Gives no f*cks, except when he goes full ham. Maybe even he goes cold and pale if Kylo starts getting angry, just to show how terrifying he can be, but I also like the idea of him being one of two people who can manipulate Kylo out of a tantrum and not end up a pile of flesh or choked to death.Ā
Captain Phasma:Ā How she is in supplemental material probably. A walking chrome machine of merciless death. Probably not very talkative, and probably does not take defectors lightly. She may defect at the end or not depending on how truly evil sheās portrayed to be, but Iām thinking sheās likely this cruel disciplinarian who expects complete and utter, machine-like obedience to the end, and Finn flinches at the mere mention of her, though she herself is equally as extremely loyal to the cause.
Snoke:Ā A mysterious being, the likes of which are not of this galaxy.Ā Probably some kind of ancient eldritch abomination who can torment vulnerable minds with an untraceable curse. Not your average Sith, and despite how it may seem it may not be connected to them at allā¦ Or perhaps it is. Or perhaps it itself serves a larger master. It wants to use Kylo Ren forā¦ something. Just what it is is what Luke has been trying to find out for years.
Knights of Ren:Ā Idea borrowed from Thor Skywalker (check him out on YouTube!); possibly a military cult of Sith/Vader worshippers who see Ben as the second coming of Vader, and have aligned themselves with Snoke. Probably basically Kyloās personal guard and troops. Or possibly directly liked to whatever otherworldly entit(ies?) Snoke is, not being of this galaxy themselves.
Anakin Skywalker:Ā Determined grandpa doing his best for his kids, grandkid(s), and the galaxy. Doesnāt appear often, but plays a major role in the story; maybe heās the one who led Rey to his lightsaber, and maybe he advises Luke while training Rey, or secretly follows Kylo, trying to speak to him but unable to be seen or heard by him. Heād be the one who ultimately convinces Ben to return to the light, and to, in an echo of the words Ben heard when he was being impersonated, āfinish what I startedā.
Rose Tico:Ā A probably relatively new, wide-eyed young recruit in the Republic Military, and maybe seeks revenge on First Order for killing or kidnapping her sister. Not sure if she will be needed, but if thereās room for her she might be interesting. Maybe sheās one of Poeās friends or part of his squad. She could also be the resident girly girl because there arenāt many of those here.Ā
Vice-Admiral Amberlyn Holdo:Ā Sheās in the Aftermath books, and those seem pretty good, so sheās probably how she is there. A quirky mostly background character that is probably at most there for Han and/or Leia and Ackbar to give commands to and salute back, but most importantly she actually does her job properly, even if sheās still a bit of an odd person. Also Poe knows her and they have a way more amicable work relationship. Also give her something which actually looks like something military personnel would wear. She could even be a legitimately good tactician who comes up with off-the-wall tactics.
(Side note: I heard that she basically has the Star Wars version of Autism, and while Iād appreciate that as an Aspie myself, Iāll also have to say that Autistic people would probably be terrible military leaders due to us not being able to adjust to sudden changes well and our bad communication skills. So yeah, sorry, unless sheās recast to something like, say, a mechanic or logistics or medic or any other more Autistic-friendly job, thatās going to have to go)
Maz Kanada:Ā ā¦Admittedly not sure what to do with her. But sheās more likely to be an acquaintance of Lando before Han, if she doesnāt know both. In fact, Lando may be introduced early alongside her. But she would still have the important role of keeping Anakinās saber; how she has it, either Lando found it, or basically what was cut from TFA showing that sheās indeed pretty awesome.Ā
BB-8:Ā BB-8 doesnāt have to change. Heās perfect as he is. Maybe what he can do should be more consistent though. Poe and him are basically Ash and Pikachu, they stick together whenever possible. If Rey or Finn need a droid to tag along and Poe isnāt in the party at the moment, R2 is right there. I once read a fanfic in which BB-8 was actually a droid Luke made for Ben and I liked the ideaā¦ though it probably would be a bit of an unnecessary detail in practice.
R2-D2 and C3P0:Ā Theyāre basically business as usual. They would still have that boke-tsukkomi dynamic they had going on, sometimes with the added childlike cuteness of BB-8 in the mix. If thereās any extra time left for comic relief scenes, or if theyāre sent on some kind of mission together, I can see these three messing around doing their thing (or rather, BB being childlike, cute and curious, Threepio being overly nervous, and Artoo being too old for this sh*t and/or BBās cool uncle/older brother) being both cute and hilarious.
Also Worldbuilding stuff will be featured at the bottom
Elaboration on the ābig fourā of the sequel cast:
Rey:Ā Aged 19, speaks with Daisy Ridleyās normal accent, not RP (I mean really, her accent isnāt that hard to understand). A whole rainbow of possibilities with this lady, though many donāt realize it. I might be leaning towards her being Lukeās daughter, though her being Just Rey may also be interesting, and her still being a descendant of Palpatine or the main villain could also have potential, though if Finn is a Jedi I donāt think thereās any need for her parents to be nobody. But the three main routes I can think of for her are these three: Cynical!Rey, a Rey with a backstory identical to the canon Rey from her abandonment onwards, Fangirl!Rey, a sort of estimation of a dorky female Star Wars nerd in-universe and the most lighthearted start out of the three, and Padawan!Rey, a Rey who is already Lukeās Padawan at his academy. Maybe making her starting point less crushingly bleak and Fangirl!Rey could work, but it might dilute both ideas, and that characterization might be a bit too similar to ANH Luke.Ā
As is apparent, Cynical!Rey, is, well, cynical. Sheās strong and independent, but extremely distrusting, on-edge, and not used to friendly interaction. Think Female SW4 Han Solo but even more antisocial and probably not even bothering with the bravado, and basically with Anakinās upbringing except she doesnāt even have a loving mother like Anakin did. Fangirl!Rey was my initial idea but Iām starting to become less partial to it because of the aforementioned similarity to ANH Luke, but my idea was sheās basically Harry Potter, living with stepparents who hate her, or sheās still used as basically child labor but her conditions are nowhere near as bad as Cynical Reyās, and she would have grown up on stories about the Rebels and the Jedi and everything else in the past movies, collecting every single bit of memorabilia she can get her hands on. If one wants to go for very lighthearted and slightly meta for SW7 this is the route. Padawan!Rey could go anywhere, but Iām thinking she would basically be our D&D Paladin; ever since Ben Solo went berserk and ran off to join the First Order, sheās become very protective of her fellow students and has a really understandable personal grudge against him. She might be the strongest pupil left after the Second Jedi Massacre, and by the end maybe she becomes the successor to headmaster of the academy. It is possible that she was found abandoned on Jakku or Lukeās doorstep, however, so the theme of growing up lonely is there, and because being a Jedi is what has given her meaning in life it means a lot to her. But while I donāt want her parentage to be revealed early if it is Luke, it does raise the massive plot hole of why this was never disclosed to her or to Ben.Ā
And yes, I did sayĀ fellowĀ students andĀ academy. Wiping the new Jedi Order feels really cheap and it makes the whole hopeful Jedi Starting Anew implication that Iām 90% sure the OT ended on feel very pointless. Iād prefer them still being there, though their inclusion would be obviously way more natural in the Padawan Route. This also has tons of marketing potential for Disney, because I wanted to take IRL realism into account; whatās in it for Disney? Maybe potential to expand on other students and Lukeās academy? It could be like a smaller Jedi Hogwarts/Xavier Institute basically. Though the survivors wouldnāt be too numerous; just, like, four at most. Maybe there would be elements of an Avengers/Infinity War/Endgame-esque team movie, even if the rest are a bit out of focus.
I did think maybe the heroes would still go to Ahch-To after SW7 where Luke would have been hiding with his students researching the new threat, but maybe I could have him stay and sort of take a few cues from Harry Potter by introducing the heroes to the world of the Jedi early and giving them a break in the action as they settle in their new homes, so thereās more time to develop the padawan side characters, what the academy is like, and Luke gets to appear in SW7 as well so there can be a OT trio āreunionā (not a reunion in-universe). Though that kind of messes with other parts I want to include like Rey and Finn having to take on Kylo and getting completely whipped because heās a rampaging madman before having to be saved by Luke. Also Rey getting kidnapped has potential for developing her trust in others, and her and Finn getting a breather moment at the Republic after the heroes and Han regroup would kind of remove a point where that could be easily slotted in the story. It would also require everything before this to be crammed in the first act.Ā
(Newer edit 5/27/21)Ā I also like her getting a golden double-bladed saber like many fans depict her. Itās not only awesome looking (because she only gets her own saber at the end of TROSā¦ Why?), but itās more toys for the moichendise! It fits her starting with a staff, it has more reach, and it would fit Cynical Rey especially for her to have a style centered around keeping as much of herself defended as possible. Watching Battlefront 2 footage has made me think about fighting styles a bit, and if she and Finn are a duo how their styles of combat might compliment each other, especially as their relationship develops (coincidentally she and Finn apparently are a very good combination in BF2). A Cynical Rey would probably contrast the most, with a fighting style based on keeping enemies away, trickery, and defense (a good choice for a blade made of light), maybe a bit wild at first but initially her goal in fighting would be to hold out until there is an opening to get the hell out, only staying to fight if she has no other option. Fangirl Rey wouldnāt really have a fighting style initially, and itās gonna be very dependent on where her arc goes. Padawan Rey would have the most Prequel Jedi-esque, choreographed style, showing a lot of skill though not quite mastering it and with tons of openings at first. A Cynical Rey may have an uncanny skill to detect suspicious people, which would make her trusting the heroes easier, and though this ability isnāt super strong and is more āa slight gut feeling but it could be nothingā than āhuman lie detectorā it could maybe be honed more. And while not quite wall vision like in BF2 (because wat? Where do they come up with this stuff?), maybe sheās good at detecting peopleās presences too. These are very apt ambient skills for someone in her position. Meanwhile, Fangirl!Rey would have probably suspected she had the Force already, and her ambient abilities could be whatever, just rather passive abilities unless trained.Ā
If she is Lukeās daughter though, that would open up the can of worms of who her mother is. Just making it so that she died before the events of SW7 might seem a bitā¦ unfortunate? I kind of want Luke to have found love sometime (and seriously with how much of a bombshell young Luke was, in addition to him being such a hero, Iām shocked that he never got one. I can see why Mara Jade wanted a piece of that. *wolf whistle*), but then Iād have to figure out how to incorporate her in this already character-dense story without her having cheaply died offscreen. I might be able to think of something?Ā I could always go digging in the dusty pile of old fan theories, I might find something good. Thor Skywalker did hint at her but his story stopped at the end of where SW8 would have. If I do name her Mara thereās probably going to be extra pressure to do something with her.Ā ā¦But I canāt be the only one who thinks that Daisy Ridley kind of looks like Natalie Portman. Then again Iām pretty face-blind. I guess blond hair and blue eye color genes are also recessive traits for Star Wars humans. Though it seems the height genes skipped a generation because sheās actually pretty tall for a woman at 170 cm - Iām sorry what. Thatās as tall as the average Japanese man! Holy sh*t Daisy! She only looks a bit small because sheās often depicted with Kylo and Kylo makes everyone not Phasma look diminutive. I guess Ben would get it from Anakin and Han (though heās still taller than both of themā¦), so maybe a taller actress would be cast as Mara (?). And despite Reyās malnourishment in the Cynical route, this actually isnāt that implausible, because stunted growth apparently only happens if children are deprived from gestation to about 2 years of age.Ā
And again, why wouldnāt Ben know about this? But if this isnāt the Padawan!Rey route (the hardest to incorporate Rey The Actual Skywalker into), maybe Ben took Reyās assumed death as even more of a reason to burden himself with the entire Skywalker legacy? This would give him a reason to already care about her.
Further edits: According to the Aftermath books, Jakku was a āLightside Nexusā planet. Maybe this has to do with her powers? (Perhaps she was kept sane by the Force speaking to her on occasion, in dreams or as she lies staring at the ceiling after a long day, showing her the loving life she used to live and unknown to her she will return to someday). Or why she was dropped there? Maybe she was supposed to be living with Lor San Tekka (the old guy Kylo kills at the beginning of TFA), but got lost one day or was kidnapped by bandits to be a scavenger because her small size would have been perfect for getting loot from small spaces? Why not take her back then? This probably is one of the biggest plot knots in the Cynical Rey Skywalker route, alongside who her mother is.Ā Ā
Small detail lightning round before moving on: I once read a Japanese fic, and in it she mentioned she hates alcohol because she saw how it turned people into monsters. I actually kind of liked this headcanon, and maybe a bit unexpected. Though thereās also the route of her just being too used to it, setting her apart from previous more wholesome protagonists even more.Ā Also Daisy would have to start hitting the gym and protein shakes because I think her character design evolving from her thin build to a very athletic, Wonder Woman-esque body type would be pretty good in representing her growth as a character, and combined with her height she would be so very badass looking.Ā
Finn:Ā Probably around 23? Infamous for lost potential, so his backstory is the same. However, Iām thinking that due to his dehumanizing upbringing, heās a bit robotic and pretty stoic initially, a total opposite to Poe. He doesnāt understand jokes or sarcasm, and now that heās completely left the life heās always known, he feels pretty lost. He would basically act like a male Rei Ayanami, though I was going more for Drax at first. Alternatively, heās a proud warrior type, imagine a stereotypical North Korean/Prussian soldier. Heād be a bit more emotional and probably less cartoonish here (I mean I have compared Star Wars to anime but full-on anime tropes in live action probably looks super corny), and heās a massive hardass who also doesnāt get sarcasm or jokes and fanatical and would have thought of his fellow soldiers as a collective as his band of brothers and comrades, collectively serving the FO like a smoothly running machine. My initial thought was that after a life of war crimes and the influence a certain pilot whose cell he was guarding who gave him his name, and maybe witnessing the death of a comrade, he had defected from the FO, but I started thinking it would be plausible if he defected from the FO probably by accident. Highly likely to be the second protagonist, if not POV character, and if so I think itās logical that itās Finnrey that becomes the canon ship here. In the Padawan!Rey route,Ā heāsĀ the newcomer protagonist, not Rey. If theyāre shipped, or even as friends, they may bond over their dehumanizing, harsh backgrounds and the feeling of being lost in the world. Also he likely starts a mutiny. Like it was such an obvious plot point but they never use it for some bizarre reason. Itās like the DM didnāt read his character sheet at all. Actually one didnāt and the other kept forgetting it in the third campaign.
Thereās two ways I think his arc could go; first would be a focus mainly on his search for identity and becoming his own person. Second, his guilt about having done the First Orderās bidding for so long. Probably a combination of the two, though Iām not sure how to address them both. He also wants to see his colleagues free from slavery.Ā But I am sure about Iād that heād have to overcome his conditioning, learning to regain his humanity.
Especially if Rey is a Skywalker and he becomes a Jedi, heād be the one who the movie makes a point about being from nowhere. He has no idea who his parents are, but it would not even matter in the end, itās what he makes of his life from here on out. And if he and Rey end up together, which is extremely likely in this scenario, he not only finds his family in the figurative sense with the other Jedi and his new friends plus girlfriend, but in the literal sense as well, going from nameless Stormtrooper FN-2187, to just Finn the ex-Stormtrooper, to Finn the Padawan and then Jedi Knight, to finally, Finn Skywalker, Jedi Knight; maybe the last movie ends with one of them proposing to the other, with SW8 having previously ended with the climactic big damn kiss that cemented that they are a thing now. (Cue Luke jokingly asking when heās getting grandchildren and How It Should Have Ended!Anakin squeeing over him getting great-grandchildren lol) His name would have this real symbolic value to it with how it changes as he goes from nobody to somebody. Not to mention āFinn Skywalkerā is just a freakinā awesome name. If they make up the leading duo, he and Rey may have some kind of inherent connection, or they progress into two parts of the same whole, even attaining something like a Dyad.
I thought an interesting thing to do if Rey is a Skywalker, and this is Cynical Rey, is a twist on the expected pattern by making him the one who sees the good in Kylo, not Rey. Because while Rey might be his cousin, sheās also a very distrustful person who couldnāt afford to think deeply about people act the way they do when she was growing up and fighting to survive. Meanwhile, Finn knows Kylo, and he also knows what itās like to be determined to be a killing machine from a very young age, and if he has to forgive himself, or if heās able to see the light, that Kylo deserves a chance as well. It would be the ultimate show of kindness from him, to show him forgiving the man who works so loyally under the same organization that enslaved him. I can also see Kylo being angry at himself for being unable to sense the Force-Sensitive in their midst.Ā
Maybe he was born on a āLightside nexusā planet too so that it makes sense that he can keep up with other characters? Presuming heās in his early 20s, I donāt think him being raised by the Order since he was a baby is that plausible, so maybe he was already an orphan? I can see the First Order spinning their Stormtrooper program kidnapping street orphans as ārehabilitatingā them, which combined with good old Victorian style citizen apathy to street children allows them to get away with it. But if he was, say, around 6 years old when he was taken away, it would make sense why he was able to break out of his programming. Perhaps Poe showing him friendship awoke the humanity long dormant in him. But on the other hand, the younger, adolescent soldiers may be beyond saving, and I can see that being absolutely heartbreaking.Ā
I can see his fighting style with a saber being direct, forceful, and pragmatic, but unlike Rey the emphasis would be on engaging and keeping up the fight, and be very disciplined, calculated, and controlled in contrast to Cynical Rey. At least heād attempt it while he gets used to the properties of a lightsaber, before there would probably be a lot of awkwardness as John is directed to swing this weightless prop blade with a weighted hilt like he would a club or sword. If he isnāt a Force Sensitive, heās a good sniper just like in BF2, in fact this would be his primary combat ability, though still able to hold his own in melee combat. Though even as a Jedi heād probably still use a gun as a sidearm, and his good aim would also translate to him being very good at spotting openings and spotting danger from a distance, as well as enhanced ability to dodge.Ā
Poe Dameron:Ā Age 29 (?). A total bro. Iāve kind of come to think of him as this embodiment of the good, wholesome side of traditional masculinity. I can best describe him as the guy you expect to think of when you think of the guy who takes the boys to the bar for beers on the house and hosts Super Bowl night (for the Americans out there). Basically just that big bro/cool uncle everyone likes. I think heās the least changed from how he is in SW7; heās a laid-back pilot with no special powers, and while heās probably the most static and admittedly flat character (and unfortunately more minor than the other two) he has tons of charisma and optimism to compensate, though being the one who keeps everyone sane definitely helps. Not to mention his piloting skills; which, note, are never eclipsed by Rey, because thatās dumb. His skills are a bit more downplayed here, but heās still extremely good, especially for his age. Despite being the pilot heās the most down-to-earth, and may be the only one of the big four with any social skills, even if heās a bit dorky, especially regarding BB-8.Ā
Son of Rebel pilots, graduated top of his class in the Republic Flight Academy, and his background is squeaky clean, no drug trading involved, though he spent a lot of his adolescence and his adulthood in the Academy or in the military, just like in pre-TROS supplementary material. Heās the main source of jokes and wisecracks out of the trio in all but the most dorky of Fangirl!Rey routes probably, teaching Cynical!Rey and Finn what itās like to smile and laugh. He still has a close relationship with Leia and Han; possibly closer to the latter due to the latter being a pilot and likely still a General. Not sure about him keeping his rank because him starting and staying at the top might mesh awkwardly with the rest of the trio, but maybe heās still a Commander; whichever makes his inclusion in the main cast most plausible. Due to an adorable Pixiv comic I found he may have been inspired to become a pilot by Luke or Han. Iād like to think that he breaks the hotshot pilot clichĆ© a bit by not being too overly arrogant, immediately setting himself apart from Han by being a wholesome guy there for his buddies from the start, even if he is fond of wisecracking and snarkiness (probably from hanging around Han and Leia), and inside that laid-back personality lies a hotblooded, passionate, unwavering core. Like, heās not exactly hotheaded like a Latin stereotype (*ahem*), but heās got this more subtle, but still apparent, underlying fiery hotbloodedness to him, something that especially makes itself apparent in high-stress situations and when it comes to his loved ones. Heād also be Rey and Finnās mentor of sorts in stuff that doesnāt involve the Force, being their role model for what a functional member of society is. He may make some self-depreciating jokes about being ānormalā, but I think mostly heāll take it in stride. Though I can see him and Han having a chat about this in a more quiet scene.Ā
Ironically, out of the trio he could maybe be said to be the most suited to be a Jedi personality-wise, despite the fact that he has no Force Sensitivity whatsoever; he goes with the flow, he isnāt troubled, heās happy with the simple pleasures in life, heās just a good, genuine guy who does good things, passionate but not obsessive, and heās forgiving, willing to give even an enemy soldier a chance, appealing to the humanity in him. The last one is particularly Luke-like, donāt you think? Oh, to elaborate on the escape; I still like the idea of him giving Finn his name (though another idea I love is a fallen friend giving Finn his name, that would change stuff around a lot from what I am thinking at this moment). I also think that perhaps supplemental material or some flashbacks, or even an animated short could be made showing just how Poe broke Finnās programming; by showing him genuine kindness, because somehow, despite his lack of Force Sensitivity, he saw that FN-2187 could be talked out of his programming if he was constantly nice to him, befriending him, starting up casual chatter with him, and after a while the trooper starts opening up to this pilot. ā¦Yeah, Luke-like indeed. Though since there is the plot hole of why Finn could be convinced in mere days and why heās the only one guarding such a high-profile prisoner, a more realistic idea may be that they talk to each other this way a few times, then Poe escapes and Finn goes after him before they both crash on Jakku and have to work together, with Poe immediately being friendly with Finn and later Rey, to his (and her) confusion. (I can just imagine Poe being all chipper and trying to engage Finn in conversation, or telling himĀ āGood job, sport!ā after they fight off bandits or something, and Finn just is all deadpan and āWe are enemies, we have no reason to fraternizeā and I find that kind of cute).
He may ultimately be the most static of the main cast, but I can see him having a huge impact in more subtle ways; like maybe Rey and Finn think of what Poe might do in a given situation in their training, and he could be the catalyst behind why Finn thinks that Kylo can be redeemed, just like how Poe was able to light another way when it felt like there was only one path for him. He also definitely wouldnāt be the type to be so reckless with his men like he was in TLJ, if heās still a Commander; he cares about his men a lot, and in fact they may be the reason why he tends to act like an older brother. I can imagine a pretty poignant scene with Finn where Finn sees Poe by himself and BB-8 paying respects to his fallen comrades by this handmade cenotaph, as he sets some flowers down and pours a drink to them, and Finn once again is able to see how different the culture outside the First Order is, as he would have never been mourned like that if he died on the battlefield, nor can he imagine he ever would have done so himself. Or maybe Rey is there too, because if this is Cynical Rey sheās only known a life where people exploited each other. Maybe other characters like Jessika (who heās already close to I think? Did she show up in the movies though?) or Rose would have the opportunity to be more than background characters by being part of his crew, and weād get some charming scenes about the bond he has with his squadron.
Again, admittedly heād be the least deep character out of the big four, with his feelings not being explored nearly as much. But he probably doesnāt really hide his feelings much anyway. For any supplementary shorts involving him, they would be mainly lighter stories about his relationship with the OT cast and their families and his friendship with BB-8 and his crew, or action-y ones about missions heās gone on; as opposed to, say, Finn, which would show his life as an expendable trooper who knew nothing but war, Cynical!Rey and her crushing loneliness and growing disillusionment to the world as she struggles to survive, or Padawan!Rey and her anguish and grappling with the Dark Side in the aftermath of the Jedi Massacre.Ā
I can also imagine him being this adorable Shipper On Deck for Finnrey lol. Just looking at his two friends, all proud, maybe even tearing up like ā*sniff* Iām not crying Buddy, youāre crying!ā when the inevitable big kiss scene happens. I can also imagine him being the one to tell Finn thatĀ āHey Finn, what youāre feeling is love!āā¦And then he has to spend hours trying to explain what love even is to him lol. He always has his friendsā back after all. Again, heās most likely the one guy who isnāt completely socially inept among these dorks. Iāve also had the potential idea that he could maybe be a good cook, and heād be the one who introduces Rey and Finn to actually good food.Ā Some fics Iāve noticed tend to show him cooking stuff probably for that reason. Itās just kind of cute, and it sets a good example if despite his traditionally masculine, salt-of-the-earth character, he likes some lessĀ āmanlyā stuff like such and sees no shame in it.
He may sacrifice himself in a blaze of glory towards the end, especially because quite frankly he may lose his plot relevance as the story goes on, though it would definitely be way more respectful than a lot of deaths were treated in the sequels. But I also want him to stick around because I want to imagine him being all proud of Rey and Finn after they propose to each other and giddily planning their wedding, and I feel he could have some very good interactions with Ben to build on for any spinoffs taking place after the trilogy. Speaking ofā¦
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo:Ā AKA Yet Another Ball Of Lost Potential: Anti-Villain Addition.Ā ThisĀ is gonna be a doozy, soĀ strap in. He was probably the most developed character here but that just makes his lost potential stick out even more, so I haveĀ soĀ much to say about him.
About 27 probably. While people complain about it, I actually like him being a manchild. It makes him a bit unique in this series. Itās kind of like Vader if he didnāt get stuck in that suit and kept acting like Anakin. In fact, that could make him even more terrifying if that feeds into how destructive he can be; at first he seems like your typical intimidating SW villain, not even that bad a leader with a seemingly calm if tense, imposing air, but it eventually becomes clear heās this terrifying, volatile berserker who can throw some of the most destructive tantrums ever, and is ultimately a pathetic, broken, pitiful shell of a man. ā¦He just happens to be aĀ veryĀ powerful shell of a man. Maybe if he becomes emotional or angry enough, he can unleash powerful shockwaves that basically blow up everything around him, or cause mini Force Storms, or cause any number of unpredictable effects. Though heās not quite constantly raging either; these berserk states are indeed triggered by anger, but Iām thinking that they are also basically weaponized panic attacks, thereās a sense that itās also a self-defense mechanism that he lapses into when emotions overwhelm him or when he otherwise feels threatened (though whether itās necessarily involuntary all the time Iām not so sure; but while heād definitely want to be able to trigger them voluntarily, there will always be some sense that he doesnāt have full control over it). Also a lot of his rage is directed inwards as well, much like with his grandfather. I thought that maybe his unpredictability in these rages would be the key to his destructiveness, though I can see how someone who is out of control would also pose a problem, no matter how powerful; so maybe this is when he becomes the most focused, becoming locked onto the elimination of the perceived threat at all costs, and/or he can be controlled by his Master more directly like some kind of attack animal.Ā
Lukeās first padawan, or at least after Leia or Grogu (I might make him show up as Lukeās first knighted pupil and allude to this, providing more exposition on Kylo, and being one of the Jedi who help fight in the final battle as the Skywalkers go on to take on the final boss (and Groguās name being revealed would be a massive hype moment in The Mandalorian)). Due to his storied family, plus the name of his uncle and grandfatherās own master, he had heavy expectations on his (at the time) small shoulders from an early age. However, he had long been tormented by the Dark Side due to an untraceable curse placed upon him by Snoke, and probably a pre-existing anxious personality. The expectations placed on him, or maybe perhaps just self-imposed expectations, only worsened his turmoil, resulting in a festering mess of self-hatred, extreme perfectionism, and an obsession with familial honor and obsessive attachment to his family, especially Luke, that is a nasty combination of hero-worship and the abovementioned complexes and may border on almost incestuous.
Thereās three ways for his backstory to go; āUnderachiever Benā, where Ben is either mediocre as a Jedi or still good but outperformed by others, or āElsa Benā, where heās basically like Elsa from Frozen, possessing an extreme amount of power but barely able to control it, possibly due to Snokeās curse, and a sort of middle ground, where Ben was super strong and a quick learner, but the dark side in him made Luke feel mixed about Benās increasing power, which Ben sensed. If the former, Ben becomes increasingly frustrated at himself for being such a āfailureā. If āElsa Benā, thereās that, and also the added pain of him growing up terrified of himself and able to sense the terror he causes to those around him, so he was taken in by Luke so hopefully Luke could figure something out; he could have been destructive from the start, or maybe he started to become increasingly destructive despite his training. If the middle ground route, he takes Lukeās mixed emotions to mean that he doesnāt think heās good enough. How severe Snokeās curse would have been Iām not fully sure on; he could have voices in his head and nightmares keeping him up for days, chipping away at his sanity, tempting him to accept the darkness, or it may have just been an amplifying of his already unstable emotions. They could have even started as the latter and escalated to the former. But Iām thinking that to best explain his behavior Iām leaning towards the Elsa route. Eventually, his nightmares morphed into repeated visits by Darth Vader, his grandfather, who told him about the truth of his lineage and how he became Vader, slandering everything and everyone he ever admired or loved, telling him of his ātrueā destiny, and how he should give up and embrace it; unable to hear the real Anakinās ghost screaming at him to not repeat his mistake. This extended campaign of mental torment stunted his emotional growth in many aspects, and at times he may seem to regress even more. Maybe other padawans were afraid of him because of this dark side presence, avoiding him, and/or were jealous of him because of his lineage and relation to Luke. He often felt entitled to be Lukeās right hand, getting jealous at other students and taking any reprimanding, no matter how gentle, extremely personally. Luke would have needed to struggle between not seeming to be biased towards his nephew and giving him the attention he needed, especially because Ben would feel like Han and Leia abandoned him because they werenāt able to help him, but considering how attached he is to Luke this would hurt him. So when Luke went to speak to him one night, or rushed in sensing an overwhelming dark side presence in his room, and was suddenly attacked by Snoke with a vision of what his nephew would become and making him go into fighting mode for a split second, drawing his weapon to protect Ben, and/or earlier admitted in anguish that he had no idea what was tormenting him despite his efforts, the straw broke the pedestal and he resigned himself to his ādestinyā. Ironically heās just exchanging one sky-high ideal for another, but heās too emotionally immature to realize this, nor does he fully realize the fact that Snoke merely sees him as a malleable, gullible means to an end. Yet he still feels that pesky pull to the light, and he becomes increasingly frustrated with himself that even as a Dark side user, he still canāt be āperfectā or āworthā anything, not even able to sink himself into the darkness and finally rid himself of his pain. For all the privilege and power he has, or because of it, he always feels worthless.Ā
Basically I want to break him down and make his pitifulness obvious, but thatās what makes him sympathetic. Heās nowhere as far gone as Vader, even if he wants to be, kind of like a reverse Jekyll and Hyde situation where the Hyde is dominant but Jekyll hangs on, so to speak? Maybe? Is that the right analogy? Or I guess it is kind of like Anakin but sort of not, but heās rapidly going down the same route of hurting his family like his grandfather.Ā
From researching a bit, his proposed behavior seems pretty close to the symptoms of BPD, which is actually pretty fitting because I was thinking Lukeās philosophy on the Force would be influenced by a more modern understanding of psychology, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy actually seems pretty in tune with what I understand to be how the Light Side of the Force works (I mean it even has basis in religious meditationā¦). Perhaps a mystical version of DBT was one of the things Luke was studying in exile. Though obviously it isnāt exactly BPD; portraying an actual, named mental illness not only has way too much baggage behind it, but it breaks immersion. And with him a lot of it will be the influence of the curse, though I think I would rather him have a personality that made him vulnerable to it from the start, so the curse had something to latch onto.Ā
Going with the āElsa Benā scenario, hisĀ ārealā personality is anxious and even a bit shy. While I like the idea of him being cheerful when he was very little, the shyness always being there is also a characterization I like. Combined with his lumbering physique from his teenage years onwards, this made him a kid who gave off an impression of being extremely dorky (an act that would probably be very natural for Adam Driver to pull off lol) and/or withdrawn and aloof, the latter of which may have made some other padawans think he thought highly of himself and start to resent him. Unlike Anakin heād be probably a dutiful student, almost creepily obedient, probably actively distancing himself from rebellious behavior, though his way of speaking isnāt exactly super formal either because of the influence of the adults around him. In his obsessions lies a genuine love, even if twisted, of hisĀ āfavorite personā so to speak. He was also a genuinely sweet kid who wanted to please these special people in his life. He could be said to be actually really selfless in a weird way, because ultimately he values familial honor and beingĀ āgood enoughā for whatever higher purpose more than he values himself. TROS implied some sassiness with that Han-like shrug, and while I can maybe see some of Han rubbing off on him like that, that might be something that started from him trying to copy his parentsā air of confidence, and another coping mechanism. He might, like Vader, have a 501st legion 2.0 which Phasma is in charge of and Finn is part of, and show a more nicer side to them. Perhaps he opened up one or two times to Finn specifically; I can see this image of him venting to him while Finn stands still like how someone might vent to their dog, not really expecting Finn to be listening (also sarcasm might help Kylo obscure his true anguish from Finn, because FO troopers donāt understand sarcasm probably).Ā Ā
He will be redeemed at the endā¦ and live. Even if not necessarily paired with Rey. Iām neutral on Reylo (though admittedly I have a weak spot for pairs involving a strong woman and a troubled guy, so itās kind of growing on me), but I really think this ship, or even centering the story strongly around a platonic relationship between these two, could have worked if it was built up strongly (Though if I were to go this route Finn would have to be established as a secondary character from the start, with Rey as the definitive main character, to focus on this). But either way, heās definitely going to have to face the consequences of what heās done, make up for his atrocities at least somewhat, and think about what he truly wants to do from now on. I can imagine him quietly reading stories to younglings as Rey, Finn, and Luke train some other pupils outside, or thanklessly working behind the scenes in other ways. For his haters out there, I could make the pill easier to swallow not just by making the reasons for his fall and how he was slowly and meticulously gaslit more clear, but also making him notĀ asĀ awful. Yes, heās extremely destructive, but he could show more reluctance, or pause after his berserker rages, staring at the destruction heās caused as the weight of what heās done sinks in. Heād of course resent that he still has mercy left in him though. I donāt think that there will be a Starkiller Base, but even if there was he might argue with Hux a bit over whether itās really necessary, until Hux sneers at him for having mercy, saying that Vader never hesitated when blowing up Alderaan, and Kylo reluctantly backs off.
ā¦Actually, what about making him and Rey cousins? On one hand, if Rey is a Skywalker by blood, a direct daughter of the Master himself no less, Ben is now suddenly freed from carrying the weight of the family legacy on his own. On the other handā¦ He basically loses the thing he has spent his entire life building his identity around; since his fall would have partially been because of his obsession with Luke, he may become jealous and extremely resentful of her, and/or take this as even more reason for Luke to not āneedā him anymore. Or perhaps, he pulls a reverse of āI sense the conflict in youā with her, wanting toĀ āsaveā her from embracing the Light and wanting her to embrace theĀ ātrueā Skywalker destiny with him. He could even be overjoyed that he could have someone else alongside him to carry on the legacy with; in this scenario he could have an unhealthy obsession with her that might also start crossing into āare you sure this isnāt incest?ā territory. Yeah itās a ājoin me and we can rule togetherā scenario again, but it would be done differently. Or perhaps itās a mix of some of those. Exploring that and how he chooses to take it could be extremely interesting. Maybe itās resolved when Anakin tells him to āfinish what he startedāā¦ not just by saving the galaxy, but by also living the rest of his life loving his family not as an ideal, but as family, like Anakin wasnāt allowed to. And platonic Reylo sounds nice too. Though thatās going to make all that shipping fanart so awkward lol. Well itās not as if Star Wars shippers havenāt been cockblocked by incest before (though his obsession with family and extremely questionable mental state would probably make such shippers go nuts anywayā¦).Ā
And going off of Poe being close to his parents, while the main interactions with Kylo from the heroes would be Rey, Finn if heās the second protagonist, Luke, and his parents, I can see potential for an interesting dynamic and some interesting conversations between them too. Much like how he might react to Rey being Lukeās daughter, I can see him being jealous of Poe and resenting him for being his āreplacementā, but after his redemption I can see potential for seeing the start of a friendship between them in epilogue comics, novels, or a mini-series. It would be pretty in-character for my version of Poe to want to help rehabilitate his sort-of stepbrother. Also I now have the adorable mental image of Ben quietly helping Poe (and maybe the rest of his squad) decorate and arrange Rey and Finnās wedding, or the two surprising Finn with a very elaborate bachelor party, though Iām not sure if those exist in this universe. And because of a certainĀ Inside Llewyn DavisĀ scene Iām also imagining Poe getting Ben to sing with him and BB-8. Itās adorable.Ā
Also if both Rey and Finn are the main heroes, he might have some kind of link with both of them, and the main duo would both contrast him in their own way (lonely scavenger who no one expected anything of and nameless trooper who defected from the First Order vs. someone who grew up in greatness but seemingly threw it away and chose to be in the First Order; and much like Kylo Finn in particular has been manipulated from childhood to do heinous things, so he may sympathize with his situation). Maybe heās the missing piece needed for both him and the leading duo to reach their full potential, or the main duo are the last piece needed to finally break Snokeās curse on him, or something. Or it could simply just be Finn showing his growth and strength of character by understanding and forgiving Kylo, despite him now understanding just how badly the First Order treated him, which makes Rey (who, again, might start as this super cynical scavenger or may have seen Kylo go berserk and massacre her friends and betray her Master) come around to the idea. In this scenario it may actually be even more important to emphasize that Rey and Finn are two making up a whole, so as not to bog stuff down. Itās possible to ship Finnrey and want Kylo to have a better ending, what a shock!Ā
Maybe Rey and Kylo could switch places, and he comes back to the light in SW8, which is an idea Iāve seen floated and is something that would make the story truly unique. He would seem like basically a less stable Vader 2.0 at the start, but over SW8 he could be seen breaking more and more out of his own terrible mindset, coming to a head in a cathartic realization that bring him back into the arms of his beloved family. It would also add an interesting dynamic that he and Finn have to be equals now. But that may mean that Rey would have to be killed off and Iām not so sure about that.Ā
Though speaking of her, since in all these scenarios a common thread is that she understandably doesnāt like him, it would be a bit of a twist if Finn sees the good in him but Rey, if sheās a Skywalker, his cousin, doesnāt.Ā
And to bring up Poe again, I also really like the idea of them having been childhood friends and thus knowing each other before the events of SW7; after all, theyāre around similar age, it isnāt that far-fetched to think that former Rebel families would be still pretty close to each other, and Iāve seen some adorable fanfics with the concept. It also adds connection between them and adds even more tragedy, even if this relationship may have to be elaborated more in supplementary material due to time. I can definitely Poe speaking like an old friend to Kylo and constantly calling himĀ āBenā, to his irritation. The abovementioned feeling of being replaced could be what caused Ben to suddenly break off the friendship. And making the main cast kind of tight-knit like this might also help make the cast easier to manage.Ā
Granted, there is the possibility of killing him off, though. I heard that one of the initial ideas for TFA was apparently that Kylo would be a reverse Vader, falling deeper and deeper into the Dark Side as the trilogy goes on. In fact, this may have been where Kylo killing Han may have been leading to. This actually sounded like a super cool idea, but considering the backstory I laid out I thought it would be way too bittersweet for the concluding movie of the saga, and if one were to say Kylo basically has BPDā¦ That might lead to some unfortunate implications. I mean nothing is stopping me from not using the Elsa backstory, and if I didnāt use it maybe this route would be pretty viable, but Iām kind of starting to get attached to it.Ā
ā
Other characters:
Hux:Ā Iāve never really been a villain person. I mean I liked sympathetic villains, yeah (but even then I preferred anti-heroes for a while; Iām talking like nothing beyond N from PokĆ©mon levels of āevilā), but straight-up villains I just have merely seen as obstacles. Like back in my Smash fic days I was often likeĀ āEhā¦ Theyāre thereā¦ Because they want to take over the world I guess?ā. Itās why Iām having trouble with Snoke probably lol. But for some reason Hux interests me. If I take a guess itās probably because of the potential he had as an actual foil to Kylo in his own faction. He had so much potential as a villain, and in having this tense dynamic play out. In fact he does seem to have been set up that way in SW7. But yeah, I imagine him as oneĀ coldhearted bastard. His backstory, though not elaborated on in the movies, would be much like TFA supplementary material set him up; heād still have killed his father, but while yes, Brendol was abusive and strict, Armitage didnāt kill him completely because he was a young man who wanted to break free from his strict father, but also genuinely because he knew doing so would be good for his standing. Unlike Kylo when he (most likely) kills Han, he doesnāt regret killing Brendol at all. While he might have a tragic backstory kind of explaining his behavior, it doesnāt bother him at all, while Kylo, who considering what happened to him and how heās literally under a curse youād think would have a much steeper fall into unabashed evil, is constantly conflicted. Itās a very Sith Lord-like backstory funnily enoughā¦ In fact Iām pretty sure thatĀ PalpatineĀ had a backstory very similar to this with his parents.Ā Ā
Heās a very logical, analytical, brutally pragmatic person, and he looks upon Kyloās emotional state with condescension. Iām increasingly starting to like the idea that heās somehow able to talk Kylo down, while still being hardly nice. Perhaps he preys upon Kyloās constant need for approval from others, even if he doesnāt like the person in question (this may also be why Kylo reacts so strongly to Finn escaping as well, in fact. He genuinely cares about peopleās loyalty, even from literal no-name soldiers). Though I canāt decide whether heās this deceptively charming snake or basically an evil Spock. I also canāt decide between him being in this constant state of āWhy do I have to babysit this manchildā or giving absolutely no visible f*cks around Kylo no matter what happens, or even straight-up trolling him often, toying with his emotions because it amuses him; preferably two or a bit of all somehow? I can see him using having met Vader as a child to mock Kylo for how much of a pale, childish imitation he is, or reminding Kylo of how much better he is as a leader objectively; perhaps thatās what he holds over Kyloās head.Ā Or him explaining to Kylo how he was raised by less than stellar parenting and tried so hard to live up to his strict father tooā¦ So he brutally murdered Brendol in cold blood (possibly with Phasmaās help), became a better admiral than he ever was, and got over it āLike an adult. Unlike you.ā. Theyād be in this constant state of delicate, tense equality; Kylo can easily overpower Hux if he pisses him off a bit too much, but Hux is able to walk that fine edge seemingly without much effort.Ā
But when he realizes whatever grand cosmic plot he and the entire First Order has been participating in this whole time is when, ironically, there would probably be a really dramatic villainous breakdown from him. Itās kind of a Zuko and Azula situation with Kylo and Hux perhaps? Or is this Hux more a mix of Azula and Zhaoās roles rather?
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Worldbuilding stuff:Ā Since Iām more a character person, there isnāt much here, but because the worldbuilding was another issue in the movies Iāll also be adding these.
The New Republic isnāt nuked in the first movie. In fact it stays there for the duration of the trilogy and the hero faction is now its armed forces, not The Resistance (Also that name makes no sense. Seriously. At least name them The Peacekeeper Corps or Vigilantes or something, or since theyāre basically Leiaās personal military maybe the Organa Free Army or Organa Corps or something of that sort. No wonder people mistakenly call them The Rebels sometimes. Itās a similar setup to Chromās Shepherds in Fire Emblem Awakening, albeit with a better relationship with the kingdom; it would be downrightĀ strangeĀ if the Shepherds called themselves The Resistance despite literally existing with the queenās permission, and it still is here. Hell, Leiaās Shepherds is a better name). There would be elaboration on the political stuff going on behind the scenes, and if Leia isnāt a Jedi thatās her plotline probably, though a big part of me wants her to be part of the action instead of being stuck on the homeworld.Ā
Meanwhile, The First Order is made up of Imperial Remnants and people and planets who were unsatisfied with the democratic but still new and fragile New Republic. Basically think White Russians if the Soviets werenāt also awful. It happens a lot in history. While it may have some mining planets in its orbit (not literally, you know what I mean) so it can plausibly refurbish anything Kylo wrecks with his tantrums, Starkiller Base is probably a bit much, and a lot of their equipment might be old Imperial or Rebel stuff, or stolen from the New Republic, with new stuff being produced but not in overly high quantity. Some of the equipment deemed less important might even be kind of crappy due to how old they are. Theyād probably be at most an equally powerful faction to the Republic, if not smaller than them, seeming more like a terrorist cell. I donāt have much of an idea why Snoke would want to be involved in it yet though.Ā
But while the First Order might be smaller, the New Republic is hindered by it just now finally gaining its footing, and the military previously only having been used for peacekeeping and sniping stray Imperial remnants. Because itās peacetime, it might have been kept pretty small, and also the military academies are literally not even 30 years old at this point, so new that itās possible Poe, despite his youth, was one of the earliest graduates; one of the militaryās most high-ranking officers is literally a scoundrel with no formal training - even if he is good at his job - it isnāt exactly a well-oiled machine, though its less rigid, casual structure also does benefit it in some aspects. Also the FO can easily use Kylo as intimidation, and its upper staff is nothing if not driven and motivated as well as ruthless. They may engage in more underhanded actions like sabotage and suicide bombers, or rely on small elite units like the Knights of Ren or small companies of troopers, to poke holes in the enemy just as much as open combat. And maybe if all else fails Snoke causes something really bad to happen seemingly out of nowhere.Ā
While I do think that making the baddies an Empire 2.0 is anā¦ uncreative decision, I want to keep Finnās backstory, plus it fits Kyloās story too so blah, I kind of have to keep it. Plus I want to do Phasma and Hux justice. Maybe Snoke or whatever it serves turns into a giant Eldritch abomination and have no use for the FO anymore. And again, reactionary forces are a thing that have existed throughout early modern history. But as already mentioned, due to the nature of the First Orderās existence, maybe the Stormtroopers arenāt kidnapped, but they were orphans picked off the streets, and/or some more dedicated Imperial parents gave them their children? I had the idea that Troopers like Finn areĀ āJunior Troopersā, the child slave type, while older members,Ā āSenior Troopersā, would be legit Imperial revanchists and former troopers. Maybe thereās a separate company of Juniors who think theyāre cool by fighting for the First Order, but generally Juniors would be the lowest on the social rung, though some might make it into higher positions, and donāt know any other life than what they have now. Though I also like the idea that Finn was part of an elite unit directly connected to Kylo Ren like the 501st, so he has a reason to be particularly hurt by his betrayal (but that could throw a wrench in the whole Finn was a faceless cog in the machine thing). Theyāre pretty Prussian in command structure; officers work under mission-tactics, but the rank-and-file are machine-like in their discipline, more than even some actual droids. The Republicās forces also probably engage in mission-tactics a lot, except how far it is acceptable goes way further down the chain of command, so stuff like the Holdo situation doesnāt happen. If that situation were to happen when mission-tactics were to be expected Poeās independent action would be seen as reasonable.Ā This would have potential for very interesting battles and tactics, though Iād need a lot of help with those because Iām the furthest thing from a tactician you can find (but even I can tell the bomber scene from TLJ was dumb, which should say something).
I kind of realized that itās possible that the four OT legacy characters may end up basically representing four major aspects of the New Republic; the Jedi (Luke), law and justice (Leia, if sheās a senator), the military (Han, if heās a general), and economics (Lando). I think some worldbuilding into how the republic functions should be explored through these characters as they move the story forward, except for the Jedi since theyāre obviously a central focus, and Luke might very well be introduced after them, and the military will also get focus for obvious reasons, and Poe exists. The information definitely needs to be conveyed as efficiently and organically as possible through the story, because thereās two, likely three, equally important main characters and an unholy amount of secondary characters who arenāt exactly minor.Ā
May write more later idk. I need to be doing other stuffā¦
#Star Wars#rey skywalker#Rey#finnrey#Finn#poe dameron#Kylo Ren#Ben solo#star wars sequel trilogy#anti tlj#anti tros#luke skywalker#han solo#leia organa#erika's thoughts#writing stuff#Erikaās 10PM thoughts#Why canāt I stop stumbling down fandoms WHY#I hope I havenāt spoiled too much of the 1 - 6 movies for myself for this...#disney star wars#remake#Ben solo deserved better#Luke Skywalker deserved better#finn deserved better#spoilers?
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