Star Wars prequel questions

[Pale Violet Light]

If episode 9 had been about Emperor Kylo Ren

Yeah, with Snoke down he was the only realistic option available. Once they decided to redeem Kylo Ren they were out of good villain options for the final film and I guess Palpy from nowhere was all they could come up with. Alternatively, having Rey fall to the dark-side (and maybe doing a hero/villain swap) could have been interesting, but they hadn’t really laid the groundwork for that.

 

[pukunui]

Yeah, with Snoke down he was the only realistic option available. Once they decided to redeem Kylo Ren they were out of good villain options for the final film and I guess Palpy from nowhere was all they could come up with. Alternatively, having Rey fall to the dark-side (and maybe doing a hero/villain swap) could have been interesting, but they hadn’t really laid the groundwork for that.

I mean, Rian Johnson kinda set up a Rey heel turn in The Last Jedi, when Luke admonishes her for not even hesitating to dive right into the dark side cave. He also tells her how her sheer power scares him and that he's only felt that way around one other person (presumably Palpatine). That said, Rey's just too optimistic and hopeful to go bad.

I reckon Ben's redemption was even more unearned than his grandfather's was. Anakin at least saved his son by sacrificing himself. It doesn't excuse all the horrible things he did as Vader, but it's better than Ben just kind of deciding he doesn't want to be bad anymore after Rey defeats him and then saves his life.

Having Ben turn back to the light to become a true Skywalker hero while Rey goes full-on Palpatine would've been interesting, but I think it would have been difficult to pull off.

 

[Maxperson]

As I recall Andor just opened full throttle in the sense that there was no narrative or foreshadowing to let you know what was going on. For me I had the feeling like I missed something. And seriously, after COVID my attention span and powers of comprehension are a lot less now, so that may have played a part. I didn't have the patience for the pay off and shut it off after maybe 10 minutes. Maybe I'll give it another chance.

I didn't have the patience for it, either.

 

[Zardnaar]

I mean, Rian Johnson kinda set up a Rey heel turn in The Last Jedi, when Luke admonishes her for not even hesitating to dive right into the dark side cave. He also tells her how her sheer power scares him and that he's only felt that way around one other person (presumably Palpatine). That said, Rey's just too optimistic and hopeful to go bad.

I reckon Ben's redemption was even more unearned than his grandfather's was. Anakin at least saved his son by sacrificing himself. It doesn't excuse all the horrible things he did as Vader, but it's better than Ben just kind of deciding he doesn't want to be bad anymore after Rey defeats him and then saves his life.

Having Ben turn back to the light to become a true Skywalker hero while Rey goes full-on Palpatine would've been interesting, but I think it would have been difficult to pull off.

Yeah Kyli couldn't work as a villain after TFA. At least an effective one.

Double turn coukd be easy. Redemption is easy in Disney SW.

 

[pukunui]

Yeah Kyli couldn't work as a villain after TFA. At least an effective one.

Meanwhile, Hux's fall from grace across the trilogy is an epic tragedy.

In TFA, he is a zealous, jack-booted space Nazi who is Kylo Ren's equal in every way. His spittle-flecked speech as the New Republic government is destroyed is deliciously evil.

In TLJ, he is immediately reduced to being the unwitting comic relief. First, Poe Dameron makes fun of him over the phone, then Snoke humiliates him by remotely Force-dragging him around the floor in front of everyone on the bridge. He briefly redeems himself after informing Snoke of his clever "tracking the Rebels through hyperspace" thing, but then Snoke dies and Ren takes over, and Hux is no longer Ren's equal. We last see him relaying Ren's orders and making quips like "I think you got him".

In RoS, he has truly sunk to the depths, selling out the First Order to the rebels in a bitter attempt to get back at Kylo Ren out of jealousy. No-nonsense General Pryde sees right through this pathetic shell of a man and has him executed on the spot.