The saga finally comes to an end. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was released into theatres at the tail-end of 2019, marking the end of a story that has been the subject of much glorification and debate for over forty years. As is common for a Star Wars film, critics and fans are intensely divided amongst themselves over whether or not the installment serves as a worthy conclusion to the epic space opera; but first and foremost, the film can be analyzed through two primary means: plot and context.
The actual plot of the film is decidedly more concise than its direct predecessor, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. Director J.J. Abrams abandons the unnecessary side plots that plagued the last installment of the franchise, choosing to focus on the main characters rather than to somehow force casino slave animals into a film about epic intergalactic quests. What results is a lot more of what fans actually want to see—namely, the continuation of Rey’s journey as a Jedi—than to develop unnecessary side characters that make little to no bearing on the central plot. This “slimming down” of the sequel trilogy is certainly a commendable move on the part of the writers, catering to the true desires of the fans rather than to some director’s obscure creative vision.
That being said, the storyline undoubtedly falls short of what one would expect from the terminal film in the most successful film franchise of all time. Granted that no one could ever concoct a Star Wars film that satisfies everyone, the glaring lack of emotional investment created by the movie seems like a glaring oversight. The galaxy is in danger of falling into evil—so why can’t I bring myself to care at all? Perhaps it’s because the overarching plot of the sequel trilogy differs very little from the originals. An intergalactic empire dominates the realm; a small group of young heroes must come together to defeat evil; the main characters fight temptations to join the Dark Side, et cetera, et cetera. The sequel trilogy is, at best, a cleverly written rethinking of the original trilogy with a handful of nostalgic references thrown in. This realization especially hits home upon watching the final scenes of the film, in which everything begins to seem all-too-familiar for returning fans. However, only so much can be said within a spoiler-free review.
Of course, The Rise of Skywalker is not a standalone film. The franchise it belongs to is one of the most popular—if not the most popular—media franchises in the world, and the fact that Episode IX marks the conclusion of the newly dubbed “Skywalker Saga” makes its role that much more significant. Not only that, but the Star Wars saga is no stranger to disappointing releases. The prequel trilogy arguably plays just as important of a role in the context of the overarching saga, and yet its confusing storylines and unnecessary side plots have forever marked them as entertaining, but disappointing installments of the franchise. So how does the film stand up compared to the other episodes? The answer is resoundingly . . . mixed.
On one hand, the film touches upon the epic potential of the franchise’s premise like no other movie has. Star Wars, at least in theory, is an epic story about knights, empires, and mystical powers that takes place entirely in space. Such a tale deserves grand lore, groundbreaking visuals, and a true sense of immense scope. However, the original trilogy was limited by the technology of its time. Although the filmmakers wished to incorporate epic, world-bending visuals fitting of the story’s scope, the 1970s offered little more than elaborate physical models and cameras on wheels with which they could attempt to carry out their vision.
The prequels do incorporate much more of the lore and visuals that were simply not possible at the time of the original series’ conception, filling every frame with epic CGI and visually stunning action scenes. However, their underdeveloped plots prevent them from realizing their true potential. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is the first installment that truly manages to carry out the original vision for the franchise. The visuals of Exegol, a newly introduced planet, are nothing short of epic. For the first time, the larger-than-life potential of this “knights in space” premise feels as though it has been realized to a large extent.
However, the film makes a surprisingly miniscule attempt at making itself feel like the true conclusion to the saga. Avengers: Endgame, the closest parallel to Episode IX in terms of its role within its series, explicitly took its viewers down memory lane to highlight some of the greatest moments from the past ten years of Marvel heroism. In contrast, The Rise of Skywalker does not tie its story back to its predecessors as much, not even referencing Anakin Skywalker—the central figure of the first six films—by name. This not only represents a missed opportunity on the part of the writers, but also, quite frankly, a disservice to longtime fans of the series. It makes Star Wars seem like a hastily planned collection of disparately related characters, one which shifts dramatically in tone with each reincarnation. The Rise of Skywalker is a fine film by itself, but it feels as though Abrams put more focus into guaranteeing that its plot would not be as criticized as The Last Jedi than delivering a satisfying conclusion to the epic saga that millions around the world have grown up with for over four decades.
If this review has any overarching thesis, it is that The Rise of Skywalker can range from an utter disappointment to the first film that truly delivers on the franchise’s potential—depending on the angle from which one chooses to analyze it. At the end of the day, Star Wars is a series primarily designed to delight and inspire new generations with its epic scope and iconic characters. Episode IX does have its flaws; but its above-average plot, stunning visuals, and the way in which it recreates the childlike wonder of the saga’s premise ultimately renders it an overall success. As much as fans love to analyze every detail of every single installment (as demonstrated above), the ultimate benchmark is whether or not the movie succeeds in bringing delight to a new generation of Star Wars fans. For Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the answer is yes.