Exclusive Episode: Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker

2 years late, but I 100% agree. Everyone romanticizing Reylo have never been in an abusive relationship. He even gives her the 'no one wants you but me' line in TLJ.

Jesse Corwin

This movie was horrible. The circumstances explain some of that but they don't really excuse it. The fact that people can find tons of problems and still say they love it is more proof of sentimental attachment than it is the quality of the movie.

Thank you all so much for all the SW rewatch podcasts. I eagerly listen to all your episodes but these four (not counting the Fallen Order one) had me riveted and laughing so much. There were so enjoyable! That Alex guy though, what’s he got against video games? Fetch quests can have great writing too! 😉

Honestly, I think the fact that people can have a lot of problems with this movie but still walk away feeling like they loved it goes to show how powerful Star Wars and its themes and characters are. I'm glad you all enjoyed the movie (at least in parts) and I similarly look forward to Disney experimenting a little more with Star Wars in the future. Bring on more Mandalorian, Kenobi, and the RJ films! Let's get weird with this property from a galaxy, far, far away!

Great Episode. Although there may be a few redeeming qualities about EP 9, its clear goal was to safe the IP to cash in on it for years to come. And that alone has nothing to do with filmmaking anymore :(.

Wow, thanks for such an awesome and thorough reply! I've been fascinated by the process by which this trilogy came together and I wish I could read a book on it after the dust settles. I can only hope that Disney doesn't lock down the information too hard because I seriously think insight into this years-long project is informative about how we make movies in our mega-franchise filmmaking ecosystem. I really appreciate your time, and I love the podcast.

Hey Brent! I was referring to the Trevorrow debacle, followed by Jack Thorne's lost script (https://variety.com/2017/film/news/colin-trevorrow-exits-star-wars-episode-ix-1202548088/), then JJ and Terrio stepping in (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jj-abrams-direct-star-wars-episode-ix-release-date-changed-1037933) with a pushed back release date. Then there was a situation where Daisy Ridley said that JJ told her one plot of the movie months before shooting and then it changed (https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/jj-abrams-spilled-entire-rise-of-skywalker-story-in-public). Then they were editing on set because they didn't have enough time for post (https://www.slashfilm.com/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-was-edited-on-set-despite-initial-objection-by-j-j-abrams/), then they showed the footage at the stockholders meeting and went into longer-than-normal reshoots (https://www.ibtimes.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-reshoots-trailer-update-revealed-2845377). And now there's the controversy over the reused footage at the ending (https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-final-shot-reused-footage-rey/). I mean, none of these things alone means that the production was a disaster, but cumulatively they signal a scramble by people on an arbitrary corporate clock, at least that's what it sounds like to me.

Tricia Aurand

Yes, Kylo and Rey have chemistry on screen together, but I never felt that they had sexual chemistry! They feel like brother and sister. I would have been so much more powerful if they completely embraced eachother and held eachother as he faded away instead of that gross awkward kiss (Hell, Luke and Leia had more sexual chemistry in their kiss).

My theatre experience was just sad, there weren't that many people and we were obviously all there just out of obligation. Let Trisha be angry, the movie was bad, I'm glad you guys could get some joy out of it but I worry defending projects like this will just encourage studios to feel like they can keep getting away with putting creatives in these sorts of situations.

Trisha, at one point during the episode you referenced a troubled production history with lots of rewrites and reshoots. I can only find articles about Trevorrow being fired for creative differences, but you make it seem like there was more to the film's troubles than just losing a director. Can you point me to literature on the matter? This was the first I'd heard of a troubled production.

I really appreciate Michael's hero comment. Rey is truly my hero too. Also, thank you Trisha! So much about the approach towards Rey (from the casting to the romance) is successful feminism, what with so many other movies out there struggling with the concept.

I really enjoyed the movie overall despite the many obvious flaws (especially the pacing), mostly because it delivered on what I had wanted the whole trilogy which was the Finn/Poe/Rey trio going on an adventure and exploring their dynamic. I think I'll always wish we had gotten Episode 7 focusing on the original trio and then passed the baton over, but despite the lost potential, it gave us some awesome new characters that I'd love to see again someday.

Olivia Siggers

I hated the Reylo kiss. Basically, she kissed a guy who abused her every time she disagreed with him. He even hit her more than once. Sounds like a lot of toxic relationships. Even if there is chemistry, even if both of them are hot, the message this sends is not okay.