While certain Star Wars films have maintained their appeal over time, many inconsistencies in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker continue to baffle fans even five years post-release. The challenges faced by writer/director J.J. Abrams, along with co-writer Chris Terrio, are partly understandable given the hastily constructed script following Colin Trevorrow’s departure from the project in late 2017. The timeline for completing the film was considerably tighter than what Abrams had for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Nonetheless, the result was a chaotic film that attempts to deliver too much in a limited timeframe. Numerous continuity errors significantly complicate the established Star Wars timeline, and the overall narrative suffers from a lack of coherent storytelling. The frenzied pace of The Rise of Skywalker fails to mask its numerous flaws, prompting a deeper examination of the film’s 15 most notable missteps, which only highlights further inconsistencies and logical gaps.
Quick Navigation
- Palpatine’s Galaxy-Wide Announcement
- Message Transfers via Cable
- Lightspeed Skipping
- “Somehow Palpatine Returned”
- Hux’s Replacement with General Pryde
- Pasaana as Jakku
- “They Fly Now?”
- Undercutting Emotional Moments
- Poe’s Spice Runner Backstory
- The Dagger’s Accuracy
- Leia’s Mysterious Death
- Luke’s Operational X-Wing
- Star Destroyers’ Navigation Issues
- Rey’s Actions Favoring Palpatine
- Rey’s Final Gesture with the Lightsabers
1. Palpatine’s Galaxy-Wide Announcement
Strategist or Incompetent Villain?
Reviving Emperor Palpatine, particularly as a last-minute plot twist, raises eyebrows right from the movie’s opening crawl. It is revealed that he issued a menacing message to the galaxy, though viewers only hear a fragment during a crossover promotion with Fortnite. This tactical decision makes little sense, as providing the heroes with advance warning undermines his surprise attack potential.
If Palpatine had opted for silence, he could have launched the Final Order fleet without notifying the Resistance. While General Hux’s possible betrayal might still leak details, the overall impact of his threat would have been more formidable. Positioning Palpatine in this manner paints him as an incompetent antagonist, a notion echoed throughout the remainder of the film.
2. Message Transfers via Cable
An Outdated Method
In a nod to classic Star Wars, the heroes receive critical intel that could shift the balance against the First Order. However, they witness a sluggish and inefficient message transfer via cable from Boolio to R2-D2, a method that lags compared to the straightforward use of data cards seen in A New Hope.
Other films, like Rogue One, have utilized a more credible context for lengthy data transfers, usually due to large file sizes. Here, Boolio mentions a “message”without indicating anything complex enough to necessitate traditional wiring. This contrived scenario appears to serve solely as a narrative tension device, lacking authenticity.
3. Lightspeed Skipping
Luck Over Logic
Poe Dameron employs lightspeed skipping as a daring escape from pursuing TIE fighters, executing rapid hyperspace jumps. While a necessary evolution of Resistance tactics is reasonable, Poe’s remarkable luck to execute this move without casualties raises skepticism.
Furthermore, this technique, suggested to be from Poe’s spice-running past, contradicts earlier wisdom presented by Han Solo, who warned of the precision required in lightspeed navigation due to collision risks. If a pilot famed for his cavalier attitude still acknowledges the dangers, then lightspeed skipping shouldn’t be this simplified.
4. “Somehow Palpatine Returned”
A Dubious Resurrection
Among the least effective narrative choices is Palpatine’s reentry with scant explanation, epitomized by the now-infamous phrase “Somehow Palpatine returned.” If the intent was to resurrect a pivotal character, a cogent explanation was needed. Instead, the flimsy rationale of “Dark science. Cloning. Secrets only the Sith knew”fails to satisfy.
This lack of clarity is further complicated by external media, such as Rae Carson’s novelization, which attempts to elaborate on Palpatine’s resurrection. However, audiences should not be required to seek supplemental content for explanations that ought to be woven into the film’s narrative fabric, especially when further exploration could have enriched Palpatine’s arc from Revenge of the Sith.
5. Hux’s Replacement with General Pryde
A Superfluous Character Swap
While Richard E. Grant’s portrayal of Allegiant General Pryde is commendable, his character effectively undermines General Hux. Hux, initially presented as the First Order’s frontrunner, is sidelined in favor of a hastily introduced character that contributes minimal value to an already complex narrative. Despite the comedic reimagining of Hux in the previous installment, doubling down on this path is unnecessary.
If Hux had transitioned into a role serving Palpatine, it could have expanded his character’s depth and tied him more closely to the overarching plot. Hux’s legacy as the son of a prominent Imperial figure would have enriched his motivations and given credence to his earlier actions.
6. Passover Should Have Been Jakku
Unoriginal Planet Choices
As fans debated the merits of Jakku mirroring Tatooine in The Force Awakens, The Rise of Skywalker repeats this error with the introduction of Pasaana, yet another desert landscape. The characters’ quest for crucial intel pertaining to Exegol feels redundant since Ochi of Bestoon’s actions were already linked to Jakku.
A more intriguing narrative could have presented a scenario where Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian pursued Ochi to Jakku, yet lost track of him in the treacherous terrain. This would have enriched Rey’s personal ties to Jakku, helping to weave an intricate tapestry of connection among characters and places.
7. “They Fly Now?”
Established Technology Ignored
During an escape, the protagonists exhibit surprise at the First Order stormtroopers utilizing jetpacks, exclaiming “They fly now!”This reaction is puzzling since jetpacks have been part of the Star Wars lore for years, appearing in both the Clone Wars and Imperials. Finn, a former stormtrooper, should have recognized this capability.
8. Emotional Moments Under Cut
Repeated Diminishment
Within its frantically tangled plot, The Rise of Skywalker presents numerous high-stakes emotional scenes, yet many ultimately fall flat. A prominent example is Chewbacca’s apparent demise, which quickly loses weight when revealed that he survived shortly after. Similarly, C-3PO’s noble sacrifice evaporates moments later when R2-D2 restores his memories.
The film’s reliance on humor also dilutes pivotal moments, leading to an unexpected and inconsistent engagement. Even Rey’s death, seen as a climactic turning point, loses its poignancy when she is immediately revived. These inconsistencies signal a need for a more focused narrative.
9. Poe’s Spice Runner Backstory
Conflicting Narratives
Poe Dameron’s character arc is further complicated when The Rise of Skywalker tags him as a former spice runner, conflicting with established lore where he served within the New Republic navy. This inconsistency runs counter to characterization presented in The Last Jedi, and the resulting confusion breaks narrative cohesion.
10. The Dagger’s Accuracy
Improbable Plot Devices
The precision of the Sith dagger in leading the heroes directly to the right spot on the Death Star ruins seems highly improbable. Why would such a valuable artifact be placed in a manner that could easily be discovered, especially by those unaligned with the Sith? This scenario plunges into absurdity, making one question the plotting further.
11. Leia’s Mysterious Death
Confusion Amid Grief
The decision to eliminate Leia Organa, following Carrie Fisher’s passing, was a predictable choice. However, the movie’s treatment of her death is perplexing. There is no clear rationale for why she succumbs after merely uttering a word to her son from afar, suggesting the film’s writers stumbled in crafting a convincing farewell.
This lack of clarity draws parallels to Padmé Amidala’s controversial death in Revenge of the Sith, where emotional weight was undermined by poor execution. In both cases, the narrative handling of female character deaths appears careless.
12. Luke’s Operational X-Wing
Unlikely Operational Status
The Rise of Skywalker makes a puzzling narrative choice when Rey utilizes Luke’s X-Wing to depart from Ahch-To, despite it having been submerged underwater for over five years. This decision not only challenges logic yet again, but also contradicts established plot points regarding the X-Wing’s fate.
13. Star Destroyers’ Navigation Issues
Major Flaws in Military Tactics
The stakes reach astronomical heights with Palpatine commanding a fleet of 10,000 planet-destroying Star Destroyers. However, a baffling flaw emerges: these destroyers cannot navigate independently within Exegol’s tumultuous atmosphere. This conspicuous requirement raises questions about their deployment and operational value.
If such advanced ships are capable of destruction but lack fundamental navigation, their existence becomes questionable. The inherent contradiction arises when General Pryde manipulates his command ship, suggesting that the fleet could have operated independently all along.
14. Rey’s Actions Favoring Palpatine
Thematic Discrepancies
Rey’s climactic conflict with Palpatine serves as a stark contrast to the original trilogy’s depth. Unlike Luke, who chose restraint to prove his Jedi nature, Rey ultimately mirrors Palpatine’s desires when she uses anger to defeat him. Despite her initial refusal to follow this path, she ultimately succumbs to vengeance—a move that muddles previous character development.
15. Rey’s Final Gesture with the Lightsabers
An Incoherent Departure
The conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker brings a puzzling moment when Rey buries Luke’s and Leia’s lightsabers at a location that lacks contextual significance for her character. Although it may evoke sentimentality for fans, it betrays in-universe logic as Leia has no historical ties to Tatooine—a planet riddled with painful memories.
Moreover, this act of burying lightsabers conflicts with Rey’s claim to the Skywalker legacy, suggesting a departure from it rather than an embrace. The burial symbolizes a lost potential for honoring her mentors and standing firm in the legacy of the Jedi.
Leave a Reply