10 Simple Fixes That Would Have Saved Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker

It wasn't meant to go down like this. The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy had so much promise and yet, as the final film draws it to a close, the prevailing impression from most fans is that it'll go down as something of a missed opportunity - despite both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi garnering critical and commercial success - and it's largely because of the latest entry, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.

Longtime fans won't need reminding that the road to Episode IX has been perilous. Lucasfilm had originally tapped Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow to helm the ninth and final instalment in the newly dubbed Skywalker Saga, but there was trouble behind the scenes. Unconvinced by Trevorrow's script and with The Book of Henry also failing to rouse critics, Lucasfilm found themselves in a tricky position. These issues were, in turn, exacerbated by the passing of Carrie Fisher, with her character Leia Organa having been originally slated to take a key role in Episode IX.

Lucasfilm decided that Trevorrow had to go, and replaced him with Episode VII director JJ Abrams, who had himself confessed that he's "never been great at endings". Batman V Superman and Justice League scribe Chris Terrio was also brought onboard, and while it was clear Episode IX had to overcome a great many hurdles, the stage was still set for a great conclusion after a rousing entry from Rian Johnson with Episode VIII.

Sadly, that great conclusion has proven elusive. It was clear Abrams had decided to merge two films into one with The Rise of Skywalker, and in designing a crowdpleaser to appease all Star Wars fans, the director has sadly left the Sequel Trilogy more disparate than ever before.

Episode IX's problems are myriad and frustrating, not least because they were so, so easy to avoid. Here's what should've been changed to make it a genuinely great finale, and not a decidedly miserable one.