Star Wars: The Force Awakens Vs The Last Jedi - Which Is Better?

Remember when George Lucas introduced midi-chlorians into the mix back in Episode I and spoiled the Star Wars mythology outright? It's that sort of thing we're dealing with here, asking which of these two films dealt with the Star Wars mythology in ways that felt progressive and true to what went before.

The Force Awakens always had a tough job, having to establish itself as the start of a new saga. It didn't attempt, therefore, to deal with the canon's mythology to the extent that The Last Jedi does. Really Abrams' film was a mystery box that spent most of its runtime asking questions we never got the answers to. Who are Rey's parents? What went on between Luke and Kylo Ren? The list goes on...

As such, the film is generally respectful of the overall mythology and - save for making Rey way too powerful for an untrained Jedi - it doesn't do much to spoil what came before it in all the ridiculous ways the prequel trilogy did.

The Last Jedi, on the other hand, does everything in its power to screw with the mythology. Things we thought we knew are tossed out the window, and though some of the ideas the film deals with are interesting, many feel misjudged. Luke's personality seems at odds with his character, to cite one example, whilst unnecessary liberties are taken with the Force and its relation to the Jedi. Everything about The Last Jedi seeks to undo what audiences know about Star Wars.

Winner: The Force Awakens played it safe, mythology-wise, which at the time seemed a tad boring. Compare it to The Last Jedi, though, and you can see why it makes sense not to mess with these things. The Force Awakens nabs it.