Let’s face it, few franchises have ever divided their fanbase as sharply as the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. From the start, Disney and Lucasfilm faced an impossible challenge: deliver new, exciting stories that would satisfy lifelong fans, win over a new generation, and honor one of the most beloved universes in film history.

And while The Force Awakens seemed like a promising beginning, everything that followed felt like a slow unraveling. It all culminated in The Rise of Skywalker—a finale widely regarded as one of the most disappointing conclusions to a major trilogy. The film didn’t just stumble; it sent the entire Star Wars brand into a tailspin not seen since the backlash to the prequel era.

But how did it get this bad? Was it the tragic loss of Carrie Fisher and a story scrambling to adjust? The creative whiplash caused by switching directors and visions film-to-film? Or was it simply a lack of long-term planning for what this new era of Star Wars was supposed to be? No matter the cause, The Rise of Skywalker stands as one of the most baffling misfires in the franchise’s history...arguably the worst since the infamous Holiday Special.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices