*Disclaimer: This is solely an opinion piece and not in any way meant to be judgmental towards anyone who disagrees with me. This will also include spoilers for those who have not seen the movies.

You are surrounded by hundreds of people, all accumulating within one large room. An intense aroma of warm buttery popcorn flows throughout the entirety of the cinema. As you wait franticly for the movie to start, the lights around you begin to gradually dim. Thunderous applause fills the room as the opening crawl reads A LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY…

The movie you have just indulged in viewing was 2015’s STAR WARS –  EPISODE 7: The Force Awakens. As you and innumerable others leave the theater, you attempt to come to a conclusion about the film. While you recapitulate the movie’s events, as a longtime fan of many years, you come to arrive at the conclusion that the film seemed to be vapid and repetitive. Even though the first film of the sequel trilogy was a letdown, numerous fans hoped that the subsequent films would capture the essence that made everyone fall in love with the trilogy. This hope was later crushed after the release of the following two sequel trilogy films (Episode 8, The Last Jedi, and Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker). For many fans, the overall problems of the sequels are repetitive plotlines, the creation of plotholes, and missed opportunities.

Repetitive: Now that you may think I’m crazy, think about this for a second: the central plot starts after we meet a scavenger or farmer on a desert planet; after meeting a droid aboard the Millennium Falcon, they embark on an adventure fighting against the Empire (or First Order). Then after learning about the Jedi ways, the main protagonist trains with their later deceased master. Does this sound at all familiar? This overall plot fits the main story of both A New Hope and The Force Awakens.

Plot Holes: Throughout the Sequel trilogy of Star Wars, many fans who once watched the movies religiously, were now deeply pondering after the release of Episode 7 Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Most fans believed these questions would be answered throughout the sequel’s subsequent films. However, this proved not to be the case. These odd plot holes for one: If Kylo Ren is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Anakin, then shouldn’t he be on the light side? And why does no one mention or talk about Han after his death in the first installment? And finally…HOW IS REY supposed to be the new CHOSEN ONE? This inconceivable change in the Jedi’s prophecy shall not go unnoticed. Anakin was always said to be the chosen one who would bring balance to the force and was still claimed to be so after his fall to the dark side. Now everyone believes that the force will be balanced by a girl how never built her own lightsaber until the last 5 minutes of the last film and a whiny emo child.

Missed Opportunities: Now don’t get me wrong, I love the remarkable cinematic masterpiece of a trilogy that is Star Wars; however, they definitely missed the mark with the sequels. For instance, “hello there”, why wasn’t “General Kenobi” considered to be revealed as a part of Rey’s family. This would have been a better approach to the constant theme of Rey’s parentage than to reveal she was the offspring of Palpatine’s apparent children.

Overall, the Star Wars sequels lacked many things, but this does not mean all trilogies are bad. I just chose to not recognize the last three episodes as non-canon. Although these movies were utterly brimmed to the top with flaws and controversy, I want everyone to know I do not think all Star Wars content that has been recently released is dreadful. For Instance, Disney’s take at the million-dollar trademark has not been entirely atrocious with their release of the Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett. While we wait to see how Disney’s new series Obi-wan Kenobi is released, let’s hope for the best and “may the force be with you.”