The Last Jedi spoilers

Seriously now.

As noted, it’s a bit The Empire Strikes Back in the Jedi training sequences, but making use of its length also gets in a big chunk of Return Of The Jedi. When Kylo killed Snoke and teamed up with Rey, with half an hour of this film and another film to go in this trilogy, it was a real thrill to see it going off the map of the original films. Where next?

The bit that had me thinking it was a bit fanfic while also throwing devil horns? BB-8 taking over a walker. Finn and Rose watching it with WTF? expressions helped immensely.

Shirtless Kylo seems to be actively mocking fanfic bait.

Rey’s parents being unremarkable works well after all these destined heroes. (Somewhat amused that her Dark Side trial is basically the Mirror of Erised.)

And Luke worries Rey might be tempted by the Dark Side... but she isn’t. That story’s been told enough times. It’s Kylo you have to worry about there. The fight that follows is great as well. Lightsaber ignite stabbing, finally!

The fakeout with Leia is a massive emotional punch for out-of-character reasons.

And now I reflect on it further, she appears to be drowned in moonlight. Though not strangled by her own bra.

So Benicio Del Toro is basically Evil Han? Okay. We’ll see if he gets his comeuppance next time.

Phasma is Reverse Boba Fett - taken out like a punk in one film, competent and dangerous in the next.

And the mysterious Snoke turns out to be... Snoke. Guess we’ll get a spinoff about him now.

I like that Death Star tech superweapons are just a thing now.

After all the Porg merchandising, their actual use ended up feeling like a joke about Ewok-level merchandising, as they’re ignored by almost everyone and cooked by Chewbacca. One flattening against a window in the Falcon like a stick-on Garfield is one of the jokes that goes a bit too far for me. See also that milking moment. Ewww.

Luke tossing the lightsaber over his shoulder was one of the jokes that really worked.

The Evil BB got a big laugh as well.

As well as BB-8’s disguise of hiding under a bin. Such a player-character improv move.

Too much funny stun blasting, I think.

Poe’s joke about calling Hux set the light tone well. His saying “bigass” was a bit more jarring.

After The Force Awakens ending with our heroes scattered, The Last Jedi has them all together and heading off to new adventures. Fingers crossed for books, comics and so on. :D

It doesn’t help much with my concern about making the Resistance era feel different in games, as it actually leaves the Resistance more like the Rebel Alliance, although with a different villain pursuing them. Sections like Canto Bight add more to it, though.

And yeah... kids playing Star Wars. And using the Force as they do so. I loved that.