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today i'm wondering why TROS decided to try to answer a question that was already answered by TLJ: who rey's parents are.
bec that was the supposed "dramatic question" posed by TFA, but TLJ answered it pretty neatly and powerfully alredy.
The problem, however, is that TROS
bec that was the supposed "dramatic question" posed by TFA, but TLJ answered it pretty neatly and powerfully alredy.
The problem, however, is that TROS
writers didn't know how to come up with a better dramatic question. They didn't know how to create a third-act story bec they were using the "rey's parents" question as a dramatic clutch. the "mystery box", if you will.
which, of course, is sucky writing.
which, of course, is sucky writing.
questions they could have asked to raise the stakes instead:
PLOT-RELATED DRAMATIC QUESTIONS TO STEER THE NARRATIVE:
1) there's a power vacuum in the First Order: how will Hux take Kylo's reign as Supreme Leader?
2) the resistance is TINY, and have very little resources -
PLOT-RELATED DRAMATIC QUESTIONS TO STEER THE NARRATIVE:
1) there's a power vacuum in the First Order: how will Hux take Kylo's reign as Supreme Leader?
2) the resistance is TINY, and have very little resources -
they are very close to losing completely. what are they willing to do to gain back leverage against the enemy? how desperate are they?
3) people all over the galaxy heard about Luke's legendary face-off with the FO: who does this news reach? How does it affect those affected
3) people all over the galaxy heard about Luke's legendary face-off with the FO: who does this news reach? How does it affect those affected
most by the war: the downtrodden and oppressed?
4) how do the galaxy's governments and war profiteers react to the near-death of The Resistance? do the FO have allies who want to keep the "war machine" going? how does DJ fit into that narrative, if ever?
5) how are the
4) how do the galaxy's governments and war profiteers react to the near-death of The Resistance? do the FO have allies who want to keep the "war machine" going? how does DJ fit into that narrative, if ever?
5) how are the
stormtroopers? are they ok? are they eating well? after Finn's dramatic showdown with Phasma, what's going on in the FO?
6) what rumours have been spreading about the resistance? do they have a "secret weapon", aka Rey? is she The Last Jedi that everyone is waiting for?
6) what rumours have been spreading about the resistance? do they have a "secret weapon", aka Rey? is she The Last Jedi that everyone is waiting for?
CHARACTER-RELATED DRAMATIC QUESTIONS TO STEER THE NARRATIVE:
1) how is Rey affected by the weight of the entire Jedi legacy on her shoulders, esp after what Luke told her about the Jedi in TLJ?
2) how is Rey affected by the reveal that her parents disregarded her?
1) how is Rey affected by the weight of the entire Jedi legacy on her shoulders, esp after what Luke told her about the Jedi in TLJ?
2) how is Rey affected by the reveal that her parents disregarded her?
3) how is Rey affected by her intense Force-sensitivity, and no Jedi master to guide her?
4) how is Rey affected by her intimacy and complex feelings towards the most powerful darksider at the other side of the war?
5) how is Rey coping with her force-bond with Kylo?
4) how is Rey affected by her intimacy and complex feelings towards the most powerful darksider at the other side of the war?
5) how is Rey coping with her force-bond with Kylo?
6) does it stay closed? when might she be tempted to reach out and open it? maybe she wants to know why it still exists, if Snoke is dead alr?
(side note: i think Rey should have been more pre-occupied with trying to know WHY she's "chosen" by the force to be so powerful.
(side note: i think Rey should have been more pre-occupied with trying to know WHY she's "chosen" by the force to be so powerful.
she's still looking for answers, but not about her parentage, but about her powers.)
7) kylo committed the first act against the darkside by freeing himself of his master and abuser. how does this affect his INTERNAL turmoil towards the light / dark?
8) kylo was rejected by
7) kylo committed the first act against the darkside by freeing himself of his master and abuser. how does this affect his INTERNAL turmoil towards the light / dark?
8) kylo was rejected by
the one person who saw him for him, and who understood his loneliness and his struggle. how does this affect him?
9) kylo just faced off with his uncle, who asked for his forgiveness, and promised to "see him around", and that he'll always be with him. how does this affect him?
9) kylo just faced off with his uncle, who asked for his forgiveness, and promised to "see him around", and that he'll always be with him. how does this affect him?
10) kylo is now Supreme Leader of the FO. how different are his goals, compared to Snoke's? how does this new position affect him / enlighten him? he was Snoke's darksider apprentice, not political apprentice.
11) kylo is also his mother's son; how do we see him engage with
11) kylo is also his mother's son; how do we see him engage with
politics, powerplays, governments, and war profiteers, if ever? [IF EVER]
12) Snoke - primary reason for the voices in his head - is dead. how does this affect Kylo, and how he engages with his mind? how does it affect his relationship with himself, now that the voices are gone?
12) Snoke - primary reason for the voices in his head - is dead. how does this affect Kylo, and how he engages with his mind? how does it affect his relationship with himself, now that the voices are gone?
[i could go on and on and on and on about the myriad of threads they could have picked up, so the story would have been coherent, action-packed, thematically resonant, and continuous to the trilogy and the saga. but imma stop here and say:
it's not rocket science to tell a good story if you just follow the trail of what makes sense. for your characters, for the story's themes, and for the overall narrative.
all they had to do was give a damn.]
all they had to do was give a damn.]
