Ways in which THE RISE OF SKYWALKER doesn't retcon or ignore THE LAST JEDI, and builds upon it, in big and small ways, a thread.

#1

In the opening chase sequence, Poe, Finn and Chewie are chased through lightspeed by First Order TIE Fighters. This expands upon the hyperspeed tracking that was introduced in THE LAST JEDI, & furthers the feeling that the Resistance are finding it harder & harder to survive.

#2

Rey is studying the "sacred Jedi texts" in RISE, which is a catalyst to finding the Emperor, & opens up new abilities like the Force healing that she clearly learned from studying them. In LAST JEDI we see the books on the Falcon for barely a second, but it's paid off here.

#3

Sidelining Rose is one of the few things I really didn't like about RISE, or felt could've been handled so much better. She deserved better. Both the character, and KMT. I do at least like that she's still proudly wearing her medallion in memory of her sister Paige.

#4

The Force bonds continue, expanding upon the idea of Rey and Kylo being able to interact physically through the bond, which was teased in LAST JEDI when Kylo's gloves were wet from the rain on Ach-To.

#Rey #KyloRen #KyloAndRey #StarWarsDay

#5

Many read Rey's parentage reveal in RISE as a retcon, but I honestly never read from LAST JEDI that it was the final word on her backstory. JJ placed too much mystery upon it. Rey's parents being "nobody" fits well in that old "from a certain point of view" deal.

#6

A great amount of emphasis is placed on Rey rejecting Kylo's "hand" in THE LAST JEDI. It comes back in RISE as he continues to try and win Rey over, in extremely similar framing, only now his left hand, and a colder tone. Their intimacy & closeness from TLJ has waned here.

#7

The miniaturised Death Star tech that was introduced in THE LAST JEDI (the battering ram-canon) is taken one step further as an idea with the Final Order's weapons capabilities. Every star destroyer a planet killer.

#8

"A Jedi's weapon deserves more respect."

This is not dunking on Luke's portryal in TLJ, or digging at the saber toss. It's Luke poking fun at his own failings. He says in TLJ himself "I was unwise." TROS Luke has now reached peace and purpose, he -will- feel different.

#9

Not that I ever felt Leia's survival in TLJ needed an explanation (she's the granddaughter of The Force itself, after all), I love the introduction of the idea that she had trained as a Jedi, which takes cues from TLJ and EMPIRE & runs with it. Janky face replacment aside...

#10

Luke's final on-screen dialogue in Star Wars is a direct tribute to Carrie Fisher's final filmed on-screen dialogue in Star Wars. It's a tip of the hat to Mark & Carrie, Luke & Leia, and from THE RISE OF SKYWALKER to THE LAST JEDI.

#11

... This one porgs for itself.

#12

"All you want is for me to hate, but I won't. Not even you."

I don't think this is an active continuation, but LAST JEDI very heavily leans into the pure idealogy of the Jedi. Using the Force for knowledge and defence, never for attack. Paid off by Luke's pacifist victory.

#12 cont.

"A scavenger girl is no match for the power in me!"

And while Rey & Ben were ready to fight Palpatine, no one ever lands an offensive blow on him. Rey uses defence to deflect Palpatine's lightning. He's destroyed by his own arrogance.

#12 cont.

When Ben gives his life willingly to save Rey's, he saves the person he loves. So the end of TROS as it pertains to the endgame of Palpatine, Rey and Ben, adheres to Rose's damn fool idealistic notion, of not fighting what we hate, but saving what we love.

#12 concl.

Which in turn, means that the tragedy of the Skywalker family begins with Anakin not being able to save the woman he loved, Padme, from dying, and ends with Ben managing to save and resurrect the woman he loved, Rey.

It's. Like. Poetry.

#13

Spot the Holdo maneuver...

Thank you for coming my TED talk. Take it all with a grain of salt. I love Star Wars, happy #StarWarsDay, and goodnight.