It was all very cheap subversion no clever twists or taking the time to develop something interesting, etc. infact at times it was almost mean spirited using the obvious opposite that would most upset as if disdainful of or almost vindictive towards the fans that take the universe a bit too seriously.
I disagree. I’m exceptionally tired of the “righteous heroes win over evil baddies (led by a big mega baddie) against impossible odds in legendary style” formula. I’m really glad it went against that in several aspects:
- Film dabbled with good and bad on both sides, for the first time in the main canon (although it came up also in Rogue One)
- The casino side quest being slapped down as futile. This really bugs some people for some reason... Again, I like it.
- The legendary skyWalker was a damp squib
- The big baddie got a surprising instadeath
- Intriguing moments with Ray and Kylo... a genuine moment of uncertainty as to whether Ray would join forces with Kylo.
- Rebel forces shown to be extremely vulnerable for the first time since TESB.
I LIKED that there were not formulaic / clever ‘plot twists’. It was all the over the place and just a bit less storybook and, you know... more ‘real’. The film just ‘was’. And it was really
refreshing as a result.
That is not to say that there aren’t fair criticisms!