[discostu]

I think there was a need to get some version of that last gasp of the Empire. Those books by Tim Zahn were great, the really started the novel section of SW and all that came from it, it’s a chance to let some characters take some bows. Also they needed to win back fan loyalty after the prequels. The stuff we’ve gotten from George always was that the next trilogy was really the clean up of the Empire, and there was definitely fan desire for that. But then after that, once we’ve finished the trilogy of trilogies that are the rise and total fall of the Empire it’s time to get FAR away from all that.

Of course Rey is a Mary Sue. And Luke is a Marty Stu. The foundation block of the franchise is MS characters.

[rollo tomasi]

By default, Luke (Same can be said for Anakin/Darth Vader) can't be a Gary Stu or whatever. Luke could of been Superman without the Kryptonite effect because he was an original character in the original universe created by Lucas, etc. who did Star Wars as an allegory to the Vietnam War and a homage to Flash Gordon serials/Kurosawa films.

Luke also got his butt kicked and picked on early on by the other main characters. Failed at a lot of things, but redeemed through the hero's journey trope.

Rey is a self-inserted, wish fulfillment by Kennedy, possibly Abrams. This is the same kind of fan fiction where Lt. Mary Sue of the Star Trek universe was inserted in circa 1974ish.

[rollo tomasi]

My kids dragged me to the prequels and VII/VIII. I enjoyed the visuals and rolled my eyes with all the plot-holes in the prequels.

Would of been better if Disney stayed with the EU and used some great ideas like what you pointed out and ran with it.

Both VII and VIII are well-made, just wished they started fresh using bits and pieces of the EU.