Part 6/12:
The Disney Era: From Nostalgia to Disillusionment
The franchise’s direction took a downturn with Disney’s sequel trilogy. Critics and fans alike criticized The Force Awakens for echoing A New Hope too closely, while The Last Jedi was divisive, actively undermining established storylines and lore. The Rise of Skywalker attempted to patch up the narrative but ended up alienating many with its hurried, inconsistent plot. Instead of building on the original’s hope or the prequel’s tragedy, the sequels often felt like a rehash or superficial marketing effort, stripping away the depth and moral complexity that once defined Star Wars.