Is fan service in Star Wars a lazy way to pad a story? The question is worth asking. Yet, sometimes, fan service can be good. Think of Darth Vader's appearance in Rogue One, which highlights the rebels' sacrifice to save the galaxy. Or Anakin's presence in the Ashoka series, which allows the heroine to confront her past. Unfortunately, LucasFilm has more often used fan service to stir nostalgia than to advance the saga. The proof is in these 10 problematic moments.
#10 Anakin Skywalker Creates C-3PO
In The Phantom Menace (1999), George Lucas reveals that young Anakin rebuilt C-3PO. This detail, supposed to strengthen the bonds between the characters, actually makes the gigantic Star Wars universe seem miserably small. Everything seems artificially interconnected. And we're not at the end of our surprises!
#9 Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba in Rogue One
In Rogue One, two familiar characters from the original trilogy appear briefly: Dr. Cornelius Evazan and Ponda Baba. They are the ones who attack Luke Skywalker in A New Hope (1977), in the famous cantina scene in Mos Eisley. In Rogue One, Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor cross paths with them, or rather bump into them, on a street in Jedha. A nod that adds nothing narratively and even raises an inconsistency. How do the two criminals survive when the planet is hit by the Death Star a few minutes later?
#8 Darth Maul mysteriously resurrected in Solo
Yes, how Darth Maul survived his fall after being cut in two in The Phantom Menace is explained in the animated series The Clone Wars. The problem is that the general public doesn't necessarily watch the series, just as they don't read the many comics and novels dedicated to Star Wars. For a large part of the audience, this return to the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story remains incomprehensible.
#7 Starkiller, the Death Star 2.0
Let's not kid ourselves: The Force Awakens is a barely concealed copy of A New Hope. The idea of the Starkiller base perfectly illustrates the point, since it is simply an XXL version of the Death Star. This element reveals Disney's temptation to replay past recipes instead of creating original ideas. A pattern that will be repeated in The Rise of Skywalker.
#6 Chewbacca Finally Decorated
Many fans expressed their frustration at the end of A New Hope. Indeed, Chewbacca is not honored by the Rebel Alliance, unlike Han Solo and Luke Skywalker who receive a medal. The Rise of Skywalker chose to correct this old mistake: Chewbacca finally receives his medal at the end of the film. However, this scene feels like a rushed addition, more to tick a nostalgic box than to enrich the conclusion of a failed film.
#5 The pointless return of Lando Calrissian
Does anyone know the real reason for Lando Calrissian's return in The Rise of Skywalker? So, yes, it serves to kick off the final battle, but his return remains ultra-superficial and rushed through. And, obviously, without the complexity that his character had in the original trilogy.
#4 Luke Skywalker rehabilitated in a grotesque way
In The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker was portrayed as a broken man, consumed by self-doubt. Certain scenes particularly angered fans, starting with the "lightsaber throw." Desperate, Disney then decided to clumsily restore Luke's image in The Rise of Skywalker, giving him an almost Christ-like status. The climax comes when Rey throws her lightsaber to the ground, only to be caught in mid-air by Luke Skywalker's spirit. A scene that "erases" the controversial one from the previous film.
#3 Rey, descendant of Palpatine...
In The Last Jedi, we learn that Rey is the child of merchants who sold her to the highest bidder for money. A revelation that goes against the tradition of great family lines in Star Wars. A choice that had the audacity to expand the universe, affirming that anyone, even without a glorious heritage, can become a hero. Alas, The Rise of Skywalker quickly erased this idea by revealing her as the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine. A decision that renders her parents' actions incomprehensible and reduces the heroine's exploits to her genetic heritage.
#2… Rey adopts the name Skywalker
At the end of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey returns to Tatooine, to the old farmhouse where Luke Skywalker grew up. She tells a woman her name: "Rey Skywalker." While this may seem like a sign that she chooses Luke and Leia's spiritual heritage over her genetic destiny, it rings false. On the one hand, her relationship with the Skywalker twins remains superficial (for Luke), or even nonexistent (for Leia). On the other hand, this decision traps Rey in the endless Skywalker narrative loop. Instead of moving forward, the saga is stuck in place.
#1 Palpatine's botched return
In The Rise of Skywalker, the Emperor's return is revealed in the opening credits. No context or narrative structure is developed. How did he survive his fall in Return of the Jedi? Everything is explained in a minute-long scene, when Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) explains to the rebel assembly that "it seems Palpatine has returned." Beaumont Kin (Dominic Monaghan) simply replies, "an occult science, cloning, a secret known only to the Sith." This disastrous script choice negates Darth Vader's sacrifice and weakens Kylo Ren as the main antagonist of the postlogy. But, in addition, this is seen as a desperate attempt by Disney to satisfy disappointed fans of Episode VIII.
For you, what other moments of fan service have not done Star Wars any favors? We're waiting for your answers in the comments!
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