Star Wars: The Force Awakens released in 2015, ushering in the sequel trilogy. Set 30 years after the events of Return Of The Jedi, the sequel trilogy introduced a whole new set of heroes who took up arms against the First Order. The sequel trilogy also featured characters from the classic original trilogy. Some merely made cameos, and some had substantial roles that had completely changed the course of the events.
While Rey, Poe, Finn, and Kylo Ren were the characters mainly followed in the sequel trilogy, characters from the original trilogy popped up to the great delight and excitement of fans who have been following the Star Wars universe since A New Hope.
10 Admiral Ackbar
A very important member of the Rebel Alliance, he made his mark in the Star Wars universe after he led the attack against the Death Star II in Return Of The Jedi. Fans of Star Wars will remember his line, "It's a trap!" which has been immortalized via pop culture references and internet memes.
Even though he has very little screen presence in the original trilogy, he was a fan favorite character and his appearance in The Force Awakens was a very pleasant addition. That this war hero who once led the attack, continues to fight against the evil forces in the universe, is admirable indeed.
9 Palpatine
The Emperor was the main overall villain in the original trilogy. It was Emperor Palpatine who was behind Darth Vader and his plan to destroy the Rebels. Even though Palpatine was killed in Return Of The Jedi, he returns in the sequel trilogy as the man behind Kylo Ren and Snoke.
His appearance in The Rise Of Skywalker firmly placed Palpatine as the main villain in the sequel trilogy as well, and as the primary big bad of the Star Wars universe as a whole.
8 Darth Vader's Helmet/The Millennium Falcon
A special mention has to be given to these inanimate objects because of the sheer emotion they are able to bring to fans of the series. Darth Vader's helmet is an object of great fascination for fans. Darth Vader is one of the most legendary villains in history and even the appearance of his half-burned helmet in The Rise Of Skywalker was enough to trigger serious nostalgia.
Similarly, Han Solo's Millennium Falcon is one of the most recognized starships in Star Wars— and pop culture in general— and the appearance of the Falcon in the sequel trilogy made a lot of fans happy.
7 C-3PO And R2-D2
The golden humanoid protocol droid and his short, hologram-producing blue droid pal were very important characters in the original trilogy. Having followed the heroes on all their adventures and aiding them in many instances, these droids are very important members of the Star Wars universe.
They appear in the sequel trilogy as well, to the great delight of fans. C-3PO is as excruciatingly annoying and funny as he was in the original trilogy, and R2-D2 is as smart and adorable as before. They are quite important to the events of the sequel trilogy as well.
6 Chewbacca
Chewbacca the Wookiee is a legendary fighter who fought alongside our heroes against the Emperor and the Imperial troop in the original trilogy. Chewbacca was the loveable giant who was Han Solo's right-hand "man." The huge, clever, and affectionate creature was a very close friend of the heroes in the original trilogy, and he is equally important in the sequel trilogy as well. Star Wars wouldn't be Star Wars without Chewie.
5 Yoda
The small, frail, green puppet was the Jedi master who trained Luke Skywalker and made him the Jedi Knight he is. Yoda first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back and with his wisdom— and charming manner of saying sentences in almost reverse order— Yoda quickly became one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe.
Yoda makes an appearance in the sequel trilogy as well. He appears in the same physical puppet form as he had in the original trilogy and gives Luke some much-needed guidance in The Last Jedi. Yoda's presence in the sequel trilogy helps to strongly tie together the Jedi legacy.
4 Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian, the flamboyant rebel from The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, returns to the Star Wars universe in the final film of the sequel trilogy. It is Lando who makes a huge difference in the final battle in The Rise Of Skywalker. Billy Dee Williams' return to Star Wars was very heartwarming. Lando is such a pleasant guy and he gives Poe the help and guidance he needed to continue on his mission.
3 Han Solo
The snarky, arrogant pilot with a big heart, Han Solo was key to the Rebel victory in many ways. A gambler and a smuggler, Solo changes his ways after becoming attached to Luke and Leia and it is their friendship that forms the foundation of the original trilogy.
Han Solo wouldn't be Han Solo if it weren't for Harrison Ford. He brings a rugged charm to one of the most fun characters in the Star Wars universe. An unlikely hero, but a hero all the same— right up until his tragic and shocking demise.
2 Princess Leia
Leia Organa, princess of Alderaan, is the one who introduces viewers to the Rebel movement. Carrie Fisher played this independent and fierce character who in the sequel trilogy, firmly placing herself as one of the most respected leaders in all the galaxy.
Leia in the original trilogy was an amazingly brave and courageous leader who was strongly rooted in the Rebel movement. In the sequel trilogy, fans witness her become a force-user who continues to serve as the backbone of the Rebel movement. Leia's death in The Rise Of Skywalker was heartbreaking, though not nearly as much as the passing of Carrie Fisher herself.
1 Luke Skywalker
The hero of the Skywalker saga, Luke Skywalker is the one who set things in motion. The son of Darth Vader and a Jedi Knight, audiences met a young Luke in the original trilogy and watch as he ends up being the one who takes down Darth Vader and the Emperor, restoring peace to the galaxy.
Luke's appearance in the sequel trilogy was greatly anticipated and he didn't disappoint. There is only a brief appearance in The Force Awakens but it is in The Last Jedi that Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker shines. The Last Jedi complicated Luke's past and present and gives different shades to the simple hero image, and ultimately, it is Luke's sacrifice that helps sustain the Rebel movement.