Since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brought the Skywalker Saga to a close, it feels like Disney has put an end to the sequel era. Yet with so many new characters introduced, many still have plenty of stories left to tell both pre and post-Rise of Skywalker. Despite opinions on the sequels, there are several great characters who deserve more time in the spotlight and a chance to become fan favorites.
Star Wars fans have not kept their opinion of the sequel trilogy a secret. Many dislike the new movies and have an endless list of problems with them, while equally as many enjoy them even if they see flaws in the story. No matter the opinion, most will agree that characters were introduced who have the potential for a lot more stories. Even the main trio, Rey, Finn and Poe, could all do with their own solo movies, as all three films gave hints of their great chemistry yet never kept them together for long enough to develop it. And telling a story outside of the Skywalker Saga could lift the restraints of having to focus on other characters' plotlines, and really focus on fleshing the trio out.
One favorite of the sequel trilogy is Adam Driver's Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The character's conflicted nature makes it difficult to side against him, even with all the bad he does. As such, the return of Ben Solo was satisfying to watch, albeit very short-lived. Many fans would love to see Adam Driver return, even those who dislike the sequels, yet with him passing away at the end of Rise of Skywalker, it seems like Disney might have a hard time bringing him back. But it's not impossible, as "somehow" Palatine was able to make his return, and as Luke says, "No one's ever really gone."
On the flip-side, one of the most disliked characters in the sequel trilogy also deserves a spin-off: Rose Tico. Despite many fans hating her choices and input in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, many will agree that for such a prevalent character, it was weird to see her receive a total of one minute and sixteen seconds of screen time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It felt that rather than trying to make the character more likable, the creative team opted to remove her completely with no chance of redemption.
Despite public opinion on any of the characters, Star Wars' past has proven that even a much-disliked character can become a fan favorite. After the release of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie, if fans were told that one day Ahsoka would receive her own live-action show and be beloved by many, very few would've believed it. She started off annoying and naive, but after seven seasons of The Clone Wars, Ahsoka's character received a massive amount of development. And so who's to say the same can't happen for the sequel trilogy characters, as giving them a chance could not only make them better, but the trilogy as a whole better to watch as well.