The Star Wars sequel trilogy takes place around thirty years after the destruction of the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi, and a new generation of villains and heroes are fighting for the future of the galaxy, from the conflicted Kylo Ren to the scavenger-turned-Jedi Rey Skywalker. Many familiar faces from the Galactic Civil War made an appearance as well.

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These three movies were an opportunity to expand upon classic characters and deepen them with new relationships, new conflicts, new worldviews, new missions, and more. Some returning characters had fascinating and compelling story arcs and action scenes, while others were little more than obligatory cameos or simply repeated what made them interesting in the original trilogy. Who was fixed or improved upon, and who got ruined or wasted?

10 RUINED: Luke Skywalker Was Slightly Ruined With His Dejected Attitude

Older Luke Skywalker stares after being found by Rey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Luke Skywalker, the hero of the original trilogy, had aged quite a bit in the sequels, and the long years weigh heavily on him. In many ways, his character evolved and was deepened in fascinating ways, though as a whole, he was ruined a bit more than he was improved upon.

Luke had his heroic moment when he gave his life to hold off his nephew Kylo Ren on Crait, and he bid a fond farewell to his sister before dying. Still, it was awkward to see him as a dejected burnout of a Jedi who simply ran away from everything after Ben Solo turned on him.

9 FIXED: Becoming A Parent Made Han Solo A Better Man

Han Solo from The Force Awakens

At first, Han Solo was a lovable scamp and rogue, and he sometimes annoyed people with his self-centered behavior, especially in terms of money and avoiding danger. However, having a son with princess Leia Organa changed him for the better.

Han deeply loves his son, and he risked his life to bring Kylo Ren back from the Dark Side on Starkiller base. Han died without hating his son at all, and his likeness spoke kindly to Kylo on the ruins of a Death Star during The Rise of Skywalker. Han's generous, compassionate heart made him easier than ever to like, and more mature, too.

8 RUINED: Lando Calrissian Didn't Say Or Do Anything New

Star Wars Lando Returns

Lando Calrissian, Han's old friend, was wasted in the sequel trilogy, though not necessarily totally ruined. He was exciting and cool during Solo: A Star Wars Story while played by actor Donald Glover, and he was a beloved hero during the original trilogy.

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Lando returned in The Rise of Skywalker as an ace pilot and freedom fighter, and he helped lead a motley fleet against the First Order's ultimate armada. That was cool, but it was just a repeat of his role in Return of the Jedi, and his character wasn't deepened on a personal level, either.

7 FIXED: C-3PO Was Less Annoying & More Relevant & Kind

C-3PO in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

C-3PO appears in all nine Star Wars movies, and he was often obnoxious and pretentious during that time, complaining about everything around him or questioning other people. He also had relatively little to do, often acting as a bystander during crucial moments.

In the sequel trilogy, C-3PO toned down his obnoxious side, and he sweetly wanted to get one last look at all his friends, including Poe Dameron the pilot, before risking everything to translate some Sith runes. He certainly helped Rey find Palpatine with that translation, showing how useful he can be.

6 RUINED: Chewbacca Didn't Do Anything New Either

Solo A Star Wars Story Chewbacca New Bandolier

Chewbacca the Wookiee, like Lando, returned more out of obligation than anything, and the three sequel movies didn't have much new to do with him. Chewbacca may not have been totally ruined, but he became rather stale, and that's almost as bad.

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In these movies, Chewbacca backed up Han in combat, then became Rey's co-pilot in the legendary Millennium Falcon, and not a whole lot else. Chewbacca was simply being himself, but perhaps the sequels could have done more with him. Chewbacca has hit a plateau much too soon.

5 FIXED: Yoda Is Wiser & More Likable Than Ever

star wars last jedi yoda

Jedi Master Yoda also makes an appearance in all three trilogies, from his Dagobah scenes to being a member of the Jedi Council in the Republic era. There wasn't much for the sequel trilogy to add to his character, but The Last Jedi managed to breathe a little fresh air into him all the same.

Yoda showed a charming sense of humor as he set the ancient tree on fire, and he admonished Luke about the importance of book vs. trust in the Force. Yoda also showed the utmost faith in Rey. He always has his mind on the most important things, and never loses hope, even after death. This is the Yoda everyone fondly remembers.

4 RUINED: Admiral Ackbar Died Abruptly In The Last Jedi

admiral ackbar in star wars

It is understandable that some characters will die, since this saga is about action and war, not just space exploration. Still, a popular character such as Admiral Ackbar ought to have had a more glorious death. He died rather abruptly in The Last Jedi.

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Admiral Ackbar had a few scenes where he helped coordinate the evacuation of the Resistance base early in the movie, only for him to suffer an inglorious death as the First Order fired upon his ship. It's not a trap, it's Ackbar's doom, and it's a real downer.

3 FIXED: General Leia Is More Relevant Than Ever

General Leia holds a lightsaber in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Princess Leia was a proper hero during her time in the original trilogy, such as how she took part in the fight on the forest moon of Endor. Now, in the sequel trilogy, Leia has more authority and responsibilities than ever, and this is truly empowering for audiences to see.

She is now a real warrior-princess, being the tireless leader of the brave Resistance while also training Rey in the ways of the Jedi. Leia had learned a few things from her Jedi brother Luke, and she passed on those vital lessons to Rey, so Rey can defeat the Dark Side once and for all. Leia died in peace, content that she helped save the entire universe.

2 RUINED: R2-D2 Didn't Have Much To Do

R2-D2 droid star wars

The plucky droid R2-D2 also appeared in all nine Star Wars movies, alongside his robotic companion C-3PO, but he has a smaller role than ever in the sequel trilogy. In the other six movies, R2-D2 could carry messages and hack terminals to help the heroes out, such as when he disabled the Death Star's trash compactor.

Now, in the sequel trilogies, R2-D2 is in a similar role as Lando and Chewbacca: a source of nostalgia, and not much else. The trilogy seemed to favor the adorable droid BB-8, who carried the missing piece of the map to Luke Skywalker. R2-D2 is still around, but he has largely been replaced.

1 RUINED: Darth Sidious' Arrival Was Sudden & Felt A Bit Tedious

darth sidious star wars

The dead really do speak, as The Rise of Skywalker's text crawl stated, but they don't have much new to say. The mighty Darth Sidious returned for another round of battle after inexplicably surviving his apparent demise inside the second Death Star, which rendered Darth Vader's sacrifice practically moot. In the end, Vader merely bought the heroes a few decades of time.

Sidious was still scheming to control everything and dominate the universe, the same goals he has always had. It was true to his character, but nothing new, and it made the story feel a bit tedious. This time, though, he really has been defeated, since Rey and Ben Solo together had the power to destroy him for good.

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