Star Wars: Daisy Ridley defends The Rise of Skywalker, thinks criticism was unfair
Star Wars: Daisy Ridley defends The Rise of Skywalker, thinks criticism was unfair. The actress thinks that the most recent episode of the franchise did not deserve the hate it achieved.
By Megan Sauer
Star Wars has been on quite a roller coaster ride in recent years under the jurisdiction of The Walt Disney Company, the studio that brought a new series of films along with different and complex characters.
But although some were satisfied with the adventures, a good part of the fandom believes that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was a huge mistake that disregarded years of travel and lore in the distant galaxy.
In an interview with Josh Horowitz for the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ridley believes that the negative reviews for episode IX were unfair.
What is Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker about?
Star Wars IX is the final installment in the sequel trilogy of the iconic saga created by George Lucas. Directed by JJ Abrams, the film follows the Resistance’s final fight against the First Order, as Rey, Finn and Poe search for a way to confront the threat of Palpatine, the former Sith emperor who has returned.
The plot focuses on the development of the main characters, especially Rey, as they face personal challenges and delve into the mysteries of the Force.
The film received mixed reviews, with some of them focusing on the feeling that it tried to tackle too many topics in a limited time, resulting in a rushed narrative and moments that could feel forced.
Additionally, some opinions noted that the film tried to amend criticisms of the previous installment, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in a way that was not entirely satisfactory to some fans.
The high expectations and complexity of closing such a beloved saga also contributed to the many divided opinions on the film.
But Daisy believes that the negative criticism of episode IX is not fair, since it detracts from the work of those who worked hard to close the trilogy:
“I think it’s still annoying because you don’t want people to feel like you haven’t served what they’re fans of, but the Rian [Johnson, director of The Last Jedi] thing was very divisive.
So I really felt like with the first one it was quite… Everyone responded similarly. And then Rian’s, super divisive. And then the last one, super divisive.”
What has been the impact of Star Wars on the world?
Star Wars has achieved unprecedented cultural influence due to the combination of innovative elements at the time of its release in 1977.
The saga introduced revolutionary special effects, such as the pioneering technique of Industrial Light & Magic, and an epic soundtrack composed by John Williams, who helped set new standards in the film industry.
Additionally, Star Wars offered a unique blend of genres, fusing fantasy, science fiction, and myth, making it appealing to a wide and diverse audience.
Rich storytelling and the construction of a vast fictional universe with memorable characters allowed Star Wars to transcend its original film form and expand into books, comics, television series, and a wide range of related products.
The mythology created around the Force, the Jedi, the Sith, and the conflict between good and evil resonated deeply in popular culture, becoming an unavoidable reference in the cultural conversation.
Star Wars has influenced not only cinema but also music, fashion, art and the way we understand and tell stories, becoming an integral part of the global cultural experience.
