r/TheSequels • u/RexBanner1886 • 2h ago
Sequel Trilogy If you oversaw a hypothetical Special Edition of the films, what changes would you make to the Sequel Trilogy?
Think back to the scale of the changes made to George Lucas's 1997 re-releases: reinstated deleted scenes; a few added or re-edited effects sequences; tweaks to dialogue; or tweaks to characterisation made through small edits (think Greedo shooting first).
TFA
I would reinstate Leia's deleted scene with her aide in The Force Awakens - I think the film would benefit enormously from the clarity it gives to Leia and the Resistance's relationship to the senate.
TLJ
I love the moments of goofy humour in TLJ, but I've always found 'Hugs' - just a bit too cutesy. An audio tweak could quickly fix that.
I would have the camera linger longer on the Jedi Texts in the Millennium Falcon, or have Rey hold them in her lap at the end of the film. I think Rey taking them from the tree while Yoda misleads Luke for the sake of giving him a clearer lesson is a genius bit of writing, but I think it's very easy to miss the fact that Yoda didn't burn the books and I can understand why thinking that pissed people off.
TROS
I would replace the Xyston-class Star Destroyers of the Sith Fleet with either a new, 'gothic' design *or* make visually clear (with rivets and off-colour plating, say) that they are squirrelled away Imperial Star Destroyers which have had new planet-killing technology grafted on to them. It drives me mad that a new type of ship is just a doubled-up Star Destroyer, and I think it's the most confusing bit of visual storytelling in the entire series.
I greatly dislike how the New Republic is blown up and ignored for the rest of the ST, outside of Holdo's reference to restoring it in TLJ. Among the Free Fleet, I'd add some Republic capital ships and fighters, with the implication that the government's surviving forces have rallied and come to Leia's aid.
I've never liked TROS's final shot. I wish they'd done something more interesting with it in terms of its composition.

