Media Essays: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Rewrite Part 2

Written by The Wandering Fox

Freddy: You all still with us?

Teddy: You better be because now we’re getting to the stories!

Freddy: Will this get enough interest?

Teddy: Will you leave a comment? If you do make any, make sure you are polite about whatever you say.

Yes I would much welcome it if you were.

Last part we looked at what was staying, going and what was new. This here is where we get to the movies. So imagine that this is the first of the trilogy we got in 2015 instead of The Force Awakens. That’s right, we are jumping into a whole other universe where we finally welcome Star Wars back with Episode 7:

The Dark Legacy

Following an opening crawl, we see the Red Hand in action with Darth Odicius leading a raid on a village where there’s a few Force Users living at. Finn hangs back, refusing to shoot any of the villagers or the gunmen putting up a fight. Darth Odicius brutally cuts apart anybody on his way and finishes the leader of the gunmen with a blast of lightning. Dragging out the Force Users they are taken aboard their ship while the Red Hand execute the villagers, horrifying Finn. Meanwhile, Rey returns to the junk planet she calls home, handing in a few items that will fetch her a few credits. She is followed home by a few Red Hand agents and a pair of cloaked people. The Red Hand agents ransack her home and though they find nothing of her being an agent for the New Republic they still snatch her credits. Rey is annoyed until the cloaked characters go to her, giving her spare credits. They introduce themselves as Owen and Jacinda, offering her help and that if she is salvaging old imperial ships they could give her extra credits if she finds anything of note. Rey thanks them for the credits but can tell they work for the New Republic, telling them to leave because she doesn’t need another ransack from the Red Hand. Back with the Red Hand’s ship, Darth Odicius tells the prisoners they will soon embrace the Force at its most powerful and will not be blinded by the Jedi. A prisoner yells at him for killing his father to which Darth Odicius says his father was killed long ago and while vengeance drives him, the boy will soon know the Jedi are who he should be hateful towards. They are all taken away bound for an ice planet. Darth Odicius looks at Finn while this is going on, sensing his ties to the Force. Finn is interrogated by Captain Phasma for not shooting the gunmen to which he says his gun wasn’t working. Darth Odicius comes to them and tells Finn he’s due to be in his chamber. Finn is escorted by a pair of soldiers but knocks them unconscious, slips into a pilot’s uniform and sneaks on board a ship, deciding he’s had enough and wants to free the prisoners. Darth Odicius can sense he’s leaving and orders a few others to go after him. Finn manages to avoid them but his ship is damaged and crashes on the junk planet. Captain Phasma thinks he’s dead but Darth Odicius can sense he isn’t and orders for him to be captured while he speaks with the leaders of the Red Hand.

Finn managed to parachute out of the ship and lands in the wreckage of a Star destroyer. Finn almost gets crushed by a door but is stunned with himself to find he’s holding it back with the Force. Struggling out of the destroyer he finds Rey’s ship and sneaks on board. Travelling back to her home Rey finds Finn and wants to know who he is, recognising his pilot uniform as that of the Red Hand. Finn calms her and says he’s not with the Red Hand anymore, trying to flee to the New Republic. Rey isn’t sure of trusting him, but seeing a chance to turn over an enemy agent that could curry her favour she agrees to take him. They stop by her home for her to get a few stuff but are seen by Red Hand agents and Owen and Jacinda. There’s another chase sequence until suddenly the Red Hand ships are destroyed by the Millennium Falcon who order Rey to land in a New Republic ship. Inside they come out and are met by Han and Chewie, with Owen and Jacinda revealing themselves to be Jedi who draw out their lightsabers and place Finn under arrest. Darth Odicius meanwhile talks with the leaders of the Red Hand who tell him their training facilities are yet to see any proper results with the Dark Army he wants to make but he’s told the weapon factories are doing well. Darth Odicius says as soon as he’s dealt with Finn he will personally see to the training, but a leader reminds him to bring Finn alive. They all swear loyalty to the Emperor and Darth Vader. Finn is interrogated by Han who is trying to see if Finn is a double agent but Finn persists he isn’t. Han isn’t sure and reckons the only man who can tell is Luke, and he does hear out Finn who tells him of the prisoners. Rey is stunned to meet the Jedi, admitting that she’s heard many stories of Luke and the new order but not all of them good. Owen assures her the bad stuff she’s hearing are lies. They then land on Coruscant where Leia, Luke, Mara Jade and Lando greet Han and Chewie, where we finally find out Owen is Luke and Mara’s son. Finn and Rey are amazed by how grand Coruscant looks. Leia and Luke are told of Finn and while Leia is weary of him, Luke and Mara remind her that not every turncoat was a secret agent. Finn begs them to do something as he knows what Darth Odicius is up to. The mention of his name is enough to get Luke and Leia to listen more closely. Lando notes that whatever Finn knows could be incredibly helpful in stopping the Red Hand. Owen and Han are still not convinced but Luke decides to have Finn come with him so he can really know if he’s good or not. Rey is taken in by Han and Leia who want to know her part in all this but Jacinda and Owen help explain she’s a salvage worker who was harassed by the Red Hand but Han notes she’s clearly here for something else, telling her that he’s lived long enough to know that it’s best not to use others for gain. Luke gets to talk with Finn and sensing not only is he telling the truth but his ties to the Force, he gets him to move a rock. Finn moves it by a few centimetres and is left stunned he is a Force user. Luke gives him a room to stay in while he talks with Han and Leia. He explains not only is Finn telling the truth there’s much fear in him, much doubt of where he is. Owen is still weary but Jacinda reminds him it’s never easy to overcome your fears. With Luke believing in him, Leia agrees to hear Finn with Lando.

Darth Odicius is informed that Finn escaped to the New Republic which greatly annoys him but he then chooses not to tell the base that had the prisoners, seeing this as a chance to kill Luke.

Finn explains to Leia, Lando and other senators of the prisoners and what the Red Hand is doing, that Darth Odicius is trying to make an army of Dark Sided users to battle the New Republic. He doesn’t know where they are trained, just where the prisoners are being taken to. Leia talks with Han and others of how to rescue them. Finn is allowed to return to the Jedi temple with Rey where they talk for a bit with Rey confessing she used Finn go get away from the junk planet, but she genuinely didn’t know how much trouble he was in and is sorry. Luke calls Finn away before he can accept her apology, with Finn watching with Mara Jade to look at Luke sparring with Owen who is fighting quite angrily. Luke sternly tells his son not to let his fear and anger blind him, he can tell he’s afraid of Darth Odicius but that won’t help him. Owen is apologetic, he can’t help feel so ashamed such a person his grandfather made existed. Owen goes dead silent once he sees Finn. Mara tells Finn once upon a time she believed the lies of the Sith but Luke not only changed her life he really was her hero and she can sense the pain and fear in Finn but also his wants to do good. Luke promises to help him but Finn feels he’s not ready yet, not until he’s saved the prisoners. He also asks what Luke knows of Darth Odicius to which Luke confesses he’s battled him many times, each battle never easy. Owen tells him it’s a waste trying to convince him, asking Finn if he told him all the lies about his father. Finn confesses Odicius has his way of painting Luke as a murderer, Luke tells him that Odicius is a victim of the Sith as many others and he won’t quit on him.

Leia, Lando, Han and a few senators all have a plan, they use Rey’s ship to land on the planet and lead a rescue force. Rey isn’t really up for going but Finn is bitter she won’t help. Jacinda pilots the ship, Luke goes with them hoping to converse with Odicius. There’s a fight, Luke battles Darth Odicius, Jacinda and Owen battle a couple of Dark Side warriors while Finn fights Captain Phasma. General Hux tries to hold off the New Republic ships but Han is just as great of a pilot as ever. During the battle Luke unmasks Darth Odicius who yells Luke killed their father. Luke battled him until finally Jacinda and Owen free the prisoners. Luke prevents Odicius from killing them, holding him back with a strong enough Force push and gets Finn away. Rey flies in on another ship and gets everybody to safety while Darth Odicius glares at the remains of the prison. Finn smiles at Rey who gives him a warm hug. The film ends with Finn being made a Jedi Padawan by Luke with everybody cheering him on.

Mara Jade, Luke’s wife, mother of Owen and former assassin of Palpatine.

Episode 8: The Crimson Rises

This movie is set a few years after the first, Finn has been an apprentice to Luke and Owen while Rey has been working in the shipyards of Coruscant while taking up shooting lessons with Han. Leia and Lando have tried to broker a peace deal with those supporting the Red Hand, among of which is Finn’s family. While Finn has gotten skilled with a lightsaber he is still struggling to focus thanks to his guilt and regret over his family, which Luke and Owen try to help him master but Finn has his moments where he gets frustrated and can’t do anything. Owen is sympathetic to him, seeing well where he comes from in his feelings. Leia, Han, Lando, Mara, Jacinda hold a meeting with a Red Hand benefactor to try and make peace with them but upon arriving at the meeting they see it’s a trap set up by Darth Odicius, who tries to kill Leia with a Dark Sider but is fought back by Mara and Jacinda. Darth Odicius tells Leia she and Luke will pay for killing their father, fleeing after New Republic soldiers come to help. Jacinda urges her mum to stay in the senate and keep herself secure but Leia isn’t one for cowering though still she’s bitter towards Odicius. Returning home, they meet with Luke and explain what happened. Leia talks with Luke, them both acknowledging it wasn’t easy coming to terms with Vader as their father, Leia found it harder to forgive him than Luke did but doesn’t think Odicius can be saved. They look at R2D2, Leia sad as she remembers what R2 showed Vader did to their mother and though she gets he was a victim of the Sith, Odicius never knew compassion like Vader or Mara. Luke says he has to try. Rey comes to the Jedi temple to see if everybody is alright, Finn telling her that the Red Hand are more interested in fighting rather than talking. Han however points out that surely Finn would be able to find a way to at least shatter the Red Hand’s alliance since his family is part of it. Though Finn refuses to see them Luke and Mara remind him he has to face his fear and Rey notes that him being a Jedi could dissuade them from helping the Red Hand while getting info on where the training facilities are. They plan it, Finn will go with Rey and R2D2 to Finn’s home planet with Jacinda and Owen keeping an eye on them. Rey goes with Finn as she’s had more negative relations with the Red Hand which could help out. They fly out and are greeted cordially by Finn’s family, who are grateful Finn is still alive but are displeased to see he’s a Jedi. Finn can sense a dark presence and though Captain Phasma is there it’s not her he can sense.

Finn and Rey act as a couple and argue against Finn’s family, telling them the Red Hand are oppressors who belittle and hurt the weak, with Rey giving them her experiences with them. She tells them she wasn’t on anybody’s side then. Finn also argues with Captain Phasma, asking how there can be good in kidnapping people and torturing them into being Dark Sider soldiers. Phasma says it’s the price to pay to protect the Galaxy and says Finn has a chance to cleanse himself of his sins. Despite pressure by his family to take part in a trial, Finn refuses. Finn’s family aren’t so sure and choose to mull over it. Finn and Rey are given a room of their own but make an effort to have separate beds. Finn messages Owen and Jacinda through R2 but hears somebody getting into Rey’s room trying to kidnap her. Finn goes in and battled the Dark Sider, who escapes into the woods. Not safe in his own home, Finn takes Rey and R2 back to the ship where they talk with Owen and Jacinda. The Jedi concentrate on where this Dark Sider came from and Finn is mortified to find it’s his brother, Maros. Going into his room, they find all the details of the training facilities where the Force users are kept at while also finding details of the Sacred Child. They tell Luke of this before they’re found by Phasma, Odicius and Maros. A battle occurs with Phasma losing a leg and Finn cuts his brother’s hand off. Odicius taunts the Jedi, telling them they feel that desire, the lust for control and anger. Finn tells his family he’s ashamed of them and leaves, but Rey is caught by Odicius.

Finn’s brother Maros.

Luke and Mara all meet up with the young Jedi in orbit of the planet where Odicius is taking Rey. Owen bluntly asks Luke if he really believes talking with Odicius will help this time. Luke says he’ll do what he must to save Rey but tells Finn to wait on board until reinforcements arrive. Leia is contacted by Finn’s family who are now doubtful of the Red Hand and agree to meet with her to make a deal. Han isn’t so sure of this so he and Chewie go with her to talk with them. In the facility Rey is tortured by Odicius, who tells her though she may not be a Force user he will shatter her mind to make her a mindless slave. Rey is left tired out from the torture. Odicius senses Luke and goes to confront him. Finn sneaks off the ship and infiltrates the facility with Owen and Jacinda. Leia and Han get told of all the training facilities by the family and are begged by them to spare their older son. Luke battles Odicius who tells Luke they could’ve been brothers but Luke reminds him they still can be if he surrenders, reminding him that before there was Vader there was Anakin, a more honourable man. Odicius calls Anakin weak. Though they save Rey, Finn, Owen and Jacinda are struggling against the Dark Siders. Luke surrenders to spare their lives and is brought before the Dark Siders, with Odicius ordering the Jedi to cleanse themselves of their sins or he will kill Rey. However, Han arrives with not only New Republic soldiers but also many Jedi who battle it out. Seeing his family’s ship flying alongside the New Republic, Finn’s brother angrily gets into a ship to fly up there, Odicius goes with him. Han goes after them. On the ship Odicius fatally injures Leia and Han while Finn’s brother injures Finn. Captain Phasma is killed. Though the Jedi succeed in ending this facility they still suffered a big loss with Han and Leia and Odicius escapes, with him going home to look over a baby cot that has his son in there.

The film ends with Leia and Han’s funerals with Luke now wondering if maybe just this once he should let go of compassion and kill Odicius, leading the Jedi and the New Republic into a new war with the enemy.

Episode 9: The Might of the Jedi

This film is set a few years after The Crimson Rises, with the New Republic in a brutal war with the Red Hand. The Red Hand is losing the war and are getting desperate. Rey leads a stealth mission on a weapons facility with Finn, Jacinda, and Chewbacca having heard there was a device being made that could operate on a scale similar to the Death Star. There they battle Maros, who Finn almost kills but spares, telling him he’s lost already and he will not kill his brother. Finn’s brother bluntly tells him even if he wins, Odicius has a particular apprentice in waiting. Getting the blueprints of the weapon they get back to Coruscant, where Lando is urging those of the Red Hand to surrender. Luke is meditating with Mara and Owen, Luke feeling guilty still over the death of Leia and Han. Mara gives some much needed comfort to Luke, reminding him it wasn’t his fault they’re dead and he needs to remember that anger and hatred isn’t the way of the Jedi, though Luke isn’t sure if Odicius deserved the same courtesy as Leia said. The Red Hand hears out Lando’s offer and debate on whether it’s time to finally end the war and accept it’s done. General Hux isn’t so sure until Darth Odicius comes to the meeting and angrily gets them all to obey him by showing his weapon. A Planet Cracker, a huge ship like machine which plunges into a planet and shatters it into a black hole, arguing if they don’t follow him then he will simply kill them all and take what is theirs. Nervous, they obey. Darth Odicius then walks out with Hux where we see a young boy calling for his dad. Odicius tries to get him to move a few rocks but his son struggles which angers Odicius but he does his hardest to keep his temper in check. Maros returns and regretfully informs Odicius that the New Republic has details of the Planet Cracker. Angered, Odicius cuts his hand off, horrifying his son.

Finn returns with details of the Planet Cracker, with them finding out where these are being made. They agree if they can destroy them at their creation that can be a total victory for the New Republic. Finn talks with Luke about Maros saying to him how Odicius has a special apprentice in place. Interested, Luke hopes to find out more, so they go to Finn’s family and ask them of what they know. They are under watch in case they are secretly supporting the Red Hand. They tell them that Odicius had conceived a son with a woman so he can have an apprentice of his own to take up his legacy. Luke feels some hope return to him, recognising he could appeal to Odicius for his son’s sake though Jacinda isn’t up for it, arguing that they can still save the kid but kill Odicius. Owen does tell her that giving into hatred will do her no good which just makes her more annoyed. They reach the system where the Planet Crackers are being built and watch one leaving. Getting on board they defeat the crew where they plan to turn it back around to the facility, but Luke wants to wait until he can talk with Odicius. Rey flies them to the planet where Luke, Owen and Jacinda offer themselves up. Odicius and his son meet them where Luke gives Odicius a final chance to turn over, begging him to think of his son. Odicius smirks, telling Luke that his son knows well the true ways of the Force. Jacinda lashes out at him and the fight begins. Maros meanwhile leads the attempted take over of the Planet Cracker, with Finn, Mara and Rey trying to hold him back. General Hux shoots at it which causes the Planet Cracker to begin to descend. Seeing they are going to be killed if they don’t get moving, most of the Red Hand flee and several Dark Siders as well. Odicius is lectured by Luke, telling him the path of the Dark Side leads to only self destruction. Finn begs Maros to come with him. Maros forces him away as he tries to steer the cracker, admitting he was wrong. Odicius sees his son trapped under some rubble and tries to move it but he can’t, only for Luke, Owen and Jacinda to help him. His son saved and the cracker coming, Odicius finally chooses to be even with Luke and tells him to take care of his son. Escaping the planet, Luke cradles Odicius’s son as he cries for his father who is killed.

In the end Luke holds a service for everybody who died, including Odicius and Maros. Jacinda sees in the end though she won’t ever forgive Odicius she can see in the end he loved his son and swears to look after him. Finn fesses up his love for Rey and the film finishes with the Red Hand fully surrendered and Finn is made a Jedi Knight by Luke, with them all uniting under the memorial for Han and Leia.

Darth Odicius with his son.

One of the Jedi in Luke’s new order, he is skilled in both the lightsaber combat and the Force that he can wield four of them, two with hands, two with the Force.

Standard Dark Sider that is either human or humanoid in appearance. Were they a different species they’d either be showing their faces or wearing different helmets.

Freddy: That’s it then.

Teddy: There is the sequel trilogy. Imagine if that was what we got?

Freddy: Star Wars would be in a much better place by then.

Teddy: Yeah, could’ve really opened the doors both to the past and the future with this. Imagine it, after this trilogy there’d be many asking “What came next?” Or “How did Luke train Owen and Jacinda? What were his old battles with Odicius like?”

Well I like to think I did the best I could. Is it perfect? No. But is it better than what we got? Well I personally feel it is. It treats the original characters with more respect, Han and Leia go out fighting, Rey isn’t this strange character whose storyline flip flops, Finn has a more basic story to follow. I hope I did well.

What do you guys think? Do you think this is better? Do tell me below.

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