If Duel of the Fates had been made instead of TRoS…

I think "fans" would be harassing Treverrow on social and telling him he ruined Star Wars.

In order for Colin Trevorrow's vision to happen, Luke would have to be alive at the start of 9, which means Episode 8 couldn't be The Last Jedi.

Yep. That’s true. But that was Trevorrow’s final version script. I think what shinnickneth is referring to is Trevorrow’s original draft of the script. In that one Luke was alive in episode IX.

Better. Of course you would have your avid Trevorrow haters who would hate on it even it was a masterpiece. And the Reylos would hate it because Kylo dies (in Duel of Fates) under almost identical circumstances as he died in The Rise of Skywalker. But overall it’s a more original story and a better written script than than TROS.

The Rise of Skywalker had some originality (especially by Abrams standards). Still, the first act borrowed a few things, and the third act rehashed the ROTJ. And it spent a lot of time course correcting from TLJ. DOF explains themes and storylines that were forgotten by TLJ. And in most cases did a good job of it.

Rose gets more screen time. And meaningful screen time with a better character arc than in TLJ. The knights of Ren have more screen time. And they have a better battle than in TROS. They actually feel like they are explained from their cameo in TFA and fit into the story, rather than just being a contrived addition. Finn’s character has a better story. Hux’s character has more gravitas than being a disposable traitor. Kylo does more than chase Rey around and Force flirt with her.

Leia is a big part of the story. But this final script was written (and rejected) before Carrie Fisher died. Duel of Fates story seems to depend a little more on her. So parts of it would have had to have been heavily rewritten. Or they would’ve had to CGIed her, like they did Tarkin in Rogue One.

The script even continued a few dominant themes of TLJ, especially the one of Rey being a “nobody”. Even “broom boy” and his theme is carried over into this story. So it satisfies many of the abandoned things of TFA and also satisfies (at least) some of the things from TLJ.

So on that alone I think it would’ve left the trilogy in a better, more palatable light with more fans.



Post script: It makes you wonder what the creative differences were that they fired Trevorrow and rejected his script. Luke has screen time throughout, not just a cameo like in TROS. And it’s clear that he shares mentoring Rey with Leia. Also Rey seems to rely on his guidance and encouragement in a few key points in the story. Seems to be the most likely creative conflict. Also it seems they wanted to go back to more rehash in the story i.e. TFA.

That's exactly what I was talking about, Waxer.  Thanks.

It'd probably be perceived better since TFA/TLJ/DotF at least feel like a trilogy, as opposed to the actual trilogy we got which is obviously two opposing visions at odds with each other. The people who didn't like TLJ probably wouldn't be won over, but they weren't anyway with The Rise of Skywalker's feature length apology. Kylo Ren's fangirls would be disappointed, but the trade off is no Finn/Rose role reduction controversy, no division of fans by retconning Palpatine's death, and a final chapter that feels like one decent movie as opposed to two shitty movies.