An analysis of The Last Jedi's flaws - without hyperbole

An interesting review and commentary of TLJ on your part. Well done. I think you got to the core of many of the films issues. I'd like to discuss your take on the elements of TLJ not answering plot mysteries of TFA, and the factor of Abrams and Kasdan writing TFA.

For those of us more familiar with JJ Abrams writing formulas and it's unsavory history, the dynamics of TFA and TLJ is no surprise. All of the plot lines created in TFA is typical of Abrams "mystery box" writing technique. He creates plot lines full of intrigue to engage the audience into following the story, knowing full well (and having no intention) that there are ever going to be any answers. Abrams has done this before in television writing and in other movies. He poses intriguing questions without ever designing an answer. The concept is to get the audience so hooked to his brand of dead-end mystery that by the time they realize that's all it is, it's too late. Despite the great sense of disappointment they're already too far into the story and too emotionally invested.

Rian Johnson himself stated Abrams gave him nothing to work with as far as the direction of the characters and the story. He gave him no answers (or even hints) to all of the questions Abrams had created.

Back around the middle of the break between the these two episode movies I commented on another forum that - either Rian Johnson would spend too much screen time trying to invent his own answers to Abrams mystery box questions (hurting the pacing and progression), or he would largely ignore them. He chose the latter. As you brought out, the movie still had pacing/progression problems. Partly due to Johnson just addressing that there weren't any real answers. And partly due to the Poe/Holdo and Finn/Rose subplots.

The writing of TFA (as you admitted) made heavy use of the pre-existing story of ANH. Heavy rehash of previous iconic stories is another writing technique of Abrams. As far as Kasdan's contribution to the writing of TFA, it mostly rode the coattails of Abrams. Kasdan mostly contributed to the Kylo character. Most of the rest of it was Abrams: rehashing ANH, creating his mystery box questions, and brainstorming a few fanfic ideas mixed in to serve as the originality.