The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy has been divisive, with some fans enjoying it for its fresh characters, alleged higher quality compared to the prequels, and for closure on several characters from the Original Trilogy. Others, however, dislike it for its seeming recycling of plots from earlier movies, political messages, and seemingly wasted potential.
In the eyes of many, several of the characters epitomized this wasted potential. From being underused, to unpopular changes, to simply not matching their initial hype. While all of the characters from the Sequel Trilogy have their fans, there are some who do not have the popularity they once had earlier in the franchise.
8 General Hux Went From Joint-Second-In-Command To Dead Comic Relief
While the most prominent villain in The Force Awakens is Dark Jedi Kylo Ren, who leads the hunt for BB-8 and later captures and kills his own father, the film sets up other villains. Snoke is the overall figure in charge of the First Order, a Darksider of immense power with dreams of dominating the galaxy. Atnd General Hux as a non-Force sensitive general and politician who serves as a rival to Ren.
In The Force Awakens, Hux gives an impressive evil speech to massed ranks of stormtroopers and officers as Starkiller Base destroys the Hosnian System, signaling a greater role in things to come. In The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, however, he is demoted to comic relief, shamed by Kylo Ren, revealed to be the Resistance’s spy, and then killed off.
7 The Knights Of Ren’s Cool Designs Failed To Pay Off
One group who received popularity based off of their interesting design and air of mystery were the Knights of Ren, a group of Darksiders seemingly subservient to Kylo Ren with cool, menacing dark outfits. After the release of The Force Awakens, fans were awash with theories, ranging from them being Luke’s old students, to another order of Sith.
They would not appear in The Last Jedi, not earning even a mention, And while they do reappear in The Rise of Skywalker, they act as little better than a squad of henchmen to Kylo Ren, before ultimately being killed by him easily once he acquires a lightsaber in the climax. Fans were disappointed by their minimal role.
6 Palpatine Brings Nothing New In His Reappearance
Sheev Palpatine has long been a popular character in Star Wars, particularly after his expanded role in the Prequel Trilogy. Many were already skeptical when he was revealed to be the villain of the ninth movie in the trilogy, despite a total lack of foreshadowing in prior films— but with Ian McDiarmind returning, there was cautious optimism.
In the film itself, Palpatine merely recycles his old tricks. He has a fleet of planet destroyers built, attempts to convert a young Jedi to the Dark Side to save their friends, and then tries to kill them with Force Lightning, only to die when it is reflected. Despite some impressive showings of power, ultimately this film served to weaken Palpatine’s overall reputation, with his death in particular becoming mocked.
5 Maz Kanata Serves To Just Provide Exposition
Maz Kanata appears in The Force Awakens as a wealthy criminal benefactor vaguely on the side of the Resistance, and as an old ally of Han Solo with a crush on Chewbacca. While she never has the largest role, she sets up several mysteries in the film, and is the one to push both Rey and Finn to take up Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber. Lupita Nyong’o’s comedic performance won her fans.
In subsequent films, however, Maz takes a far less active role. She simply points Finn and Rose in the direction of another character in their ultimately failed plotline in The Last Jedi, and spends all of The Rise of Skywalker by Leia’s side. The mysteries that were set up mostly failed to pay off as well.
4 The Plot Twists & Stories Around Rey Underwhelmed Many
Rey faced issues from the get go in the Sequel Trilogy, with some fans rejecting the idea of a female main character for the new trilogy, and some accusing the filmmakers of “pandering.” Nonetheless, most were interested in her character before the films were even released, and eager to see her story.
Over the course of the trilogy, however, many were let down by seemingly weak twists— especially the revelation that she is a Palpatine— and the perceived lack of challenge or growth that Rey experiences over the franchise. She still has many fans, but some have flipped the opposite way and now dislike her character.
3 Kylo Ren Never Manages To Fill The Large Boots Awaiting Him
Being the primary Dark Side villain of a Star Wars trilogy was never going to be an easy role, especially after Darth Vader became one of the most iconic fictional characters ever. The trilogy even leans into this, with Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens explicitly trying to imitate Vader, and being angered when he is unsuccessful in doing so. In pre-release footage for the film, people were interested in Kylo Ren, and theories abounded.
Nonetheless, despite some self-awareness, Kylo Ren never manages to stand out himself. He still has fans even after The Rise of Skywalker— in particular those who ship him with either Rey or Hux— but many were underwhelmed by his redemption and his perceived romantic undertones with Rey.
2 Phasma Faced The Same Fate As Boba Fett
Pre-release material for The Force Awakens focused heavily on Captain Phasma, a senior Stormtrooper and one of the First Order’s more senior leaders, played with a quiet menace by Gwendoline Christie. She had an intriguing design with reflective chrome armor, and Christie’s popularity left fans interested to see what awaited her.
However, much like Boba Fett before her, her design proved to be in contrast to her role in the saga. In The Force Awakens, the only thing of note she does is betray the First Order to let Han lower the force field around the planet. And in The Last Jedi, she is unceremoniously killed off after providing a minor obstacle for Finn, Rose, and BB-8. Fans were entirely let down by her small role, and it harmed her popularity severely.
1 Snoke Is Cut In Half, And So Was His Fanbase
Snoke served as the greater-scope villain of the first half of the trilogy, the powerful Darksider behind the First Order and the one who turned Kylo Ren to the Dark Side. As such, many fans were hoping for an Emperor-like figure, who appears throughout the trilogy and thus serves as a better-foreshadowed final enemy.
Instead, Snoke is killed off in a shock twist in the third act of The Last Jedi as Kylo betrays him. While the twist was effective, and many enjoyed it, having Snoke die anticlimactically with no explanation as to his character or origins, instantly rendered him less popular as many saw him as pointless. The revelation that Palpatine created him in the first place only furthered the blow, as many saw it as a weak explanation.
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