The Star Wars movie series is a captivating saga that has enthralled fans for decades. The narrative began with A New Hope and ended with The Rise of Skywalker. However, the decision to create sequels after Return of the Jedi has sparked intense debate among fans and critics alike. Should the franchise have concluded with Return of the Jedi and allowed fans to imagine the future for themselves, or was it necessary to continue the story of the Skywalkers and the saga?

Opinion: Should Return of the Jedi Mark the End?

No. But those abominations of sequels should never have been made. Mandalorian season 1 showed the potential for continuing the story until it got thoroughly 'Filonified' and it became a live-action sequel of Rebels. It was all over when Ahsoka just HAD to show up.

The original trilogy, which culminated with Return of the Jedi, ended on a high note, with balance restored to the force and Anakin redeemed as Luke completed his hero’s journey. This provided a satisfying conclusion to the classic mythological cycle. The continuance of the saga through the sequel trilogy and beyond felt unnecessary and repetitive, as it introduced new threats and characters that felt like variations of the old ones. This made the original trilogy feel less impactful and diminished the significance of events like Anakin’s sacrifice.

Arguments Against Continuation

Yes. The rest should have been left to the imaginations of fans. Making more that was satisfactory was so unlikely and difficult and would require such genius that people probably should have left it alone and worked on other media and probably other stories.

The continuation of the saga through the sequel trilogy and beyond was always an uphill battle. The new stories felt like retreads of the old ones, with plots revolving around cloned Emperors, dark Jedi like Kylo Ren, and the fall of Skywalkers to the dark side. These developments seemed to make the original trilogy less impactful and less meaningful. The introduction of Force-immune aliens and bigger, more destructive dark side users only seemed to detract from the grandeur and scope of the original saga.

The narrative became insular and less expansive, as most of the action revolved around the Skywalkers, their relatives, and their descendants. The idea that events only happened on Tatooine or a few other well-known planets felt limiting and undermining of the vastness of the Star Wars universe. This made it difficult to believe that the universe could be as vast and diverse as described in the films.

Alternate Perspectives

The Skywalker saga. YES. Return of the Jedi tied that up with a neat bow. Balance was restored to the force. Anakin fulfilled his prophecy and was redeemed. Luke finished his hero's journey… it was a textbook ending to a classic mythological cycle.

Those who argue in favor of the continuation of the Skywalker saga suggest that Return of the Jedi was indeed the appropriate conclusion to the saga. The resolution with Anakin's redemption and the restoration of balance provided a satisfying closure to the original trilogy. The subsequent sequels and spin-offs introduced unnecessary complexity and repetition, detracting from the original trilogy's impact and coherence.

How to Develop the Universe Beyond the Skywalker Saga

As for the rest of the universe, I think there are a lot of interesting side stories to be told. Stuff from the ground level about ordinary or extraordinary people we’ve never met before or about the rebuilding of the Republic or about quests to recover history and so forth. The Mandalorian has mostly been successful in that regard - it shows us what’s been happening afterwards but the events of the main saga are generally only tangentially involved in the primary storyline. Sure we get big sweeping arcs and Luke even shows up for a bit but for the most part it’s not about that and I think that does help develop the universe.

Some fans argue that stories focusing on ordinary people, not just characters related to the Skywalkers, would enrich the universe. This is a direction that shows promise, as evidenced by series like "The Mandalorian." By exploring the universe beyond the Skywalkers, we can see a more diverse and vivid depiction of the galaxy far, far away. This approach allows us to appreciate the vastness of the Star Wars universe without feeling like we are merely watching a continuation of a familiar story.

Much like The Clone Wars, Andor, Bad Batch, Rebels, and Rogue One fleshed out the universe beyond just the Skywalkers in the OT/PT timeline, I think fleshing out the post-Jedi universe is a good thing provided it’s not just 'more of the same.' Even if it feeds into the main story, 'somehow Palpatine returned,' as long as it's not strictly about Skywalkers and Palpatines, it probably could enrich the world rather than reduce it.

In conclusion, while the continuation of the Skywalker saga offered opportunities for rich storytelling, it often fell short in providing a fresh and meaningful narrative. Return of the Jedi provided the perfect conclusion, and subsequent stories, while interesting, sometimes detracted from the original trilogy's impact. By exploring the universe through the eyes of new characters and focusing on the galaxy beyond the well-worn paths of the Skywalkers, Star Wars can continue to thrive and captivate audiences for generations to come.