Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released to mixed reviews, considered by many to be a disappointing conclusion to both Disney's sequel trilogy and the entire Skywalker saga. Colin Trevorrow, who sat in the director's chair for the film before being replaced by J.J. Abrams, has since released his script for Episode IX, which is instead titled Duel of the Fates.
While working as the director, Trevorrow wrote several drafts for the film's script (partially to accommodate for the tragic death of Carrie Fisher). After his drafts failed to satisfy Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, Trevorrow resigned due to creative differences, but he and script collaborator Derek Connolly retained story credits. While some elements carried over into the final film, there are many reasons why his screenplay is the superior story.
There Aren't Too Many New Characters in Duel of the Fates
The Rise of Skywalker introduced a variety of new characters, including Zorii Bliss, Jannah and D-O: a droid that really didn't add anything to the plot. Unfortunately, trying to juggle all these new characters along with the ones they already had got in the way of the filmmakers successfully displaying full character development for them all. While Duel of the Fates introduced some new characters, the story still gives room for growth for returning characters like Poe, Rose and even BB-8, without saturating the narrative.
Kylo Ren Is the Main Villain
Why Kylo Ren became the Supreme Leader of the First Order after murdering Snoke in The Last Jedi, he returned to a subservient role when he encountered Emperor Palpatine in the sequel. This was ultimately a step backward in Kylo's arc as a villain in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In Trevorrow's screenplay, Kylo remains the central villain of the story. He attempts to obtain unfathomable power by absorbing a well of Living Force energy on Mortis, the planet from The Clone Wars where "The Ones" dwelled and where the Force is believed to have originated.
Hux's Fate Is an Improvement
In The Rise of Skywalker, General Hux was revealed to have secretly been helping the Resistance defeat the First Order out of his hatred for Kylo Ren before being unceremoniously killed off halfway through the film. This action seemed out of character of him, as he essentially threw away everything he had worked so hard for out of petty vengeance.
However, in Duel of the Fates, Hux is made Chancellor of Coruscant, the previous capital of the Old Republic and the Galactic Empire. He thus maintains his villainous status while making him a greater threat in the story as he tries to suppress the Resistance during Kylo's absence. In the end, he commits suicide with a lightsaber when he sees the First Order is on the brink of defeat: a much more fitting fate for this power-hungry tyrant.
There Is No Complicated Palpatine Subplot
Emperor Palpatine's return from the dead came as a surprise to many, but his sudden and miraculous presence came off as a confusing piece of hardcore fanservice. While he does make an appearance as a Holocron recording in Trevorrow's script, Palpatine is essentially replaced by Tor Valum, the Sith Lord who instructed Darth Palegueis.
This 7,000-year-old creature is discovered by Kylo in a ruined Sith Temple on the planet Remnicore, much like how he found Palpatine on the planet Exegol. Though Tor Valum teaches Kylo how to absorb Living Force energy, he meets his end at Kylo's hands early in the film, allowing the latter to retain his status as the film's main antagonist.
Rey and Kylo Don't Kiss
It felt more like the filmmakers were trying to satisfy the "Reylo" shippers out there with this one. After Rey and Kylo defeat Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker, the pair share a surprising kiss before Kylo dies and becomes one with the Force. Given how toxic and hostile their relationship was for most of the trilogy, it didn't seem right for Rey to suddenly kiss Kylo like that. Star Wars has never been the best place for romance, as Anakin and Padmé can attest, but this PDA should never have made the final cut.
Finn and Rose Have Greater Roles
Finn and Rose brought greater diversity to the Star Wars franchise, and it was a great shame to see their roles reduced as the trilogy progressed. With The Force Awakens, it seemed that Finn was being set up to be the trilogy's protagonist, alongside Rey, but his character started to lose focus in favor of Rey's relationship with Kylo Ren. Rose's character was especially harmed, having been reduced to less than two minutes of screentime in The Rise of Skywalker after actress Kelly Marie Tran had been harassed online.
Finn and Rose had much greater roles in Trevorrow's script, starting a revolt on Coruscant made up of citizens and defected Stormtroopers. At the same time, they would've tried to activate an ancient device in the planet's Jedi Temple to break through the First Order's communications block and call the galaxy to war. It's a perfect lead-in for the galaxy-wide revolt that came out of nowhere in The Rise of Skywalker, as well as a fitting final quest for these two outstanding characters.
Duel of the Fates Incorporates Contemporary Themes
Though The Last Jedi's Canto Bight subplot has been criticized by many fans, it still succeeded in addressing issues of social class by depicting the struggles of the lower class in contrast to the wealthy casino patrons. Duel of the Fates would've taken this another step further by showing how the lower-class citizens of Coruscant suffer under the tyrannical rule of the First Order.
Likewise, Trevorrow would've addressed issues of immigration by opening Duel of the Fates in a First Order labor camp filled with migrant workers. He would've also explored imperialism through Finn and his encounters with Stormtroopers like him who were conditioned to serve the First Order and forget their original identities. All in all, this makes Finn and Rose's revolution with the people of Coruscant against the First Order more meaningful, making it a stand against oppression of both race and class.
Rey Becomes a Gray Jedi
In The Rise of Skywalker, after struggling with the discovery that she's Palpatine's granddaughter, Rey escapes her family's dark legacy ends up fully embracing her role as a Jedi. In the end, she even takes up the last name Skywalker. Nevertheless, this rehashes Luke's journey in Return of the Jedi and ultimately conflicts with The Last Jedi's message of moving on from the past, particularly from both the Jedi and the Sith.
But in Duel of the Fates, Rey instead struggles with being the great Jedi the galaxy idolized while questioning the Jedi's beliefs about rejecting the dark side. Choosing her own path, Rey eventually accepts both sides of the Force and achieves true balance as a Jedi of light and darkness. This would've opened the way for a truly new generation of Jedi, which would've taken the franchise in a bold, new direction.
Kylo's Redemption Arc Is Better
Though Kylo Ren acts as the villain for much of the film, he has a change of heart after losing to Rey at the ruins of the second Death Star and speaking to a memory of his father, Han Solo. Despite this and him fighting Palpatine alongside Rey, his redemption still came off as unearned and as a repeat of Darth Vader's turn at the end of Return of the Jedi.
In Trevorrow's script, Kylo's inner conflict is explored as he is continuously haunted by Luke Skywalker's ghost, who repeatedly dissuades him from his dark path and his lust for power. Kylo even fights an illusion of Darth Vader, which emphasizes his struggle to surpass his grandfather. It is only at the end of the film, when he nearly kills Rey on Mortis, that he renounces his evil ways and chooses to embrace love by giving his Force energy to her, ending his life as it did in The Rise of Skywalker.
Rey Remains Her Own Person
One of the greatest questions fans had about the Star Wars sequel trilogy was about the identity of Rey's parents. Many of them were disappointed watching The Last Jedi when Kylo claimed that her parents were ordinary people who sold her off for drinking money. In the following film, they learned that she was actually the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, a twist that failed to land with many audiences.
Trevorrow's original plan was that Rey's parents would be revealed to have been killed by the Knights of Ren while trying to protect her from Snoke. Also, before dying, Kylo tells Rey that her last name was Solana. As a result, her character wouldn't have been limited by her relationship to the Skywalkers or anyone else in the franchise, while also encouraging the message that anyone could be a great hero, no matter where they come from.
