So, we all know that the Sequel Trilogy has more or less set it up that the universe has collapsed into a repeat of the OT with a small band of rebels against a large empire. There have been plenty of threads about how bad/good TLJ was, but instead of trying to focus on that film how about what have been a better set up for the ST era?

I personally would think it would have been interesting to see the galaxy split into the New Republic, Imperial Remnant and Independent Systems. Set that all up in the crawl since obviously people are against the idea of that being set up in the film directly seeing how well people liked the politics in the prequels, but it lets for fun possibilities with there being a tension between the NW and the IR, and a civil war with the IR where those that are with the FO fight against those that find those people nuts or dangerous. It even opens the doors for Leia wanting to intervene and help destroy the FO with the NR just keeping back to either respect the treaty or because they feel it isn't that dangerous for them to not be involved, which would naturally bite them in the butt if the FO somehow won and could use what they took from the war to then attack a relatively weak NR. It also opens up the doors for Leia's group fighting alongside Imperials which would show how the galaxy had changed and been a bit like how the Klingons were enemies to the Federation in TOS but became allies by TNG. Oh and no Starkiller base, so that we don't jump straight into OT era again.

As for the main three characters, Leia as a general/admiral makes fair sense, especially considering her parentage and how people might react to that. Have Han instead of a penniless smuggler avoiding her be one of the ones standing at her side helping support her and doing what he felt right. Luke naturally working with them, and if he really needed to be out of the picture for the first film to not take focus from them maybe have it where he is on Ach-to or some planet trying to find out about Snoke or the like if he is supposed to be some ancient dark side being or the like. Oh, and of course, Lando he could be leading a cell or division of Leia's group or is running some complex that the characters end up at some point.

As for the new cast, Poe probably kept the same minus the copious amount of comedy, and possibly kept more in a secondary character role like Wedge or Ackbar, or if he needed more attention maybe something like a Han, Chewie due with him and Finn? Finn as an idea isn't really that bad of an idea so not much changed. Rey, I will say has an amazing intro scene in TFA, but she needs an arc and training so likely Luke in a mentor role to her though more Obi-wan/Yoda, than being pissy hermit man. Kylo as a villain is fine too really, a bit whiny but is a good 'try to do vader but not quite' type villain, though instead of having him kill all of Luke's students maybe have it where the NR is using the jedi as agents much like how the old republic did but Kylo and the Knights of Ren go in and are systematically hunting them down to make the NR a weaker target once they turn their sights to them. Hux, treat him like Piett and make him actually competent. Phasma, treat her like an actual threat and like Veers.

Really, the ST suffers from too many characters and trying to play them up but really should perhaps have had some of these characters more as background ones and have a tighter focus on your core cast like how the OT did and the PT did as well, sure you have Mace and stuff there but clearly you have 3 - 5 main characters of focus.

So, what do people think of these ideas? Some good? Some craptastic fanfiction work that shouldn't see the light of day? What are other people's ideas on the setting for the ST era and how it should have been treated in your mind?

Sounds a lot better than the ST we got. More Jedi, our Classic heroes aren't failures, and the action makes sense. Love the idea of a non-evil Imperial Remnant. That would make for interesting stories right there, and give both the ST's take on the Empire, and by default, the Classic Imperials, more depth.

37 minutes ago, Alpha17 said:

Sounds a lot better than the ST we got. More Jedi, our Classic heroes aren't failures, and the action makes sense. Love the idea of a non-evil Imperial Remnant. That would make for interesting stories right there, and give both the ST's take on the Empire, and by default, the Classic Imperials, more depth.

Exactly, even could show some FDR/Churchill like meeting between the New Republic's Councillor and the Imperial Remnant's emperor. It would at least likely shock some people and create the feeling of mistrust that they are still using an emperor, or it could have someone like Mas Ameda as the emperor which would just show how far the Empire had come since the fall of Palpatine.

I'd go for any alternative that reintroduced Mara Jade.

9 hours ago, Animewarsdude said:

Exactly, even could show some FDR/Churchill like meeting between the New Republic's Councillor and the Imperial Remnant's emperor. It would at least likely shock some people and create the feeling of mistrust that they are still using an emperor, or it could have someone like Mas Ameda as the emperor which would just show how far the Empire had come since the fall of Palpatine.

It would also be a great way of showing the idea that "not all of ____ are our enemies" and would open up the possibilities of New Republic members being against Imperials, all Imperials, no matter which side they've done or what they've actually done. Show that prejudice is not limited to just the Empire.

15 hours ago, Ambaryerno said:

I'd go for any alternative that reintroduced Mara Jade.

Question is how they would bring Mara back in this 'revised' era. Does she come back as Luke's wife? Does she come back as a Lando of sorts with her running Talon Karrde's group or a similar group? Or, does she remain as part of a loyalist empire, sort of deal where they are the people that believe in the stability and order that the Empire brought?

Also, in this adjusted era have it where the Empire continues the fight with the Rebellion for more than a year, say 5 or 6 with an adapted form of the Thrawn trilogy taking place near the end of that and leading to the peace agreement between the Empire and New Republic. Then you could even have some members in the FO saying stuff like "If only Thrawn was still here we would have won!" It would likely allow for a quick scene to help allude to the time difference between the OT and ST, just some off hand comment from a FO officer or the like. Then of course after the ST trilogy, have Filoni and Zahn come together to direct/write an animated Thrawn trilogy made either by Pixar, Disney studios, or Lucasfilm animation. And of course that would open the door for other animated Star Wars works which would allow for films to be set inbetween OT episodes if they so liked.