CastletonSnob

I mean, it says a lot when they managed to top AOTC....twice

Although I typically refrain from supporting judgement of a film based wholly upon word of mouth, I agree that the sequel trilogy in general has been a disappointing experience - they generally don't flounder with the basics of filmmaking to the extent of the prequels (which were often deeply inept in that regard, almost to a laughable extent at times) but feel far more soulless in the ilk of a McDonald's product - an entity with basic external competence but dominated by both corporate compromise and a lack of tangible desire to posit a genuine creative expression (Rian Johnson definitely appears enthusiastic in the behind-the-scenes footage, yet this only occasionally registers in the finished film, and is often poorly conceived atop this) so much as scrounge the maximum volume of cash from the audience - than even the prequels (which contained their own fair share of blatant marketing), hence the sequel trilogy's noticeable lack of worldbuilding comparable to its predecessors (yes, avoiding the politic-laden focus of the prequels was a valid move, but ignoring the background of the setting altogether (particularly when establishing the formation and position of the First Order, which the trilogy neglects visibly) is simply an exchange of one issue for another), lack of a clear through-line plot (the cause of the two films of radically differing setups we received) and fanservice (the majority of which is little more than a desperate plea to appease established fans regardless of how much the films attempt to masquerade them as 'symbolism' or some greater thematic cog). 

I'm not claiming that the sequels lack redeeming value - both films contain a number of compelling isolated ideas and I understand aspects of Rian Johnson's intent in Last Jedi (despite his use of this ideology coming off as more of an excuse to dismantle the sequel hooks in Force Awakens and thus appear 'subversive' as opposed to fully convey the disappointment and smaller redeeming facets of warfare) but neither of the existing films work subjectively as more than fun one-time viewing (before you begin to realize their fatal flaws, whereas the prequels, while almost entirely unconcerned with plot structure or characterization over Lucas spontaneously dumping his ideas onto the screen in a confusing and convoluted mess, contain a far more interesting and ambitious set of themes which become more apparent outside the proximity of the subpar dialogue and oversaturated CGI). I can't say I have much hope for Rise of Skywalker either.