If I said to you that a show suffered from “Game of Thrones syndrome,” you would probably know what I was talking about. HBO’s mega-hit was as popular as any show in history, but a lot of fans were seriously put off by the ending. The reasons why have been much debated — was the final season rushed? Was backlash inevitable after peoples’ expectations met with reality? It’s probably somewhere in the middle, but it definitely happened. That it did.

Later this week, the Star Wars sequel trilogy will bow out with The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars is another franchise that has weathered its share of fan blowback, particularly after The Last Jedi hit theaters in 2017. Now, all eyes are on The Rise of Skywalker. Will it further divide the fandom, or might it unite it?

First look at Richard E. Grant's new character in 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker', Allegiant General Pryde of the First Order. pic.twitter.com/opMS4ObkD5 — Lights, Camera, Pod (@LightsCameraPod) May 22, 2019

If you ask star Richard E. Grant, who plays new character Allegiant General Pryde, some backlash is inevitable. “People feel incredibly passionate and possessive about it,” he told io9. “I understand that because I have been a Star Wars fan since I was 20 years old in 1977 when I was a drama student.”

Inevitably there will be a Game of Thrones syndrome to Star Wars because you can’t please everybody all of the time. And the ending, what people want it to be and what it actually is, hopefully, for the majority of people seeing it, they will feel that they’ve had their wishes fulfilled. But inevitably there’s gonna be people that don’t feel that way. And you can’t anticipate that. You have to do what is honest and true to you. And I think that J.J. [Abrams] and [co-writer Chris Terrio] have done that to the absolute ends of their ability.

“You can’t please everyone” was something we heard a lot of before the final season of Game of Thrones aired. And of course it’s true — you can’t please everyone — but it’s hard not to read this as Grant assuming a crash position. My heart goes out to him; he’s probably afraid of people asking him about the fan reaction to Rise for the rest of his career.

Grant is very familiar with franchises, too. In addition to Star Wars, he’s also been part of Doctor Who, Downton Abbey and even Game of Thrones — he played one of the actors Arya met in Braavos in season 6; he played Fake Tywin Lannister. So this is something he’s used to.

Still, the internet has made it possible for dissatisfied fans to make their voices heard in ways that they couldn’t before. And the more emotional investment in a franchise, the louder than dissatisfaction — or celebration — can be. People are extremely invested in Star Wars.

The Rise of Skywalker lands in theaters on December 20.

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