It’s been almost four months since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released, closing the book on Disney’s “Sequel Trilogy” that began in 2015, as well as the overarching “Skywalker Saga” that comprises nearly every Star Wars movie since 1977. To say that the results were divisive is an understatement. Despite grossing more than $1 billion, the film was met with a tepid critical reception and continued online fan discord that began with 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that a new narrative is emerging around the Sequel Trilogy about what went wrong or who is to blame for a general dissatisfaction with the overall effect of the three movies. In this context, film editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey were put in the unenviable position of discussing their thoughts of The Last Jedi while appearing on the Mission: Impossible podcast, Light the Fuse. Brandon, who was an editor on both J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker, and Markey, who worked on The Force Awakens, have impressive credentials between them that also include Super 8, Star Trek (2009), and Mission: Impossible III. All of which were directed by Abrams. However, what piques interest is when they’re asked about the recent “Skywalker” movie that Rian Johnson instead directed…

After an awkward beat when the podcasters bring The Last Jedi up, Brandon said, “It was just a different take on the Star Wars saga. And to Rian’s credit, he stuck to what he wanted to do, and he wanted to deconstruct the film and open it up to go a different direction. That is the film he made. I know it is controversial, but isn’t that kind of good in a way?” Brandon did add though, “That’s why I feel very much in hindsight that the trilogy, the last part of the trilogy, needed one vision.”

Markey was far more blunt: “I couldn’t agree more. It’s very strange to have the second film so consciously undo the storytelling of the first one. I’m sorry that’s what it felt like.” However, Markey disputes that The Rise of Skywalker tried to undo The Last Jedi.