Star Wars is a franchise we love for its epic stories, memorable characters, and iconic moments. But let’s be honest—not everything has hit the mark.
Over the years, there have been decisions in the movies and shows that left us scratching our heads, sparking endless debates among fans.
Whether it’s a plot twist that didn’t quite land, a character arc that felt off, or a storyline that clashed with the galaxy’s established lore, we’ve all had those moments where we wished we could hit the “uncanon” button.
Here are five moments fans often wish had been left out of Star Wars canon.
Table of Contents
1. Surviving Lightsaber Stabs and Overusing Force Sensitivity
Lightsabers are iconic in Star Wars, known for their lethality and precision. So, when characters like Reva and Sabine survive direct lightsaber strikes, it feels like it undermines the danger these weapons represent.
Reva’s survival in Obi-Wan Kenobi after being stabbed by Vader twice, and Sabine’s seemingly minor injury in Ahsoka, left many fans questioning the stakes of such confrontations.
Additionally, Sabine’s sudden Force sensitivity is another controversial point.
She’s a beloved character with a rich story rooted in her Mandalorian heritage, engineering brilliance, and combat skills.
Giving her the Force felt unnecessary to many fans, as it shifted her narrative into more familiar territory rather than letting her stand out as a unique non-Force user wielding a lightsaber.
Simpler fixes, like having Sabine use her Mandalorian jetpack or showcasing teamwork to board Thrawn’s ship, would preserve the integrity of her character.
And for Reva, a more definitive end at Vader’s hands could have added weight to the tragedy of her arc.
Not every character needs to survive or wield the Force to be memorable—sometimes their individuality is what makes them shine.
2. Palpatine’s Return
Palpatine’s return in The Rise of Skywalker remains one of the most controversial choices in the Star Wars saga.
After his apparent death in Return of the Jedi, where he was thrown down a reactor shaft and the Death Star exploded, his sudden reappearance felt like a curveball that undid the finality of the original trilogy’s conclusion.
Darth Vader’s redemption and sacrifice to destroy the Emperor were pivotal moments in Star Wars.
Palpatine’s return not only diminished that impact but also introduced a host of questions that the movie never fully answered.
For many fans, the idea of Palpatine staying dead would preserve the emotional weight of the original trilogy and allow new villains, like Kylo Ren or Snoke, to take center stage.
It’s no wonder that this is one plot point many would gladly remove from the canon.
3. Snoke’s Role Feels Pointless
Snoke’s introduction in The Force Awakens made him out to be a mysterious and powerful new villain, one that many fans expected to play a significant role in the sequels.
His ominous presence, cryptic dialogue, and control over Kylo Ren set him up as a major force in the galaxy.
But by the time The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker rolled around, it became clear that Snoke was little more than a placeholder.
He was abruptly killed off in The Last Jedi with no explanation of his origins, only for The Rise of Skywalker to casually reveal that he was a creation of Palpatine all along.
If Palpatine was going to be the ultimate villain, his return should have been set up from the very beginning.
Building up Palpatine throughout the trilogy would have made his comeback feel earned, rather than an afterthought.
By reducing Snoke to a puppet with no meaningful backstory, the sequels wasted what could have been an intriguing character and left fans scratching their heads.
It’s a plot thread many of us would gladly rewrite—or uncanon entirely.
4. The Rise of Skywalker as a Whole
For many fans, The Rise of Skywalker represents the most polarizing entry in the Star Wars saga.
While some enjoyed its fast-paced action and callbacks to the original trilogy, others saw it as a chaotic finale that tried to wrap up too many storylines while introducing even more unanswered questions.
The movie’s biggest criticism is its lack of cohesion with the rest of the sequel trilogy.
Key plot points, like Palpatine’s sudden return, Rey’s lineage, and even the concept of Force healing, seemed rushed and disconnected from what came before.
Characters like Finn and Rose were sidelined, and the movie’s attempts to tie up loose ends often felt unearned or underdeveloped.
5. Rey Being a Palpatine
For many fans, the reveal that Rey is a Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker was one of the most divisive moments in the sequel trilogy.
After The Last Jedi built up the idea that Rey was a nobody—someone who came from nothing but could still become a great hero—this twist felt like a step backward.
Suddenly, her power was tied to her lineage rather than her own determination and strength.
The idea of Rey being “just a nobody” resonated with so many of us because it made her story relatable and inspiring.
It showed that greatness could come from anywhere, even the most humble beginnings.
By making her a Palpatine, it not only shifted her arc but also raised a slew of unanswered questions about how Palpatine’s bloodline even existed in the first place.