I’ll admit I’m late on the TLJ-critiquing bus ride. It’s been almost a week now since I was finally able to see it—it’s been over a month since it has been released—and yet, I can’t stop thinking about it. I went in, with conflicted emotions, fully aware of the things people have said, of what professionals had said, of what my own friends had said, but after the viewing. . .

I was in awe.

"The Last Jedi" is a visually-stunning, immersive, and breathtaking film, which is something I’m sure you’ve already heard, but it really, really is. It introduced us to brand new landscapes, places, creatures, and characters, with a riveting soundtrack to top it all off.

I was not once bored with what was happening on screen and each time I had to run to the bathroom (it has quite an impressive runtime), I bolted out of the theatre out of fear I’d miss something crucial. The effect that this film had on me is not easy to put into words and the exact reason why I’m still hanging on to it a week later is that the reviews were right.

Yes, you heard me, those conflicted emotions are not without valid cause.

This film exceeds in storytelling. The perspectives change, we spend equal time with each character, and that makes it impossible to get lost. Some might say this is chaotic or unorganized, but when it comes to a massive franchise like Star Wars, I think it’s a plus. Where the film fails, is its character development.

We’re still in the right plotline, we haven’t even moved that far through time, we meet Rey again right where we left her and The Resistance is escaping from the First Order who found them at their base, which also adds up. Yet, our character’s are left behind. Trampled on, stagnant, however, you want to put it, they are. That’s why the audience is conflicted.

"The Force Awakens" gripped its viewers by the collar and said, “Look at these characters, memorize them, love them,” and when "The Last Jedi" came around, that’s what everyone had done. People were ready to see their favorite characters progress and that did happen... sort of.

Poe Dameron’s trails are clearly shaping him to be the leader of The Resistance, to take General Leia’s irreplaceable position in the future. Finn finally stood firm in his fight against the First Order, abandoning the thought that he must run away with Rey, and instead becoming the “big deal” in The Resistance he claimed to be in the first movie. Rey did fine tune her skills and learn how to use the Force, just like she was supposed to.

Yet, her parents are no one’s? Is Poe creating a mutiny to accomplish his plan? Finn is developing a romance with Rose (who is the sweetest, most lovable and badass character I have ever seen) even though he took a lightsaber to the back to protect Rey? These changes aren’t horrible, but they make no sense. Rose Tico, in particular, is introduced to us in a fabulous way.

She is locking up the cowards who dare abandon their own team and she’s the sister of Paige Tico, the one who sacrificed herself to get rid of the dreadnought in the opening sequence. That is a crazy good character—a crazy good, female character of color. She even has a vendetta against the bourgeoisie, which she gets to satisfy within the same film. Yet, they throw her into a romance.

Rey’s parentage is hinted at constantly in the first film, but now, her parent’s no one’s after fans guessing and theorizing for two years. Finn’s love interest could easily have become Poe or Rey, from the interactions in the last film, and yet after one trip and a few moments of bonding, Rose and he kiss after she saves him. As you can see, these things don’t add up.

One character who does get really good development is Kylo Ren. This back and forth of good and bad disappears by the end, despite Rey’s efforts, and he finally takes his position as the BIG and the BAD villain man of this series.

Except he’s not that big and he’s not that bad. That’s why Luke’s parting words involve the word ‘kid,’ and Kylo still has temper tantrums that involve force-choking. His time on screen is fantastic and entertaining, but if he needed all that time to just convey that he was officially part of the dark, is another discussion entirely.

At this point, this article is becoming a little messy, but hopefully, you understand what I’m trying to convey.

The film is good. From Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo’s heartbreaking sacrifice, to General Leia’s use of the force, to the entire Canto Bight (which I did enjoy), to the presence of the Praetorian Guards and the fight sequence with them at the end, to the return and dismissal of Luke Skywalker, and the Yoda cameo.

The number of things to analyze and question, I have not even begun to graze. It’s all fantastic. If someone were to place it in front of me as a standalone and say “this is Star Wars,” it would be phenomenal and leave me wanting more. As the centerpiece of a trilogy, it just doesn’t accomplish all the boxes on a checklist.

Don’t panic, it’s not irredeemable and the quality of the film sets it up for an easy fix. The overall message is of hope and faith and strength and all those great things people want out of a "Star Wars" movie, the only problem is that it was given a push towards the rocky path and not the smooth one. Whether that was done by mistake or out of selfish reason, is meant for an even longer discussion.

Either way, thanks,"Last Jedi," you’re a stunning mess all wrapped up together and I will be watching you again and again... and again.