It’s Time to Talk About the ‘Rogue One’ Ending

Two Heat Vision writers don't see eye-to-eye on the 'Star Wars' standalone movie's conclusion.

Warning: This story contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. (But given the headline, did we need to say that?)

Rogue One has Star Wars fans buzzing about its ending — and rightfully so. In a world of endless sequels and cinematic universes, it’s a rarity to have all your protagonists perish, with no hopes of popping up in another installment (unless, of course, some of them find their way into the young Han Solo movie). Here, Heat Vision‘s Aaron Couch and Graeme McMillan break it down.

Graeme McMillan: So, that Rogue One ending. I’m genuinely torn. On the one hand, I’ve been (vocally) hoping for an ending that killed everyone off for awhile, because it felt right for a movie that was being sold as the grittier Star Wars. But there’s something about the execution that left me thinking it was pretty lifeless. No pun intended.

Aaron Couch: That surprises me. I joke that you are grouchier than me when it comes to these matters — so I thought you’d be thrilled all of the heroes died! We predicted it, but I didn’t actually think Disney would have the guts to kill off its characters — and the way they did so was quite beautiful. Plus, the shot of Krennic seeing the terror of his life’s work instantly became one of my favorite Star Wars images. The ending also gives us the best understanding of the consequences of the Death Star. With Alderaan, millions of voices cry out, but we don’t see them — and the Starkiller Base in Force Awakens destroys multiple planets, but we don’t really know why we should care other than that it destroyed multiple planets. But I’m sensing you didn’t get as much out of our hereos’ sacrifices as I did?

McMillan: I really didn’t, and it’s not just because I’m dead inside and can find no joy in anything. A large part of my problem was that I didn’t really feel anything about any of the deaths with the exception of Chirrut’s, and that is mostly because of the great scene Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen had as Baze watched him die. (Chirrut and Baze OTP of the movie, I think everyone can agree, right?) Bodhi’s death seemed rushed, K-2SO’s felt unfinished (Am I the only one who felt like Alan Tudyk needed to have one last line as we saw his eyes flicker into darkness?) and the apocalyptic hug for Jyn and Cassian seemed like an unearned cliché. I’m not sure what I expected, but it… wasn’t this…?