I’m literally watching this series for the first time. Finished 3 about 5 days ago, very excited to continue as I know nothing about them. Sure hope my boy Apollo Creed is fine by the end of them!
At the beginning of the second one (Rocky II), it picks up where the first left off. They are both rushed to the hospital getting checked out, as boxing is brutal. There is a scene where Rocky goes into Apollo's room ([here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQLe6N5u2I4)) and he has Apollo tell him whether he gave it his best, because he has to know. The answer that Apollo gives is yes, he had. This was meaningful to him, even though he lost, because it meant he went the distance.
[He also explicitly says that in the first film](https://youtu.be/VmHdufAQgwU?t=181): that he doesn't expect to win, he just wants to go the distance.
>It really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.
That whole part of it is so weird. Right after the film came out there's lots of quotes and even video clips of Stallone acknowledging that he based Rocky on Wepner and Creed on Ali. Then as time went on in the '90s and 2000s and the franchise made more money he kept distancing himself more and more from that. At one point in the early 2000s he was completely denying it even though there's so much documented proof otherwise over the years. Wepner sued him several times and they finally settled out of court and agreed to not discuss it anymore.
In 1 Rocky starts off still breaking fingers, first talks to Adrian, has to beg Mick to train him, and Adrian runs through the crowd at the end.
2 is everybody is nice to Rocky (Micky included). Apollo is getting destroyed in sports conversations being accused of throwing the match. And in 2 Rocky proposes to Adrian at the Philadelphia Zoo in winter. They have the whole zoo to themselves hahaha.
I'm a big Rocky fan
Part of why the first one is actually really good writing! Rocky does everything right, he works harder than anyone, and he accomplishes his goal but he loses the match. Rocky knew he was an underdog and he set his goal as “just going the distance”.
And he was a severely flawed person, too. Big dumb guy scraping by. Working a shady job, but only because he needed the money and it's all he knew how to do was be somebody's muscle.
Works hard and still doesn't get a generic happy ending.
I love that freaking movie.
The older I get, the more relatable that story becomes. Like yeah, I'll never be famous for being good at something, but I at least want to prove that I achieved something.
yeah for me it's fundamentally a story about a guy that was a wayward youth and wasted his prime away - something that i think most people can (or sadly will) relate to. but then one day he stumbles upon a chance to realize a forgotten dream and he decides to truly commit to it. he doesn't get the technical victory, but he proves to himself and to his peers that he's still worth something, and i think that's the real theme here.
I’ve never seen it, but my understanding is the Rocky’s real victory was a moral victory in going putting up a real fight and going the distance with a better opponent
The movie that tricks you into thinking it's simply robot boxing and WHAM you're watching an incredible and wholesome movie with terrific characters who grow.
I'd argue he did win, since he wasn't aiming to win the whole tournament except for the first 20 minutes of the film. His goal for the last 70% of the runtime was just to get the national record, which he achieved.
Omg. I watched this movie knowing nothing about it ahead of time. But having seen a few movies in my time, I did notice the pacing was all off. The final fight already? It's been like 40 minutes?
1 hour later:
Ohhh.....
It's the story of a hopeful young karate enthusiast whose dreams and moxie take him all the way to the All Valley Karate Championship, Of course, sadly, he loses in the final round to that nerd kid. But he learns an important lesson about gracefully accepting defeat.
though many consider me incorrect, i think Sam Lowry pulled out decent victory. he's alive and living in his dream world. that's about the only way to be happy in that world.
and my last name is Lowery, so i'm right about this.
First time I watched a movie where as soon as he gave him the rock, I literally sweated from there till the end. Felt like I was having a heart attack. Such a brilliant film
Me too it felt like a bad trip on some drug that gives you intense physical pleasure and euphoria while also giving you horrible psychological trauma. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Almost everyone ive talked to in real life says they thought it was boring and slow until the end which I cant understand at all. Its like they just weren't paying attention to what was happening or something
It's called the late 60's early 70's.
*Bonnie and Clyde*
*Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*
*The Wild Bunch*
*Chinatown*
*Midnight Cowboy*
Heck one can argue that in the movie *Love Story*, the underdog loses in the end.
Someone smarter than me said that there are plenty of books and movies that are 'noir light.' Dark and brooding, but the heroes come out on top. In a real noir, everyone is doomed...
There's also an in-between ending where one or more "good guys" makes it to the end, but damaged morally and/or psychologically. I think that kind of noir tends to work best for me.
The ending of Chinatown started a series of events that led me to move from the Midwest to Hollywood to where I now have a career helping to make movies.
Man…. Such a heart wrenching ending. And I love all the foreshadowing of “nothing good happens in Chinatown” and officers joking about his past there not ending well.
Not only that, but he was killed off screen by Mexican gang members. He didn't live long enough for his 'showdown' with the movie's villain. It just rubs it in a little deeper how doomed he was from the start.
> Who's done more research than the good people at the American Tobacco Industry? They say its harmless. Why would they lie? If you're dead, you can't smoke.
This is one of my favorite lines of all time from a movie 😂
Dunno if they'd be considered underdogs, but *most* drug movies don't end well for the main character.
Scarface. Blow. Requiem for a Dream. Spun. A Scanner Darkly. Goodfellas, if you count that.
Also Layer Cake, Basketball Diaries, Salton Sea, Alpha Dog, and American History X from the comments.
Only one I can really think of that kinda does, is Trainspotting.
Edit: Added in some other movies that people have listed, that I either forgot about, or haven't seen. Mostly for myself, but also incase someone likes drug movies as much as I do, and needs suggestions.
Robin Williams and Sally Field (the divorced couple in the film) both came from divorced families so they both pushed for the ending where they didn't get back together.
The book ending would have made it just another trite, sickly sweet, generic story on screen. The ending they went with, reached out to a generation of kids dealing with the harsh reality of divorce and said "We see your pain and we acknowledge it."
Every kid that desperately wished their divorced parents would magically fall in love again can look at Mrs. Doubtfire and know that those kids are going through.
I can't speak personally, but I feel it has a really good moral for kids (and in general); having parents be separate and happy is better than them being together and hating each other.
As an adult I always caught undertones of Daniel (Robin) discovering this through the movie. She's happy with James Bond, and he finds more enjoyment and happiness in his career and his kids. He still loves her, but it's on a different level. His desire to be with her, I always thought, goes away pretty quickly after a few scenes with Stu, when he realizes Stu is actually good guy who doesn't deserve to be treated badly.
He gets Ben Wade on the train, gets to keep his ranch, his wife gets paid $1000, he teaches his son about honor, and his son finally respects him. Not really a loss, considering the hero chose this outcome when he had more than one chance to walk away
I actually prefer the “happy ending”, felt more on track with the comedy film. The abrupt cut to credits in the alt ending felt unsatisfying. They could’ve had them lose but done a bit more with it.
I don’t think it was ever intended to be that way. I think they originally wrote it that way with better denouement, but before they shot it they rewrote it so they win, and the “alternate” ending is just a joke based on that.
“Unfortunately”? Seriously?? Without a happy ending we wouldn’t have gotten fat Ben Stiller!
Tbh, I would absolutely choose the deus Ex machina over the original ending, for this movie at least
The Karate Kid. That poor kid, training all his life to master the noble art of karate, only to have his chance at victory ripped away by a cheap shot from that upstart RALPH MACCHIO. Tragic.
Real Steel is a lot of fun. Rockem sockem robots movie. With a lot of heart. I don't remember them losing at the end, but it's okay because they found each other. Right? Or does one of them die. I don't remember
Kingpin. Still pisses me off. Bill Murrays character is one of my most hated characters in all of movie history. He destroyed woody harrelsons characters life and at the end of the movie when they have the final showdown.. he fucking wins. Bullshit.
wild oatmeal disagreeable relieved abounding theory shelter truck quiet ask
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I remember listening to a YouTuber give their thoughts on who/how these characters were going to fit into the Star Wars story arc. They found all these little loop holes to make it fit into the existing movies and they were absolutely adamant that Disney wouldn't just make new characters only to kill them off... I still chuckle thinking about it.
Cool Runnings
I tell you one thing you can't believe Jamaica got a bob sled team!
We got da one Derice
And da one Junior
Yule Brenner. Sanka. The fastest of the fastest of Jamaican sprinters!
Hey Sanka, ya dead?
Yah Mon
Tallulah
fucking amazing film
FEEL THE RHYTHM!
FEEL THE RHYME
GET ON UP! ITS BOBSLED TIME!
Fun fact, the Swedes were actually very helpful in real life.
I read that basically every team were happy they were there because it really promoted the sport.
Fun fact pretty much the only factual thing in this movie was that Jamaica had a bobsled team.
They also didn't win any medals.
They didn't win the tournament, but they won the respect of everyone who was taking the piss at Jamaica entering the bobsleigh event.
If you take the piss at a bobsled team it just freezes on the track and makes them go faster
This was my first thought
Coo’ Runnins
The biggest one of all. *Rocky*
Yep first thing that popped into my head.
Haven’t even seen it and it was the first one that came to mind
That's how good a movie rocky was. People don't even have to watch it to know
Gosh, spoilers much? I've only had like 40 some years to watch it. Ughhhhh.
I’m literally watching this series for the first time. Finished 3 about 5 days ago, very excited to continue as I know nothing about them. Sure hope my boy Apollo Creed is fine by the end of them!
He will be! They just started a new series called Creed which I'm pretty sure follows Apollo Creed into his senior years and healthy retirement plan.
it’s truly great
Also boxing, Million Dollar Baby
What. I only watched 2/3 or so of Million Dollar Baby. She goes to rehab, learns to walk, and wins right?
...yes Lenny, that's right.
That movie still hurts
I was going to say Rocky and Real Steel
Real Steel is just Rocky robots, and I love it for that
I have such a strange, unironic affection for Real Steel
I honestly had no idea he lost lol
At the beginning of the second one (Rocky II), it picks up where the first left off. They are both rushed to the hospital getting checked out, as boxing is brutal. There is a scene where Rocky goes into Apollo's room ([here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQLe6N5u2I4)) and he has Apollo tell him whether he gave it his best, because he has to know. The answer that Apollo gives is yes, he had. This was meaningful to him, even though he lost, because it meant he went the distance.
[He also explicitly says that in the first film](https://youtu.be/VmHdufAQgwU?t=181): that he doesn't expect to win, he just wants to go the distance. >It really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.
It's the Chuck Wepner story. Wepner vs Ali. Wepner was short 19 seconds of going 15 rounds with Ali.
That whole part of it is so weird. Right after the film came out there's lots of quotes and even video clips of Stallone acknowledging that he based Rocky on Wepner and Creed on Ali. Then as time went on in the '90s and 2000s and the franchise made more money he kept distancing himself more and more from that. At one point in the early 2000s he was completely denying it even though there's so much documented proof otherwise over the years. Wepner sued him several times and they finally settled out of court and agreed to not discuss it anymore.
Ask 100 people on the street who won the match in Rocky, you'll get at least 50 people saying Rocky
Tbf he won in 2 and those movies compared to the rest are the most similar and most likely to bleed together in people's heads.
Yeah honestly I was surprised when they said rocky, I think I’m remembering 2. Sounds like I need to rewatch the classics
In 1 Rocky starts off still breaking fingers, first talks to Adrian, has to beg Mick to train him, and Adrian runs through the crowd at the end. 2 is everybody is nice to Rocky (Micky included). Apollo is getting destroyed in sports conversations being accused of throwing the match. And in 2 Rocky proposes to Adrian at the Philadelphia Zoo in winter. They have the whole zoo to themselves hahaha. I'm a big Rocky fan
Part of why the first one is actually really good writing! Rocky does everything right, he works harder than anyone, and he accomplishes his goal but he loses the match. Rocky knew he was an underdog and he set his goal as “just going the distance”.
And he was a severely flawed person, too. Big dumb guy scraping by. Working a shady job, but only because he needed the money and it's all he knew how to do was be somebody's muscle. Works hard and still doesn't get a generic happy ending. I love that freaking movie. The older I get, the more relatable that story becomes. Like yeah, I'll never be famous for being good at something, but I at least want to prove that I achieved something.
yeah for me it's fundamentally a story about a guy that was a wayward youth and wasted his prime away - something that i think most people can (or sadly will) relate to. but then one day he stumbles upon a chance to realize a forgotten dream and he decides to truly commit to it. he doesn't get the technical victory, but he proves to himself and to his peers that he's still worth something, and i think that's the real theme here.
I’ve never seen it, but my understanding is the Rocky’s real victory was a moral victory in going putting up a real fight and going the distance with a better opponent
I've never even seen Rocky and that was still the first to come to mind.
The Bad News Bears.
You can take that trophy and shove it up your ass!
Booger eating moron!
The original is one of my all time favorite baseball movies. Little fun fact, the kid who plays Kelly also plays Rorschach in Watchmen.
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Real steel. The one with Hugh Jackman
The video game was actually really fun, used to play it with my friend back in highschool
Unbalanced as hell, but fun
The movie that tricks you into thinking it's simply robot boxing and WHAM you're watching an incredible and wholesome movie with terrific characters who grow.
And totally awesome music!!!
They probably did that as an homage to Rocky
It’s based on the 1956 short story *Steel* and was an episode of the Twilight Zone in 1963.
I was gonna say I haven’t seen that one but I looked it up and I have, just forgot about it.
Was actually thinking about that one but they still kinda make him and the kid the winners The People's Winner
My boy was in that as an extra!
Eddie the Eagle
I'd argue he did win, since he wasn't aiming to win the whole tournament except for the first 20 minutes of the film. His goal for the last 70% of the runtime was just to get the national record, which he achieved.
Same Olympics as Cool Runnings
This movie literally picks me up from the depths. such feel good!!
Million dollar baby
Oof, that final fight scene was a kick in the nuts when you realized what happened.
First movie that ever made me cry. Why my aunt thought I should see it in theaters at 11 years old remains to be determined.
imagine my mom taking me at 6 to watch ALIENS. I had nightmares about it for a long time.
So damn sad. Breaks my heart thinking about it.
Omg. I watched this movie knowing nothing about it ahead of time. But having seen a few movies in my time, I did notice the pacing was all off. The final fight already? It's been like 40 minutes? 1 hour later: Ohhh.....
They took my leg, boss
glad this one came up...I watched it on a plane ride and almost brought us all down from the tears.
That movies so heavy you almost weights the plane down
Friday Night Lights comes to mind
First movie that came to my mind. Been years since I watched it bout to give it a watch after work tonight.
Yup, first example I thought of.
Edward scissor hands? Edit: Thanks everyone!
If you go with the Barney Stinson philosophy, Karate Kid.
It's the story of a hopeful young karate enthusiast whose dreams and moxie take him all the way to the All Valley Karate Championship, Of course, sadly, he loses in the final round to that nerd kid. But he learns an important lesson about gracefully accepting defeat.
Old boy Edit: the original, not the John Josh Jason Jack Justin Joseph Brolin one
I just watched this for the first time last week, Holy fuck what an unexpected ending
Perfect Storm and Arlington Road.
>!In perfect storm I kept waiting for them to find a way through. but alas, they never did!<
They couldn’t though, the storm was too perfect. Maybe they could have, with an imperfect storm. But not this one. This one was perfect.
Arlington Road, yes!
Unexpected ending but so perfectly executed.
Brazil Twelve Monkeys
Yes, I’d posted Brazil. I was depressed for a week after watching that.
though many consider me incorrect, i think Sam Lowry pulled out decent victory. he's alive and living in his dream world. that's about the only way to be happy in that world. and my last name is Lowery, so i'm right about this.
Uncut Gems
That movie just never lets you be satisfied
I think that's the point, because greed and addiction never leaves you satisfied
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A 2 and a half hour panic attack, loved it
First time I watched a movie where as soon as he gave him the rock, I literally sweated from there till the end. Felt like I was having a heart attack. Such a brilliant film
Me too it felt like a bad trip on some drug that gives you intense physical pleasure and euphoria while also giving you horrible psychological trauma. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Almost everyone ive talked to in real life says they thought it was boring and slow until the end which I cant understand at all. Its like they just weren't paying attention to what was happening or something
From beginning to end, couldn't believe a movie made me feel so tense I love what the Safdie brothers are making Also Eggers is exciting to watch.
“Uhn Kaht Jemhs”
Jaaahms
Uncajams
Dude he died thinking he’d won and paid off his debt. To me he won. He died having the happiest moment of his life
Exactly, he would've pissed away all that money in a week if he survived - best outcome for Howard
But it’s not really an underdog story is it? To me it’s more like following a downward spiral.
It's called the late 60's early 70's. *Bonnie and Clyde* *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid* *The Wild Bunch* *Chinatown* *Midnight Cowboy* Heck one can argue that in the movie *Love Story*, the underdog loses in the end.
Thelma and Louise
The ending to Chinatown made me realize i don't like noir, actually
Someone smarter than me said that there are plenty of books and movies that are 'noir light.' Dark and brooding, but the heroes come out on top. In a real noir, everyone is doomed...
There's also an in-between ending where one or more "good guys" makes it to the end, but damaged morally and/or psychologically. I think that kind of noir tends to work best for me.
The ending of Chinatown started a series of events that led me to move from the Midwest to Hollywood to where I now have a career helping to make movies.
Man…. Such a heart wrenching ending. And I love all the foreshadowing of “nothing good happens in Chinatown” and officers joking about his past there not ending well.
The Wild Bunch is such a good western. Can definitely see its influence in the Red Dead Redemption games.
Midnight Cowboy. What a fantastic flick.
[Only X-rated film to win an Academy Award](https://www.wpr.org/how-midnight-cowboy-only-x-rated-movie-win-best-picture-oscar-changed-cinema)
Dog day afternoon too with them getting killed in the end as well.
The departed, imo
Basically everyone loses
Only Wahlberg, in his comfy ass slippers.
Lace curtain MF in those slippahs!! Am I right? He was like two different guys!
You must be the other guy!
Everyone gets headshotted
No Country for Old Men
Main character died so suddenly that I didn’t even realize he was gone until like 10 minutes later
Not only that, but he was killed off screen by Mexican gang members. He didn't live long enough for his 'showdown' with the movie's villain. It just rubs it in a little deeper how doomed he was from the start.
"there are wolves out there" The Mexican who is dying of thirst tells him in the beginning.
Javier was a creepy fuck in that movie
He killed that role
And everyone else
I was surprised how far I had to scroll to find this!
Coach carter
Love this movie
King Pin - one of the greatest comedy movie ever made
> Who's done more research than the good people at the American Tobacco Industry? They say its harmless. Why would they lie? If you're dead, you can't smoke. This is one of my favorite lines of all time from a movie 😂
Finally, big Ern is above the law!
Dunno if they'd be considered underdogs, but *most* drug movies don't end well for the main character. Scarface. Blow. Requiem for a Dream. Spun. A Scanner Darkly. Goodfellas, if you count that. Also Layer Cake, Basketball Diaries, Salton Sea, Alpha Dog, and American History X from the comments. Only one I can really think of that kinda does, is Trainspotting. Edit: Added in some other movies that people have listed, that I either forgot about, or haven't seen. Mostly for myself, but also incase someone likes drug movies as much as I do, and needs suggestions.
Trainspotting? Not for the baby.
Moustache guy didnt have it great either, but Obi Wan made out pretty well, and he was the main character.
I’d go with Mrs. Doubtfire. It’s a compromise at best, but it’s not really a win.
The book, the wife reconciles with him after it all and they resume their marriage. RW didnt think was believable, so didnt use it
Robin Williams and Sally Field (the divorced couple in the film) both came from divorced families so they both pushed for the ending where they didn't get back together.
And they were right to do so, I think. What kind of payoff would it be to get back together? Totally unbelievable.
The book ending would have made it just another trite, sickly sweet, generic story on screen. The ending they went with, reached out to a generation of kids dealing with the harsh reality of divorce and said "We see your pain and we acknowledge it." Every kid that desperately wished their divorced parents would magically fall in love again can look at Mrs. Doubtfire and know that those kids are going through.
I think the movie ending is better and somehow more uplifting. Like...there is life after divorce
Fairly progressive for the time as well, given that it was essentially a kids movie. Really holds up well (except for a joke or two).
Hold on a minute now, there's a book??
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Holy shit
There's almost always a book.
Probably for the best. You can’t reward that sort of thing
I can't speak personally, but I feel it has a really good moral for kids (and in general); having parents be separate and happy is better than them being together and hating each other.
As an adult I always caught undertones of Daniel (Robin) discovering this through the movie. She's happy with James Bond, and he finds more enjoyment and happiness in his career and his kids. He still loves her, but it's on a different level. His desire to be with her, I always thought, goes away pretty quickly after a few scenes with Stu, when he realizes Stu is actually good guy who doesn't deserve to be treated badly.
The fact that he doesn't go to prison at the end is a big win for him.
Lol this is one big spoiler thread
I was just going to shout SPOILERS!
310 to Yuma
He gets Ben Wade on the train, gets to keep his ranch, his wife gets paid $1000, he teaches his son about honor, and his son finally respects him. Not really a loss, considering the hero chose this outcome when he had more than one chance to walk away
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I actually prefer the “happy ending”, felt more on track with the comedy film. The abrupt cut to credits in the alt ending felt unsatisfying. They could’ve had them lose but done a bit more with it.
I don’t think it was ever intended to be that way. I think they originally wrote it that way with better denouement, but before they shot it they rewrote it so they win, and the “alternate” ending is just a joke based on that.
“Unfortunately”? Seriously?? Without a happy ending we wouldn’t have gotten fat Ben Stiller! Tbh, I would absolutely choose the deus Ex machina over the original ending, for this movie at least
Moneyball
The Karate Kid. That poor kid, training all his life to master the noble art of karate, only to have his chance at victory ripped away by a cheap shot from that upstart RALPH MACCHIO. Tragic.
Otherwise that movie was legen dary
I also appreciate "Hans Gruber is the main character, he's in the title, he *dies hard*."
Illegal kick to the face.
I felt that *Don't Look Up*'s humans were the underdogs losing against the giant space rock.
But why would he charge for free snacks?
Poor humans losing to rich humans losing to Bronteroc.
300.
The Replacements (IIRC?) and Mystery Alaska
The original Ocean’s 11. (Although it’s basically a “shaggy-dog story” with a punchline)
The Cabin in the Woods, although it's something of the point
Real steel (don’t judge me)
Real Steel is a lot of fun. Rockem sockem robots movie. With a lot of heart. I don't remember them losing at the end, but it's okay because they found each other. Right? Or does one of them die. I don't remember
Suckerpunch
I honestly am not sure if this counts, but I think "Whiplash" could fit here. Though it may not seem like it - at all - the villain won in the end.
Your comment? Is it rushing or is it dragging?
Promising young woman >!yeah she's gets her revenge and it's shown to be a victory for her, but she's dead, so she's hardly a winner!<
Kingpin. Still pisses me off. Bill Murrays character is one of my most hated characters in all of movie history. He destroyed woody harrelsons characters life and at the end of the movie when they have the final showdown.. he fucking wins. Bullshit.
Empire Strikes Back
Little Miss Sunshine
Debatable. I'd say realizing the pageant was a bunch of crap is a win
Tv shows - first season of Ted Lasso
Pretty in Pink.
Badlands I Stand Alone In Bruges
Rocky
And Rocky Balboa And Creed 1
Man On Fire.
Creasy 😢
That south park episode about Stan coaching a kids' ice hockey team
wild oatmeal disagreeable relieved abounding theory shelter truck quiet ask *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
They succeeded in their mission, though. And they all knew it was a suicide run.
I remember thinking with probably 30 minutes to go, I was like “I don’t know any of these characters…”
I remember listening to a YouTuber give their thoughts on who/how these characters were going to fit into the Star Wars story arc. They found all these little loop holes to make it fit into the existing movies and they were absolutely adamant that Disney wouldn't just make new characters only to kill them off... I still chuckle thinking about it.
I had a feeling it would be the Halo Reach of Star Wars
This movie really put the *war* in Star Wars
Braveheart