The Star Wars sequel trilogy reintroduced iconic and beloved characters alongside a roster of new heroes and villains. With the fate of the galaxy seemingly always at stake, some of the characters in the films didn't get the development they deserved, while others flourished in their narrative arcs.
The original trio was forced to reassess their individual purpose in the galaxy as they were thrust into another war, while newer characters like Rey and Finn found themselves part of something bigger and had to learn on the job. Whilst each character experienced some growth throughout the films, some character arcs proved to be better than others.
Chewbacca
Some of Chewie's most memorable moments came in the sequel trilogy, but he didn't experience as much character growth as others. His arc mainly consisted of his continued loyalty to his and Han's beloved ship, and dealing with the death of his friend while welcoming Rey and the crew onboard.
Chewie proved to be a loyal companion, accompanying Rey on the journey to find Luke and helping her save the day with their arrival at the battle of Crait. Without Han, Chewie remained on the sidelines slightly, which meant his characterization at least stayed consistent. However, his place in the Resistance did pay off, as he finally got his long-awaited medal of honor at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, making for a moving conclusion.
Rose
Rose's character arc throughout The Last Jedi was an interesting one, but her lack of screen-time in the trilogy's final installment sadly stunted her development. When she was first introduced, it was clear that Rose was a feisty yet kind person who was ionate about the Resistance's cause and all it stood for.
As the film progressed, Rose's resentment towards war and those who profited from it made for an intriguing and vastly different character trajectory that hadn't been done before, which only got better when she stopped Finn from sacrificing himself on Crait. Overall, Rose's arc was respectable, but she deserved more exploration into her story.
Leia
Leia started out the sequel trilogy in an already strong position as General of the Resistance, but even she had room to grow. When first seen in The Force Awakens, Leia was weathered by the ongoing war against the First Order and was mourning the loss of her son to the dark side.
Yet, through the following two films, she regained the sense of hope she had when she fought against the Empire, and inspired those around her greatly. Her guidance of Poe in The Last Jedi and training of Rey in The Rise of Skywalker showed the immense strength that had built over the trilogy, and the valiant sacrifice she made to reach out to Ben made for a bittersweet ending for a beloved character and a sentimental character arc.
Han
Like Leia, Han was burdened by the loss of Ben and reluctantly reed the Resistance in the fight, hoping that he may be able to bring his son home. Similar to his trajectory in the original trilogy, Han was begrudged by the position he found himself in, but appeared more willing this time around.
Throughout The Force Awakens, Han's character growth was apparent as he warmed to Rey and Finn and proved to be a great leader. Despite dying at Kylo's hand, Han's approach towards his son and courageous attempts to persuade him to come home stayed with Kylo in a poignant way. Appearing as a memory to Kylo in The Rise of Skywalker, Han's moving message to his son finished off his character arc in a powerful way.
Hux
Even though fans couldn't decide whether to hate Hux or feel bad for him, he did have an impressive character trajectory throughout the sequels. Introduced in The Force Awakens as a volatile and aggressive General, Hux was hyper-focused on bringing down the Resistance and making sure that the First Order insignia reigned supreme.
Yet, his continued mistreatment by his superiors led Hux down a different path, and by The Rise of Skywalker, he revealed that he was working as a mole for the Resistance. His hatred of Kylo Ren shifted his priorities massively and made for an interesting character arc as Hux shaped his anger into something useful, even if it did end up with his anti-climactic death.
Poe
As coined by iral Holdo, Poe was very much a "trigger happy flyboy," whose main objective was to jump in his X-Wing and defeat the enemy, at whatever cost. However, as the war raged on and the Resistance thinned out, Poe was forced to mature and grow into a leader, and he fit the role well.
Throughout The Last Jedi, the change in Poe's character was subtle yet powerful as he led the Resistance strategically rather than impulsively, even gaining the approval of Leia. By The Rise of Skywalker, tragedy forced him to grow once more, and he took on the role of General with a learned confidence that allowed for him to ask for help when he needed it. From a hot-headed pilot to a courageous Resistance hero, Poe's character arc was one of the best.
Finn
While it has been debated that Finn was wasted in the sequels, there's no denying that the feats he achieved were commendable. His character arc followed his magnificent transformation from a Stormtrooper trapped in an oppressive regime, to a heroic figure who helped to lead the Resistance to victory and defeat the person who had oppressed him.
Throughout the trilogy, Finn always acted with comion and bravery, even when he doubted himself, and it made for a truly great development in his character. The end of his arc was one of the best, as he got to lead a battalion of defected Stormtroopers into battle in The Rise of Skywalker as a General of the Resistance, which was truly inspiring.
Luke
Luke had one of the best character arcs in the original Star Wars trilogy, and the same can be said for his character development through the sequels. When fans first got to see Luke again in The Last Jedi, it seemed he had lost all hope of winning the war, as he was too encumbered by the fall of his Jedi academy and his failing of Ben.
However, with the help of Yoda, Luke was once more reminded to have faith in the force, resulting in a truly inspiring sacrifice in his Force projection on Crait. Luke's showdown with Kylo saw him forgive his nephew's past mistakes and his own, and showed his personal growth. With his appearance to Rey as a force ghost in the final film, Luke's character arc was wrapped up in a well-rounded way that called back to the beloved Jedi from a time before.
Rey
Rey's character growth was at the heart of the sequel trilogy, as she was thrust into a new world and forced to find her place in it. From her lowly start as a scavenger with no family to call her own to becoming the last Jedi with an adopted legacy name, Rey's evolution into a hero was a powerful and moving tale.
With all that she achieved and overcame, Rey never lost sight of who she was and instead grew with the changes that happened around her. Despite the weight of the galaxy resting on her shoulders, she remained comionate, and even when she lost her way in The Rise of Skywalker, she rallied and showed her heroism. Her arc was a moving one, that showed the origin of a hero in an irable way.
Kylo/Ben
Kylo Ren's redemption arc over the course of the sequel trilogy made for the best character development overall. His dramatic transformation from villain to hero was an epic saga that echoed one of the main messages of Star Wars: no one is ever really gone.
While he proved to be a menacing villain at first, The Last Jedi saw him begin to change, as he formed a bond with Rey and defeated Snoke. By the final film, it seemed that all of his character development was lost, but with the help of his parents, he renounced his darkness and finally turned back to the light. His bittersweet sacrifice on Exegol may have been a sad end for his character, but the fact that Ben Solo had returned at all made for a powerful story.
