Well you probably arent going to give intel to someone you've just demoted, especially when there is a leak aboard. I know a lot of people have a problem with the Dern character but I found her alright - agree it wouldve been great to give Ackbar the kamikaze send off.
As for lectures, its in keeping with the long winded intergalactic trade economic spiels of the prequels.
I'm not defending TLJ. There were a few 4th wall moments - prank call, laser swords etc. I just think 2 movies in of the last trilogy and not a whole lot has happened. I blame TFA for that. There was no reason to rehash plot lines and action sequences. I mean the stupid Snoke diversion was almost as bad as the casino bit. Meanwhile there has been no development of Rey or Kylo. They are literally the same as they were at the beginning.
Basically how I see it. Both the new Star Wars movies are acceptable popcorn movies (of course Star Wars should be better than that).
The problem is absolutely nothing really happens. Some characters we all love get killed, which makes sense because they're getting on/passing on IRL, but it doesn't advance or even help the story. You have so many diversions that would be fine if they were a sub-plot to something worthwhile, but they just aren't.
For eg I think Kylo has the makings of a genuinely excellent character. He's a rage filled outcast with superpowers trying to find his place in the world. He's full of self-loathing and self-doubt and he wants to be something he knows he can't. But they've just done nothing with him.
Both movies have been basically a series of random, barely interconnected events in space with no real effort at creating a coherent plot.
