‘Star Wars’ Fans Thank Rian Johnson: Here Are the Most Touching Tweets

#thankyourianjohnson trended on Twitter on April 6, 2020. The Rian Johnson gratitude hashtag first trended on December 23, 2019, shortly after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker came out. Fans of Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi thanked him for his contributions to the franchise, after finding disappointment in J.J. Abrams’ sequel. 

Enough fans tweeted #thankyourianjohnson to get it trending again on April 6. Here are some of the most touching tweets of the latest round.

Fans appreciated Rian Johnson’s attention to female characters in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’

This mother praised The Last Jedi’s value to herself and her daughters. “#thankyourianjohnson for making my daughters and I feel not just welcome, but seen and valued as Star Wars fans,” she wrote. “It was wonderful while it lasted.”

This user appreciated the agency Johnson gave Rey (Daisy Ridley) in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. “#thankyourianjohnson for making a beautiful film that doesn’t pander to the needs of fanboys and shows that Rey is not a ‘vessel for Luke and Leia’ but her own person that is strong while still being allowed to show her emotions and not just a pure being to replace Ben,” she wrote.

This user thanked Johnson for creating new original female Star Wars characters. “#thankyourianjohnson for introducing us characters such as Rose Tico & Admiral Amilyn Holdo,” @StarkillersAlley wrote. “And for creating a friendship between Leia and Holdo.”

This user wrote, “#thankyourianjohnson for making me feel like Star Wars is for girls too.”

‘Star Wars’ fans thanked Rian Johnson for bringing vulnerability to ‘The Last Jedi’

Star Wars isn’t all about lightsabers and space ships. These fans appreciated the emotional depth Johnson brought to The Last Jedi.

This user thanked Johnson for letting Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) be vulnerable. “#thankyourianjohnson for making Ben destroy his mask, for treating him as a human being and not a machine,” @driverridleysolo wrote. “Ben’s conflict and vulnerability was portrayed perfectly.”

This user felt for Kylo. “#thankyourianjohnson for giving Ben Solo a personality,” @TaylorisaReylo wrote. “He’s not some monster; he’s a victim and you showed us that.”

This user wrote, “#thankyourianjohnson for showing us that it is okay to be vulnerable and that no matter what happens we are never alone.”

This user appreciated Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)’s vulnerability too. “#thankyourianjohnson for giving him depth, making him human, and giving him the most real, beautiful, and heroic ending we could possibly have hoped for,” she wrote.

These fans thanked Rian Johnson for moving ‘Star Wars’ forward

Some of Johnson’s decisions in The Last Jedi were controversial among Star Wars fans. Luke Skywalker as a disgruntled recluse betrayed some. Kylo’s reveal about Rey’s parents was a sticking point too. If you liked those developments, it was disappointing that The Rise of Skywalker undid all of them.

This user thanked Johnson for escaping the shackles of the franchise’s past. “#thankyourianjohnson” for not being afraid of what Star Wars can become,” @lastcrusadeleft wrote.

This user quoted Yoda. “‘We are what they grow beyond.’ #thankyourianjohnson,” @chasingnexus wrote. 

This user recognized that even when quoting the original trilogy Finn (John Boyega)’s line, “rebel scum,” Johnson gave it new meaning. “#thankyourianjohnson for showing us how a nod to the Original Trilogy could be used to help perfectly define a new character’s journey,” @SteelyM23 wrote.

‘Star Wars’ fans thanked him for quality filmmaking

Some fans just appreciated the quality of filmmaking Johnson brought to Star Wars. 

This user wrote, “#thankyourianjohnson for doing the work, caring about the universe, and creating a film with conviction. You can tell tlj was created by considering the motivations of the characters, not how to pander to an audience.”

This user complimented his technical achievements. “#thankyourianjohnson for the masterpiece you created,” @driverridleysolo wrote. “The last jedi has the most beautiful cinematography.”