As I mentioned in another thread, I've finally seen the movie. And I'm disappointed. The once great Empire now known as "the First Order" (what kind of name is that?) seems to be lead by a mob of petulant children, who failed to learn from their elders mistakes.
General Hux doesn't looke like he's old enough to be a sergeant. He can't possibly have the experience his rank demands, unless he started waging war at age 3.
Hard to judge Captain Phasma's age since she never removes the helmet we don't see her face, But given her CO's age, I'd say she's all of 12.
As for Kylo Ren
real name Ben Solo, son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, grandson of Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader, nephew of Luke Skywalker.
I can understand his wanting to run around without the mask, it must be uncomfortable wearing that will all that hair. But get a haircut and wear the mask boy. Without it he's as intimidating as a 3 day old puppy (almost said kitten, but they have claws and aren't afraid to use them).
The old characters are just that old. Otherwise they haven't changed much all though their roles have somewhat.
The new characters have taken their places.
The First Order = the Galactic Empire
The Resistance = the Rebel Alliance
(although the Galactic Republic claims no connection to the Resistance, even though the resistance is using republic vessels and wearing republic clothes, the First Order wisely doesn't believe it.)
Supreme Leader Snoke = Emperor Palpatine
Kylo Ren = Darth Vader
Poe Dameron = hotshot pilot Han Solo
Finn and Rey who take turns using his lightsaber = apprentice Luke Skywalker
Finn and Rey also replace Han and Leia as the young couple
Maz Kanata = Yoda (except without Force abilities)
BB-8 = R2D2
Star Killer Base = Death Star
(yes the new one is ten times bigger and more powerful but still suffers from a fatal design flaw which the First Order failed to protect against just as the Empire did, twice. Apparently the Dark Side never learns.)
Princes Leia is now known as General Leia Organa (should be Organa-Solo the writters goofed there) but other than gaining enough Force sensativity to know things have not gone well with Han Solo's secret mission, she hasn't changed much, just gotten older.
Luke Skywalker in this film has now taken on the role of former jedi turned hermit formerly held by Obi Wan Ben Kanobi.
In another sense Han Solo has become Obi Wan:
Instead of killing an old jedi knight who was once his best friend, Obi Wan, the grandson of Darth Vader kills an old non-jedi, who was his father, Han Solo.
Han should have taken Kylo Ren's lightsaber away from, proclaiming he can have it back when he's old enough to actually use it, in say 10 years, then took him over his knee and given him a good spanking before sending him to his room without any supper.
Pretty clear I can't take Kylo Ren's character at all seriously as the villain of the story. Please can't we have a real villain?
Oh I forgot, Chewbacca. He's back, hasn't changed much except maybe slowed down a bit, he is over 200 years old after all. (The actor under all that fur is 71 and had to have a stunt double do the action sequences due to bad knees.)