It really hits different when there's actually a "surprise" watching the end of that movie for the first time.

True, but I technically spoiled that for myself as I read the novelization before I saw the movie. For some reason the book came out a month before the film, I saw it in the bookstore and bought it on the spot, I couldn't wait anymore, and excitedly read the whole thing that afternoon.

I didn't learn my lesson, in 1983 Marvel released their comic adaptation of ROTJ in a Marvel Super Special magazine early as well (I think this one was accidental and Lucas was pissed at Marvel for doing that). My friend brought it to my house and I blew through it in a hour or so, so again movie spoiled, dammit!

I have a Comic Journal from '83 with a funny article about this. Apparently. Mark Hamill was doing Amadeus on Broadway at the time, and inbetween performances he went down to the comic shop (cause he was into that stuff) saw the ROTJ comic and was like WTF. So Marvel sent some guys around to confiscate the comics (the store owner was quoted as saying "they were quite intimidating"). Marvel then sent letters to comic stores asking them not to sell the comic, but most of the shops ignored that, because 1) since there wasn't any "street date" agreement with the distributer, they felt once they received stock they were free to sell it and 2) they didn't see why they should have to sit on expensive stock because of Marvel's mistake when they needed the money from that week's orders in order to pay for next weeks orders.

One thing that is omitted from the comic adaptation is Yoda's death. There's just a caption that says something like, "Yoda went away for some rest."

It's called character development. The entire movie was predicated on that decision. It's not like it was just out of the blue like he just decided to wrap his pull string around his neck and end it all. Each sequence was building up to that moment. The very first scene involves Woody learning that his relationship with Bonny is different than Andy and she isn't dependent on him. He's not her favorite. Then he has an existential crisis when she brings Forky home and he doesn't realize he's a toy with value. He keeps identifying himself as trash. Sure it's played for laughs but it calls in to question what it means to be a toy. Or what a toy even is. Throughout the whole series the toys are depicted as being there for their kids. But it's not a selfless thing. It's because they want to be loved. Woody realizes that his existence and self worth doesn't have to be defined by the love of a child. He's already been able to experience that and treasure that with two kids but now it's time to move on. It's why he ends up donating his voice box to Gabby, because she hasn't been able to experience that yet and Woody knows how important that is. And of course through meeting with Bo again and seeing how happy and free she is that he is able to finally come to terms that Bonny doesn't need him anymore. Buzz and the gang don't even need him anymore. It's only after he's come to that realization that he is okay with moving on to a new chapter with his life.

It's a really beautiful movie visually but also in it's themes.

I'm really not hopeful about TS5. I really hope I'm wrong but TS4 is just peak Pixar to me.

Woody in TS3 = I know you non-favorite toys are going to be in a trash bag in the attic for maybe a decade or longer, but that's our job. Be there for your kid.

Woody in TS4 = I'm no longer the favorite, to hell with being an also-ran in a trash bag in an attic, I'm going to chase some tail. Peace out bitches.

Quentin Tarantino got it right refusing to watch TS4. The film is entirely unnecessary. They had a perfect trilogy and had to muck it up. TS5 is going to "Rise of Skywalker" it where they retcon Woody's heel turn and he'll be back to his old self.