I’d take your statement about Star Wars sequels being about death a bit further - they’re about learning about the past and moving forwards (sometimes that means destroying the past to be able to move forwards).

My cousin was actually deeply affected by the sequels because the theme of the wiser, older generation passing on knowledge to a younger generation that was resistant to becoming the next leaders.

I thought the scene between Yoda and Luke in the Last Jedi perfectly captured the theme of the movies. I’ll copy paste the quotes from IMDB:

Luke Skywalker: [Yoda appears as a ghost] Master Yoda.
Yoda: Young Skywalker.
Luke Skywalker: I'm ending all of this. The tree, the texts, the Jedi. I'm going to burn it all down.
Yoda: [Yoda summons lightning to burn down the tree and the Jedi texts. He laughs] Ah, Skywalker. Missed you, have I.
Luke Skywalker: So it is time for the Jedi Order to end.
Yoda: Time it is for you to look past a pile of old books, hmm?
Luke Skywalker: The sacred Jedi texts?
Yoda: Oh, read them, have you? Page-turners they were not. Yes, yes, yes. Wisdom they held, but that library contained nothing that the girl Rey does not already possess. [Skywalker, still looking to the horizon.] Never here, now, hmm? The need in front of your nose.
Luke Skywalker: I was weak. Unwise.
Yoda: Lost Ben Solo you did. Lose Rey we must not.
Luke Skywalker: I can't be what she needs me to be.
Yoda: Heeded my words not, did you? Pass on what you have learned. Strength. Mastery. But weakness, folly, failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is. Luke, we are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.