Ten reasons why "The Empire Strikes Back" was set up to fail.
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/6f876x/ten_reasons_why_the_empire_strikes_back_was_set/
There were quite a few reasons why the film should have been a complete disaster. Here are ten reasons why:
Lucas was not returning to direct (this was a bad sign at the time).
Screenwriter Leigh Brackett died before completing the script.
The choice of director looked like a very bad choice at the time.
Sequels almost always sucked. Godfather II was an exception.
The character of Lando was created solely to satisfy the demand to add black actors to Star Wars. Additions like that usually turn out badly from a script perspective.
The big action scene is at beginning.
A Muppet is a main character.
Middle section of the movie is all exposition and character development.
Darker tone.
Cliffhanger (of sorts) ending.