If the author is not totally cynical they can use the dark elements and tone to create contrast which in turn makes the bright side brighter.completely forgot about the aunt and uncle. and there was also that whole jawa slaughter. in hindsight there was quite a lot of death in ANH...
but, yeah that's what I mean, you can have a "good" story with a happy ending and it still being "dark" with shit happening, but it was never really shoved in your face, just the means to an end for the sake of the story.
as for the shitters in entertainment, it's usual "weak men creating weak times" etc. after another inevitable conflict or two, or when everything turned to shit, we might get some good works again. but it's really gonna suck till then.
The media people need some competition. Currently they monopolized the creative industries, if somebody who actually gave a damn shows up they will be eventually be outcompeted. Passion is such a really dirty word nowadays, but it sums up pretty much that secret sauce that is needed to make compelling art. The execs with their excel sheets and the bugpeople with their eternal need to subvert everything and just be cynical seem to flop with both niche and mainstream audiences.
Of course for that, the question is... can people let their old loved brands go and embrace something new or will the big names keep people chained to them forever?