Ah, they finally learned that if they can’t shoot, they can at least block.
Why didn’t they think of that before?
I guess it’s all that propaganda.
i thought light sabers were supposed to be able to cut through everything.
Not bullshit. Look at the prongs on the Stormtrooper’s weapon and the energy coursing along them. It’s similar to weapons that appeared in the prequels and the Clone Wars series that would deflect a lightsaber.
Notice how the trooper is only blocking with the energized part: The trooper knows that if the hilt is cut he’s fucked.