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Tomorrow is Star Wars Day — otherwise known as May the 4th (May the Fourth Be with You). It’s a time for Star Wars fans to rejoice or, if you can’t accept that there are women and people of color in a galaxy far, far away, railing against Woman-Terrorist Kathleen Kennedy and the Evil Disney Empire.
The franchise represents my oldest love affair with a serialized fictional world, predating Lord of the Rings, Dune, and the Buffyverse. It’s inspired me in more ways that I could accurately quantify. But at almost fifty years old, I can’t lie, it’s also begun to finally test my patience. Like most franchises that expect me to spend unrealistic amounts of my life every year on them, I don’t feel that demand is being justified as it once was. For every “Andor”, other series seem to be just treading water or, worse, exploiting my patience for the franchise. For every Rogue One, there are…well, other films. It’s a strange thing to love something so much, to have it feel so foundational to your identity given the duration of your relationship with it, only to grow increasingly weary of it - just as your own children are falling in love with it (I’m taking my kids to see Return of the Jedi this weekend, for example). Which is all my long-winded, incoherent way of coming to my question this week:
What does Star Wars mean to you? How has it changed your life? How does it continue to bring you joy?
In other words, inspire me with your own passion for the franchise, padawans. Feel free to discuss/explore your own complicated feelings about it, too; I’m here for it. But whatever you do, don’t come at me with Mouse House conspiracies or using “wokeness” as a euphemism for how racist or sexist or otherwise bigoted you are. I’ll just delete your comment.
If you’re curious, here are some things I’ve written about Star Wars at 5AM StoryTalk:
The original 3 - yes, I'm on board forever. Beautifully crafted, story-telling masterpieces individually and as a whole. Also, Han Solo. And did I mention Han Solo. After that, and I mean everything produced post Return of the Jedi, forget it. You can drop me off at Chalmun's Cantina. Mine's a Rodian Splice.
It's interesting, but it's not entirely my cup of tea. My favorite "Star Wars" movie is actually Mel Brooks' parody of the franchise, "Spaceballs", which taught me that merchandise related to a film is often a bigger source of profit than the film itself!
Also, May 4th is the birthday of my twin sisters, so I'm usually booked to do stuff with them.
That film is beloved by so many, but it never resonated with me the same way. Maybe I had my head too far up the franchise's ass. I should rewatch it with my kids today to see if I react better to it.
For my childhood, Star Wars and DC Comics went hand-in-hand. It really is hard for me to know which was the first true universe to live in my head. Sure, there are pictures of me as a one-year-old running around the room in a blue onesie and a red cape. But I don't remember that. I distinctly remember watching Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at my friend's house (his family had a VCR!) before going to see Return of the Jedi in the theater during its opening weekend. C-3PO with Removable Limbs was my first action figure (I still have him, along with all my other Kenner figures - and most of their accessories).
I remember the Ewoks figures being blacked out in the preview pictures, so no one knew what they would look like. I wasn’t a huge fan of Droids or Ewoks, but I loved the Battle for Endor (probably because it was one of the first things my Dad taped off of TV). I devoured the Han Solo Adventures books and Splinter of the Mind’s Eye when I discovered them at the library. And I was HUGELY disappointed when I asked the librarian if there was anything else about Star Wars, and she handed me a propaganda pamphlet about Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative. I rented Return of the Jedi so many times that my Dad finally broke down and bought a copy because he realized it was cheaper in the long run.
When I was in middle school, Heir to the Empire came out. I devoured it, not even realizing it wasn’t self-contained until the last chapter. My mind reeled: more Star Wars books were coming? Had all the hazing and bullying and torment not been in vain? The library got very annoyed with me calling every few weeks to know if they had gotten the sequel yet.
That unleashed the deluge of the Extended Universe. Dark Empire. The X-Wing series. The Jedi Academy Trilogy. The Power of the Force action figures. It seemed to culminate with the release of the Special Edition when I was a senior in high school. I watched them all, multiple times, finally watching all three in one day in the theater.
Then came the Dark Times of fandom - the Prequels and the rise of the internet. Suddenly, I wasn’t the only Star Wars fan: I was one of a legion. And they had opinions. Only the originals were good. No, only the first two. The Ewoks were a merchandise cash grab. Why was Anakin Skywalker a little kid? What’s the deal with the huge push on CGI? What is Lucas thinking? These new movies are trash. Jar Jar is worse than the Ewoks, and the actor should be ashamed of himself.
The negativity enveloped me, I admit. I too, began to think I could only call myself a fan if I only liked the originals and hated the Ewoks. Even though I really loved the Ewoks. Even though I thought there were some good things in the Prequels. I buried those feelings, afraid of losing my Geek Cred. To whom?
It wasn’t all bad, though. I met one of my greatest friends during this time. I was in art school, and he was an actual comic book inker. What’s more, he was inking Star Wars comics. And, he was always happy to have help filling in blacks and just shooting the bull. I was a kid in Lancaster, PA and I knew more about what was coming up in the movies than people in LA who were paid to get the spoilers.
As I aged, my passion for my geeky side started to take a back seat. I was making Grown Up Decisions™ and each step took more and more time away from Star Wars and comics. Some of those decisions ended up not working out. That is how these things go.
Around 2013 something happened that would draw me back in. On a lark, I decided to watch The Clone Wars. I didn’t think much of it at first. I figured it was a kids show. It was on in the background as I worked on some art. But as the episodes progressed, I realized something. I was spending more time watching and less time creating. I liked it. A lot.
That was it. That was all I needed. I was a diehard once more. I consumed The Clone Wars. More than once. I waited for each episode of Rebels impatiently. I was in line for the Sequel Trilogy movies. I watched The Mandalorian premiere twice. I was reading the comics, and some of the books. I created my own timeline so I knew what happened when. The Galaxy Far, Far Away was living in my head once again. And it has stayed firmly there since.
I think my time away actually helped me be a better fan. I embrace ALL of Star Wars now, the good and the not-so-good. I am decidedly pro-Ewok. I don’t cringe at Jar Jar anymore. I enjoy Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, even if I have a few quibbles. I know it isn’t all going to be high art, and I’m more than ok with that. When you love something unabashedly, you accept it for all its imperfections. And that is Star Wars for me. Imperfect, but perfect just the same.
Jeff, I'm incredibly grateful you shared this accounting of your relationship to Star Wars. I see so much of myself in it and I truly want to reply in more detail. I mean, such as about how great HEIR TO THE EMPIRE is, and THE CLONE WARS, and how god-awful Star Wars fandom is today. But I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Taking the time to really think about my love of Star Wars was a fantastic way to spend a rainy May 4th.
One thing: I do firmly believe that the majority of the Star Wars fandom is NOT toxic. I really don't. Regrettably, I think there is a very vocal minority who have no joy in their hearts and only want to ruin things for other people. Alas, this is not contained to Star Wars.
But I look at all the kids who dress up as their favorite characters. I look at all of the people who cosplay. The literal legion of Stormtroopers (and their counterparts in the Jedi Order) who do good, charitable works in the name of this thing they love. I look at the attendance of Celebration each year, and how people are so excited to hear what is coming next. The joy in a fan's eye when they track down the last needed Kenner figure for their collection (I'm personally only missing Han Solo in Trench Coat and 8 of the final Power of the Force wave). And the thousands of pictures you see of people smiling, sharing, and enjoying their love of everything from that Galaxy Far, Far Away.
I see all of that and I know that those horrible, small, petty people who try to ruin things have not won. Indeed, this is something they can't win. The sheer volume of loving fans make it impossible. They will always be outnumbered. We just have yet to figure out how to drown out their voices, too.
I'm always up for a good yak about the original Thrawn Trilogy! (And a nagging question about Rebels: What was Rukh's connection to Thrawn? Was it ever developed beyond just being a loyal bodyguard? His (and the Norghri) arc in the original trilogy is one of the most fascinating. I try not to lament what was lost too much, but that rich, tragic backstory just can't be replicated in the same way since the reboot.)
Fine, you asked, so I'll tell you. I loved star wars so much as a kid. I think it was important to my parents to introduce us to it as soon as possible. The return of the Jedi is my favourite film of the original trilogy. I remember when the phantom menace came out and it was only when I got older that I realised JaJa was a shit character. We shall not speak of the sequels but EVERYTHING ELSE is great.
I feel the prequel trilogy was a legitimate attempt by George Lucas to tell the entirety of the story he had originally envisaged. But I personally never quite connected with them, for various reasons.
I do wish he had left the first three alone, though. I fully understand how me must have felt emotionally in terms of not quite getting the scenes he wanted back in the day, but firstly, they were stronger films in their original form, at least to my sensibilities, and secondly they are culturally important in their original form.
I don't mind that Lucas meddled with the films. I mind that he made sure we would never be able to watch the films sans those problematic, often silly changes. If I could buy a disc with both versions on it, I would be content.
Star Wars means so much to me, my storytelling, my faith (if I can call it that), and as I'm going to announce this weekend, my career. It wasn't actually my first franchise, though. For a long time it was level if not behind my Lord of the Rings or Spider-man toys. But not the whole timeline tapestry across mediums lives rent free in my head. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. Of course, there are some aspects I prefer, but that galaxy represents my childhood, my love of storytelling and mind-bogglingly it will represent my first piece of paid, traditionally-published writing. Nothing else has given me the joy and pride that I felt at Celebration last year, and the many opportunities it has opened since, including starting my newsletter, and finding so many great ones on here or elsewhere. It's been a part of me for a long time, through bullying and the fandom menace, but now I can happily report I'm a part of it. Sorry for that ramble.
Great post, thank you for reawakening some great memories! Here's mine...
Picture it .... Long Island 1977 (please re-read that in Sophia Petrillo's voice). I was 8 years old - old enough to steal quarters from my brother's giant 10 gallon water bottle where he dumped his pocket change every night. My best friend and across the street neighbor, Paul and I head up to Morton Village Shopping Center. We stopped in the coffe shop on the corner to buy penny candy and headed to the movies. The movie theater there charged the price according to the year. This being 1977, you guessed it, we paid 77 cents to see the movie the world was hyped up about and we were in a frenzy over. 77 cents. We stayed and payed 77 cents 3 times that day. We went back the next day, and the following weekend. I was even able to buy us a bucket of popcorn to share. My brother got wise to my thievery, and my mother banned me from entering his room.
I was Princess Lea that year for Halloween in a truly amazing gown that my mother made. She rolled my hair just like Lea's. Paul was Chewbocca the Wookie. (I hope you continued to read in Sophia Petrillo's voice!)
Okay, so the part of this story I'm most envious about -- after the part where you got to see A NEW HOPE at its time of release -- is that you used to get to see movies for 77 cents. I truly believe the exponentially rising cost of "going to the movies" is why going to the movies is a dying thing. When I got my license, I could do three films for $18. That was *almost* doable for a kid with no other responsibilities. But today, that could top $50 in some places. Jesus. Thank you for sharing.
Empire is still in my top ten. It used to be number one but such is the spread of the franchise the original trilogy can feel a little numb. Still, I had a (plastic) lightsaber, I played with the figures, I felt ‘Jedi’ was the religion for me if I ever had to make a choice to adopt a religious philosophy as a way of life, I invested in ‘collectibles’ - but it’s not all consuming.
I liked Mandalorian, Rogue One and Andor. The others were less connecting with my taste. Obi-Wan could’ve been more compelling if it hadn’t followed the Leia story but the Vader action was solid. Which could suggest that emotion is a key to the balance of good/bad SW.
Inevitably, I will watch the next generation of Star Wars with great interest.
I’ve got nothing against the franchise, even seen a bunch of it. But I have always been more of a Star Trek fan. Where I am very big is on the Buffyverse.
So I have always preferred Star Trk to Star Wars (people working together always appealed much more to me than a small group of heroes), but Star Wars' lived in world has always stood out as a fantastic story telling choice. You get so much world building by just paying attention to the background. I would argue that a lot of the power of Andor, one of the best anti-fascist shows I have ever seen, comes from the aesthetic of the various environments.
Star Wars and Star Trek (yes, it is possible to love both) were among my first introductions to the world of science fiction (that and The Fifth Element, but that’s beside the point). Since then, my head has trouble staying away from outer space. If I’m outside, I’m staring at the sky, whether it’s dreaming about being a bird, or an astronaut, the great wide open territory of outer space is utterly fascinating.
I don't want to seem like I'm being diplomatic, but I would never be able to choose between "TOS", "TNG", and "DS9" in terms of "favorites". But I would call "TNG" the most important to me, as it arrived during my most formative childhood/teenage years and, consequently, is "my Trek". You?
One of my earliest memories is my dad taking me and my brother to see a double bill of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at the local cinema when I was 4 or 5. The original trilogy was a huge part of our childhood (Star Wars was one of about only 4 films we had recorded from the TV on video so we watched it a lot!) We were exactly the right age for the toy tie-ins and our house and garden were littered with tiny figures and ships from my brother’s collection that we would play with all the time, organising barbecues at the ewok village and other wholesome activities significantly removed from the actual plot of the films.
None of the later films or series have the same resonance for me although I thought Rogue One was excellent. I felt it hooked in more to what I loved about the first three films. Ultimately though I think my feelings are mostly bound up in childhood nostalgia rather than a particular love for the universe and I have felt no urge to venture into any of the series.
As you've read me discuss a lot now, nostalgia for our childhoods is powerful and explains a lot of what we're culturally living through at the moment. I feel the same way about THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY. It's an old friend in a way nothing else that follows has ever become.
Happiness - end of school term showings, good overcoming evil, great characters, the relentless bickering between RD-D2 and C3-PO, EWOKS (and their cartoon spin-off!), the story telling, the enigma of Yoda and many national British treasures as well as the thrilling action. I think also about seeing a strong female lead in Carrie Fisher's Leia and the whole will they-won't they plot with Han Solo. Still haunted by seeing Han Solo frozen - and the gang trapped in the garbage vat of the spaceship in a previous episode. I wasn't sure about 1,2, and 3, but (inspite of the odd Jabba the Hutt renderings) now really appreciate them. And really, it's all about the Millennium Falcon. Rather than a marketing tool, I hope the current Star Wars can return to the dramatic and compelling storytelling format. Plus that opening sweeping credit with the WORDS and John Williams magnificent music. It's been so exciting to see the Star Wars movies on the big screen for the first time in the last two years, having only ever seen them on TV. The imagination and the storytelling should inspire us all to rush off and create worlds =)
Susan, thank you so much for these lovely thoughts and memories. I want to say more, but I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing.
This is a super fun post and thank you for asking! I saw a New Hope in 1977 in the theater and I've always been a fan. In the last 3 years - I've savored the Star Wars content as my "comfort food". During hard times, I find it incredibly calming and entertaining to watch the movies and tv shows. And yes, some are hit/miss - but I'm always enthralled by the Star Wars Universe.
I am a big fan of the animated series - Clone Wars, Rebels, Bad Batch, etc. Great lessons of friendship, loyalty, and courage in those.
The Jedi model the behavior we all want and hope for in Mentors. Wise, experienced, and dedicated (of course there are some exceptions). Masters and Padwans - Anakin/Ahsoka, ObiWan and Anakin, Kanan and Ezra, Ahsoka/Sabine. All illustrate a dedication to teaching young people to be better than their masters and be proud of their responsibilities. The animated series provide more of that perspective than the films.
I am writing about Jedi Project Management to align the strengths/virtues of the Jedi with how we work together to delivery common goals in the enterprise.
These are some wonderful observations, Michael. Especially the one about mentors/students. I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here and keep up with all of my comments, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing. Sorry.
I'm old enough to remember seeing Star Wars in theaters, and then seeing it again later as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I had discovered the Hobbit just before I think, so Middle Earth was my first alt-world obsession, but Star Wars took hold of my imagination in a powerful way. Like you, it has tried my patience of late, but still delivers many joys (Andor and Mandalorian S1 for example). I've followed it off and on through novels (finding Splinter of the Mind's Eye on a grocery store rack was a wild surprise back in the day) and rpgs over the years, and its been interesting to see all that ancillary material get culled down into a more ordered and managed IP. Some ideas, like the separation between the Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters in the OG rpg was a solid idea, and I wish Lucas had adopted it for the prequels. It would have saved us seeing Yoda jumping around with a lightsaber like an insane rooster, or commanding Wookie armies, instead of being the eccentric Taoist style hermit we all thought he was for the longest time. Anyway, I'm eagerly awaiting Andor S2.
Thanks for sharing, John. You echo many of my own feelings on matters at the moment. "ANDOR" isn't just great SW TV. It's great TV that will be studied for years to come. It's the only thing coming our way from the franchise that I am genuinely excited about in the same way I got excited about SW twenty years ago. I'll leave everything else to pleasantly surprise me when it does...and at least it still does that!
I first read LotR in 8th grade, so my love of Middle Earth predates my introduction to the Star Wars universe. However, once my new husband and I saw what I will continue to think of as Film 1, I was hooked. We stood in line with grad school friends for Empire Strikes Back. Don’t recall how many times we rewatched that. Then we stood in an even longer line in LA for RJ. Mohamed Ali brought his daughters and their friends to that showing, but they arrived by giant limo and didn’t join us in line.
I liked the first Anakin film but not the other two. He was such a cute kid. I enjoyed Rey, but THEY KILLED HAN! I know it was his idea, but still … I’m still undecided about Kylo.
I’ve followed most of franchise productions. Don’t like most of the animated ones, except Bad Batch. Would’ve liked more of Obi Wan. Had fun with most of Mando. Thought Andor very good and impatient for more, even though I’m upset about his death in Rogue One. I haven’t watched the Jedi whose name I can’t spell.
Even though I know that the original trilogy is Luke’s journey, he wasn’t ever my favorite character. I tend to think of the films as a group of characters in a galaxy far far away. The clash of Good v Evil. Jedi/Rebels v Empire.
Well, I’ve rambled with random thoughts here, not really answering the question of what Star Wars means to me. And I think I’ve said enough.
Thanks for sharing, Deborah! Fun fact: Han was originally going to die at the end of RETURN OF THE JEDI. In fact, I still think he should've. He has no character arc without that death. It makes no sense the greatest pilot in the galaxy is leading a land assault rather than a space assault. In other words, from everything I've read and been told over the years, he was supposed to go down with the Death Star II. Ford wasn't happy he didn't either. But there you go. We got the happier ending. I want to comment more, but I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. For now, I'll just have to say thank you (again) for sharing.
I actually saw the first film in Rome dubbed in Italian, that is still the standard by which I judge all “May the forza be with you” and Governor Tarquin looked like all the bad Nazis in Italian films about WW2
The original 3 - yes, I'm on board forever. Beautifully crafted, story-telling masterpieces individually and as a whole. Also, Han Solo. And did I mention Han Solo. After that, and I mean everything produced post Return of the Jedi, forget it. You can drop me off at Chalmun's Cantina. Mine's a Rodian Splice.
Someone should write an academic paper about the age-old debate: are you a Han, Luke, or Leia person?
Han!
It's interesting, but it's not entirely my cup of tea. My favorite "Star Wars" movie is actually Mel Brooks' parody of the franchise, "Spaceballs", which taught me that merchandise related to a film is often a bigger source of profit than the film itself!
Also, May 4th is the birthday of my twin sisters, so I'm usually booked to do stuff with them.
That film is beloved by so many, but it never resonated with me the same way. Maybe I had my head too far up the franchise's ass. I should rewatch it with my kids today to see if I react better to it.
For my childhood, Star Wars and DC Comics went hand-in-hand. It really is hard for me to know which was the first true universe to live in my head. Sure, there are pictures of me as a one-year-old running around the room in a blue onesie and a red cape. But I don't remember that. I distinctly remember watching Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at my friend's house (his family had a VCR!) before going to see Return of the Jedi in the theater during its opening weekend. C-3PO with Removable Limbs was my first action figure (I still have him, along with all my other Kenner figures - and most of their accessories).
I remember the Ewoks figures being blacked out in the preview pictures, so no one knew what they would look like. I wasn’t a huge fan of Droids or Ewoks, but I loved the Battle for Endor (probably because it was one of the first things my Dad taped off of TV). I devoured the Han Solo Adventures books and Splinter of the Mind’s Eye when I discovered them at the library. And I was HUGELY disappointed when I asked the librarian if there was anything else about Star Wars, and she handed me a propaganda pamphlet about Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative. I rented Return of the Jedi so many times that my Dad finally broke down and bought a copy because he realized it was cheaper in the long run.
When I was in middle school, Heir to the Empire came out. I devoured it, not even realizing it wasn’t self-contained until the last chapter. My mind reeled: more Star Wars books were coming? Had all the hazing and bullying and torment not been in vain? The library got very annoyed with me calling every few weeks to know if they had gotten the sequel yet.
That unleashed the deluge of the Extended Universe. Dark Empire. The X-Wing series. The Jedi Academy Trilogy. The Power of the Force action figures. It seemed to culminate with the release of the Special Edition when I was a senior in high school. I watched them all, multiple times, finally watching all three in one day in the theater.
Then came the Dark Times of fandom - the Prequels and the rise of the internet. Suddenly, I wasn’t the only Star Wars fan: I was one of a legion. And they had opinions. Only the originals were good. No, only the first two. The Ewoks were a merchandise cash grab. Why was Anakin Skywalker a little kid? What’s the deal with the huge push on CGI? What is Lucas thinking? These new movies are trash. Jar Jar is worse than the Ewoks, and the actor should be ashamed of himself.
The negativity enveloped me, I admit. I too, began to think I could only call myself a fan if I only liked the originals and hated the Ewoks. Even though I really loved the Ewoks. Even though I thought there were some good things in the Prequels. I buried those feelings, afraid of losing my Geek Cred. To whom?
It wasn’t all bad, though. I met one of my greatest friends during this time. I was in art school, and he was an actual comic book inker. What’s more, he was inking Star Wars comics. And, he was always happy to have help filling in blacks and just shooting the bull. I was a kid in Lancaster, PA and I knew more about what was coming up in the movies than people in LA who were paid to get the spoilers.
As I aged, my passion for my geeky side started to take a back seat. I was making Grown Up Decisions™ and each step took more and more time away from Star Wars and comics. Some of those decisions ended up not working out. That is how these things go.
Around 2013 something happened that would draw me back in. On a lark, I decided to watch The Clone Wars. I didn’t think much of it at first. I figured it was a kids show. It was on in the background as I worked on some art. But as the episodes progressed, I realized something. I was spending more time watching and less time creating. I liked it. A lot.
That was it. That was all I needed. I was a diehard once more. I consumed The Clone Wars. More than once. I waited for each episode of Rebels impatiently. I was in line for the Sequel Trilogy movies. I watched The Mandalorian premiere twice. I was reading the comics, and some of the books. I created my own timeline so I knew what happened when. The Galaxy Far, Far Away was living in my head once again. And it has stayed firmly there since.
I think my time away actually helped me be a better fan. I embrace ALL of Star Wars now, the good and the not-so-good. I am decidedly pro-Ewok. I don’t cringe at Jar Jar anymore. I enjoy Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, even if I have a few quibbles. I know it isn’t all going to be high art, and I’m more than ok with that. When you love something unabashedly, you accept it for all its imperfections. And that is Star Wars for me. Imperfect, but perfect just the same.
Jeff, I'm incredibly grateful you shared this accounting of your relationship to Star Wars. I see so much of myself in it and I truly want to reply in more detail. I mean, such as about how great HEIR TO THE EMPIRE is, and THE CLONE WARS, and how god-awful Star Wars fandom is today. But I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Taking the time to really think about my love of Star Wars was a fantastic way to spend a rainy May 4th.
One thing: I do firmly believe that the majority of the Star Wars fandom is NOT toxic. I really don't. Regrettably, I think there is a very vocal minority who have no joy in their hearts and only want to ruin things for other people. Alas, this is not contained to Star Wars.
But I look at all the kids who dress up as their favorite characters. I look at all of the people who cosplay. The literal legion of Stormtroopers (and their counterparts in the Jedi Order) who do good, charitable works in the name of this thing they love. I look at the attendance of Celebration each year, and how people are so excited to hear what is coming next. The joy in a fan's eye when they track down the last needed Kenner figure for their collection (I'm personally only missing Han Solo in Trench Coat and 8 of the final Power of the Force wave). And the thousands of pictures you see of people smiling, sharing, and enjoying their love of everything from that Galaxy Far, Far Away.
I see all of that and I know that those horrible, small, petty people who try to ruin things have not won. Indeed, this is something they can't win. The sheer volume of loving fans make it impossible. They will always be outnumbered. We just have yet to figure out how to drown out their voices, too.
I'm always up for a good yak about the original Thrawn Trilogy! (And a nagging question about Rebels: What was Rukh's connection to Thrawn? Was it ever developed beyond just being a loyal bodyguard? His (and the Norghri) arc in the original trilogy is one of the most fascinating. I try not to lament what was lost too much, but that rich, tragic backstory just can't be replicated in the same way since the reboot.)
Please feel better!
Fine, you asked, so I'll tell you. I loved star wars so much as a kid. I think it was important to my parents to introduce us to it as soon as possible. The return of the Jedi is my favourite film of the original trilogy. I remember when the phantom menace came out and it was only when I got older that I realised JaJa was a shit character. We shall not speak of the sequels but EVERYTHING ELSE is great.
Thanks for sharing, Hanna!
This is simple for me. The original films were my childhood and inspired me to be the person I am today along with other influences.
The films beyond the original three mean nothing to me.
I love many of the other films. And more than a few...I do not.
I feel the prequel trilogy was a legitimate attempt by George Lucas to tell the entirety of the story he had originally envisaged. But I personally never quite connected with them, for various reasons.
I do wish he had left the first three alone, though. I fully understand how me must have felt emotionally in terms of not quite getting the scenes he wanted back in the day, but firstly, they were stronger films in their original form, at least to my sensibilities, and secondly they are culturally important in their original form.
I don't mind that Lucas meddled with the films. I mind that he made sure we would never be able to watch the films sans those problematic, often silly changes. If I could buy a disc with both versions on it, I would be content.
That’s exactly how I feel also.
Star Wars means so much to me, my storytelling, my faith (if I can call it that), and as I'm going to announce this weekend, my career. It wasn't actually my first franchise, though. For a long time it was level if not behind my Lord of the Rings or Spider-man toys. But not the whole timeline tapestry across mediums lives rent free in my head. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. Of course, there are some aspects I prefer, but that galaxy represents my childhood, my love of storytelling and mind-bogglingly it will represent my first piece of paid, traditionally-published writing. Nothing else has given me the joy and pride that I felt at Celebration last year, and the many opportunities it has opened since, including starting my newsletter, and finding so many great ones on here or elsewhere. It's been a part of me for a long time, through bullying and the fandom menace, but now I can happily report I'm a part of it. Sorry for that ramble.
Don't apologize. I appreciate the ramble. Thanks for sharing, Harvey. I know your love affair well!
Great post, thank you for reawakening some great memories! Here's mine...
Picture it .... Long Island 1977 (please re-read that in Sophia Petrillo's voice). I was 8 years old - old enough to steal quarters from my brother's giant 10 gallon water bottle where he dumped his pocket change every night. My best friend and across the street neighbor, Paul and I head up to Morton Village Shopping Center. We stopped in the coffe shop on the corner to buy penny candy and headed to the movies. The movie theater there charged the price according to the year. This being 1977, you guessed it, we paid 77 cents to see the movie the world was hyped up about and we were in a frenzy over. 77 cents. We stayed and payed 77 cents 3 times that day. We went back the next day, and the following weekend. I was even able to buy us a bucket of popcorn to share. My brother got wise to my thievery, and my mother banned me from entering his room.
I was Princess Lea that year for Halloween in a truly amazing gown that my mother made. She rolled my hair just like Lea's. Paul was Chewbocca the Wookie. (I hope you continued to read in Sophia Petrillo's voice!)
These are some priceless memories of my youth.
Okay, so the part of this story I'm most envious about -- after the part where you got to see A NEW HOPE at its time of release -- is that you used to get to see movies for 77 cents. I truly believe the exponentially rising cost of "going to the movies" is why going to the movies is a dying thing. When I got my license, I could do three films for $18. That was *almost* doable for a kid with no other responsibilities. But today, that could top $50 in some places. Jesus. Thank you for sharing.
Empire is still in my top ten. It used to be number one but such is the spread of the franchise the original trilogy can feel a little numb. Still, I had a (plastic) lightsaber, I played with the figures, I felt ‘Jedi’ was the religion for me if I ever had to make a choice to adopt a religious philosophy as a way of life, I invested in ‘collectibles’ - but it’s not all consuming.
I liked Mandalorian, Rogue One and Andor. The others were less connecting with my taste. Obi-Wan could’ve been more compelling if it hadn’t followed the Leia story but the Vader action was solid. Which could suggest that emotion is a key to the balance of good/bad SW.
Inevitably, I will watch the next generation of Star Wars with great interest.
EMPIRE is easily in my top 3, nor can I imagine a SW film supplanting it. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve got nothing against the franchise, even seen a bunch of it. But I have always been more of a Star Trek fan. Where I am very big is on the Buffyverse.
So I have always preferred Star Trk to Star Wars (people working together always appealed much more to me than a small group of heroes), but Star Wars' lived in world has always stood out as a fantastic story telling choice. You get so much world building by just paying attention to the background. I would argue that a lot of the power of Andor, one of the best anti-fascist shows I have ever seen, comes from the aesthetic of the various environments.
"ANDOR" is one of the best TV shows of the last five years, full stop.
Star Wars and Star Trek (yes, it is possible to love both) were among my first introductions to the world of science fiction (that and The Fifth Element, but that’s beside the point). Since then, my head has trouble staying away from outer space. If I’m outside, I’m staring at the sky, whether it’s dreaming about being a bird, or an astronaut, the great wide open territory of outer space is utterly fascinating.
I love "TREK" almost as much as STAR WARS, yeah. Very different relationships, though.
Favorite Trek series?
I don't want to seem like I'm being diplomatic, but I would never be able to choose between "TOS", "TNG", and "DS9" in terms of "favorites". But I would call "TNG" the most important to me, as it arrived during my most formative childhood/teenage years and, consequently, is "my Trek". You?
Same! Though Voyager is a close second.
Adventure, fantasy, escapism in the best sense -- affirming and exhilarating. A foundational part of my love of myth and of the mythopoeic.
The joy of being a child and having the imagination and energy and sheer enthusiasm to fully immerse yourself in another world.
One of my earliest memories is my dad taking me and my brother to see a double bill of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at the local cinema when I was 4 or 5. The original trilogy was a huge part of our childhood (Star Wars was one of about only 4 films we had recorded from the TV on video so we watched it a lot!) We were exactly the right age for the toy tie-ins and our house and garden were littered with tiny figures and ships from my brother’s collection that we would play with all the time, organising barbecues at the ewok village and other wholesome activities significantly removed from the actual plot of the films.
None of the later films or series have the same resonance for me although I thought Rogue One was excellent. I felt it hooked in more to what I loved about the first three films. Ultimately though I think my feelings are mostly bound up in childhood nostalgia rather than a particular love for the universe and I have felt no urge to venture into any of the series.
As you've read me discuss a lot now, nostalgia for our childhoods is powerful and explains a lot of what we're culturally living through at the moment. I feel the same way about THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY. It's an old friend in a way nothing else that follows has ever become.
Yes! That’s a really good way of putting it.
You had me at “if you can’t accept that there are women and people of color in a galaxy far, far away” - haha. Love this!
Happiness - end of school term showings, good overcoming evil, great characters, the relentless bickering between RD-D2 and C3-PO, EWOKS (and their cartoon spin-off!), the story telling, the enigma of Yoda and many national British treasures as well as the thrilling action. I think also about seeing a strong female lead in Carrie Fisher's Leia and the whole will they-won't they plot with Han Solo. Still haunted by seeing Han Solo frozen - and the gang trapped in the garbage vat of the spaceship in a previous episode. I wasn't sure about 1,2, and 3, but (inspite of the odd Jabba the Hutt renderings) now really appreciate them. And really, it's all about the Millennium Falcon. Rather than a marketing tool, I hope the current Star Wars can return to the dramatic and compelling storytelling format. Plus that opening sweeping credit with the WORDS and John Williams magnificent music. It's been so exciting to see the Star Wars movies on the big screen for the first time in the last two years, having only ever seen them on TV. The imagination and the storytelling should inspire us all to rush off and create worlds =)
Susan, thank you so much for these lovely thoughts and memories. I want to say more, but I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing.
Hi, thank you. So sorry to hear this, hope you feel much better soon. Rest well! Loved your article on seeing beauty every day too - great photos =)
Thank you!
This is a super fun post and thank you for asking! I saw a New Hope in 1977 in the theater and I've always been a fan. In the last 3 years - I've savored the Star Wars content as my "comfort food". During hard times, I find it incredibly calming and entertaining to watch the movies and tv shows. And yes, some are hit/miss - but I'm always enthralled by the Star Wars Universe.
I am a big fan of the animated series - Clone Wars, Rebels, Bad Batch, etc. Great lessons of friendship, loyalty, and courage in those.
The Jedi model the behavior we all want and hope for in Mentors. Wise, experienced, and dedicated (of course there are some exceptions). Masters and Padwans - Anakin/Ahsoka, ObiWan and Anakin, Kanan and Ezra, Ahsoka/Sabine. All illustrate a dedication to teaching young people to be better than their masters and be proud of their responsibilities. The animated series provide more of that perspective than the films.
I am writing about Jedi Project Management to align the strengths/virtues of the Jedi with how we work together to delivery common goals in the enterprise.
These are some wonderful observations, Michael. Especially the one about mentors/students. I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. I'm doing my best to stay active on here and keep up with all of my comments, but I'm grateful I had so much stuff scheduled in advance. For now, I'll just have to say thank you for sharing. Sorry.
I'm old enough to remember seeing Star Wars in theaters, and then seeing it again later as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I had discovered the Hobbit just before I think, so Middle Earth was my first alt-world obsession, but Star Wars took hold of my imagination in a powerful way. Like you, it has tried my patience of late, but still delivers many joys (Andor and Mandalorian S1 for example). I've followed it off and on through novels (finding Splinter of the Mind's Eye on a grocery store rack was a wild surprise back in the day) and rpgs over the years, and its been interesting to see all that ancillary material get culled down into a more ordered and managed IP. Some ideas, like the separation between the Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters in the OG rpg was a solid idea, and I wish Lucas had adopted it for the prequels. It would have saved us seeing Yoda jumping around with a lightsaber like an insane rooster, or commanding Wookie armies, instead of being the eccentric Taoist style hermit we all thought he was for the longest time. Anyway, I'm eagerly awaiting Andor S2.
Thanks for sharing, John. You echo many of my own feelings on matters at the moment. "ANDOR" isn't just great SW TV. It's great TV that will be studied for years to come. It's the only thing coming our way from the franchise that I am genuinely excited about in the same way I got excited about SW twenty years ago. I'll leave everything else to pleasantly surprise me when it does...and at least it still does that!
https://youtu.be/Emqoqsa2EuA?feature=shared
I first read LotR in 8th grade, so my love of Middle Earth predates my introduction to the Star Wars universe. However, once my new husband and I saw what I will continue to think of as Film 1, I was hooked. We stood in line with grad school friends for Empire Strikes Back. Don’t recall how many times we rewatched that. Then we stood in an even longer line in LA for RJ. Mohamed Ali brought his daughters and their friends to that showing, but they arrived by giant limo and didn’t join us in line.
I liked the first Anakin film but not the other two. He was such a cute kid. I enjoyed Rey, but THEY KILLED HAN! I know it was his idea, but still … I’m still undecided about Kylo.
I’ve followed most of franchise productions. Don’t like most of the animated ones, except Bad Batch. Would’ve liked more of Obi Wan. Had fun with most of Mando. Thought Andor very good and impatient for more, even though I’m upset about his death in Rogue One. I haven’t watched the Jedi whose name I can’t spell.
Even though I know that the original trilogy is Luke’s journey, he wasn’t ever my favorite character. I tend to think of the films as a group of characters in a galaxy far far away. The clash of Good v Evil. Jedi/Rebels v Empire.
Well, I’ve rambled with random thoughts here, not really answering the question of what Star Wars means to me. And I think I’ve said enough.
May the 4th Be with You.
Thanks for sharing, Deborah! Fun fact: Han was originally going to die at the end of RETURN OF THE JEDI. In fact, I still think he should've. He has no character arc without that death. It makes no sense the greatest pilot in the galaxy is leading a land assault rather than a space assault. In other words, from everything I've read and been told over the years, he was supposed to go down with the Death Star II. Ford wasn't happy he didn't either. But there you go. We got the happier ending. I want to comment more, but I contracted Covid this week after evading it for four years, and I've barely functional at this point. For now, I'll just have to say thank you (again) for sharing.
I actually saw the first film in Rome dubbed in Italian, that is still the standard by which I judge all “May the forza be with you” and Governor Tarquin looked like all the bad Nazis in Italian films about WW2
That sounds amazing, really.