May The Force Be with you - My Life long love affair with a Galaxy far far away

 

    I was a little kid stuck in Sydney with my Grandparents, cut off by yet another series of those regular bushfires that Australia is so well known for. I had of course had my little tantrum, missed my parents, and had run out of things to do. I remember it was against this backdrop that I saw my first ever Star Wars film. I had woken up in the night, and come out to pester anyone I could find. My Grandfather was sitting in the lounge and on the TV a man was hanging upside down in ice. I sat down quietly. Next minute the man on the TV magically summoned a metal tube that burst into a blue sword, cut himself free and cut the arm off a mean looking white cookie monster. My mind was blown. That is right I started my Star Wars fandom with Empire Strikes Back. Arguably the best in the OG trilogy (Ducks for cover)

    When I was finally reunited with my mother and father. It was my mother who was able to translate my vague nonsense about needing to find the movie about the blue sword magic guy and his friends. From there I was given the movies on VHS, and my appreciation only grew. Every birthday, and Christmas I was the easiest kid to buy for. If it was Star Wars it was golden. 

That's right your boy had this as a kid

It was the small things that mattered

    I was in pure heaven. Watching the OG trilogy, going nuts when the special editions dropped, playing the various videogames, and generally loving life. Sure there were other interests at the time, but I always loved Star Wars the most. It was my bright land of heroism and wonder. I even dove into the extended universe novels to try and fill the need for further adventures with the heroes I loved so much. Then came the news that would give me the one thing I lacked as a fan of Star Wars. A new series of films were announced. I would get to experience being a fan as Star Wars films came out. This was something I was always jealous of older fans for. That excitement of waiting years between films and to experience them in real time. To be part of that history. Now here is where I might lose some people. I do not hate the prequels.

    They were new, and shiny, and I was a kid when episode 1 dropped. It was so much faster, and we saw something new. Jedi in their prime. This was not the age of half machines, and young trainees. This was the first film depiction of golden age force users. The saber duels were larger than life. Now looking back they have not aged as well as my love for the original trilogy. However, I can still watch and enjoy them, and if that is not infuriating enough to hear then buckle up. I do not fly into rage at the following character. 

    That is right I have no beef with Jar Jar Binks. Aside from the fact he allowed himself to be manipulated so easily. Still I got to enjoy being a part of the history of a new trilogy, and even now I smile when I remember attending the Revenge of the Sith premiere. Now full disclosure I was more than keen to do so. But, it was the fact that a school friend notorious for spoiling movies told me he was going to see the film. I knew that I would throw him down a reactor shaft if he spoiled any part of the film for me. It became paramount that I see it before he did. So there I was midnight session. Even now I rate that duel between Anakin and Kenobi as one of the best in the entire franchise. Also entirely worth it for the high ground memes. 

Think Anakin! Think!

    Then something happened that I could not have seen coming. The all consuming mouse managed to buy Star Wars from Lucas. To give context to why this is so crazy to see, I strongly suggest people look up a documentary series called 'The Toys that made us' the episode on Star Wars will show how much George wanted to lock down his hold on the franchise.  Disney took the baton and Usain Bolt sprinted with it. New shows, new toys, licensed products coming at you faster that the speed of light. It was bananas. Star Wars was everywhere. There are three separate tabletop wargames available for Star Wars, so you can continue the fight from the head of a fleet, a wing of fighters, or even on the ground. With releases such as Armada, X-Wing, and Legion. 

     We got a swathe of new movies, and did I like them? Sure, I liked Force Awakens. I love a good New Hope remake as much as the next person. Please I am just joking. Just as Disney nuked the extended universe to make their own Star Wars, we saw a new range of characters. I will give spoiler warning, but if you have not seen the films well you wont have my sympathy at this point. One problem I had with the films that prevented me from getting on board one hundred percent was the way they treated the legends characters. Solo is eighty sixed, albeit in a dramatic way, Akbar is sucked into space, and Leia is sidelined. I also think we all know they did Luke dirty. 

    I still enjoyed the films to a degree upon their release but that was mainly due to the community I am a part of. We have this guy Karl. Now Karl is a deadset legend, and not just because he is the closest thing to a jedi master I have ever met. Karl for multiple films. Organised, negotiated, and bought out whole sessions of Gold Class to have our own screenings. He would do this in good faith that we would all get him the money for our tickets. This is probably what made the last trilogy enjoyable for me. I got to enjoy that hype for a new trilogy just as I did for the prequels. Just when I thought that the Star Wars I knew was going away we got the legends we so dearly needed. 

    Dave Filoni, and Jon Favreau. With the end of the long time series of the Clone Wars previews of the a project called the Mandalorian came to light. Lucky for me my MVP brother in law let us leach from his Disney+ account and I was able to watch this series. Star Wars was back. That classic New Hope, spaghetti western in space vibe was restored. That legends taste was back. It was that nostalgic, yet new feeling that made the Mandalorian so enjoyable as a fan of the original trilogy. The way in which legacy characters and newer characters were blended together, given screen time, and dare I say equal respect. That provided the show its winning formula. With this approach I can only see a way to marry the old and the new. To as corny as it sounds bring some balance. I recently watched a Star Wars Legion championship in which a commentator stated we are in a Star Wars renaissance at the moment, and I have to agree. We seem to have a limitless supply of new properties, the range of releases for games such as Legion, X-wing, and Armada continue to grow. Due in no small part to their ability to draw from these new releases. 

    As a new father I am quite frankly stoked by the idea that Star Wars will continue to be an active franchise into his childhood. It is nice to imagine being able to share that with another generation. That in a way is so fitting to Star Wars. After all arguably the majority of Star Wars is about the transitions between generations. The first ever Star Wars figure I ever purchased was Old Ben Kenobi. He now sits next to Luke from the newer trilogy. Both having reached peak old jedi appearance. Two Generations. Who knows maybe my son will not even like Star Wars instead preferring sports. 

    Either way I know I will continue to enjoy Star Wars as I continue to grow older but not grow up. Now let us see that Book of Boba Fett. 


Post script: I had planned to drop this on the 25/5/21. During the writing and publication of this, Dave Filoni made news as the update to the Lucas Film website sent the internet into a spin as it was revealed he was the executive creative director. With stories covering that he had 'been in the role for some time and we <Lucas Film> just updated our website'.