THE STAR WARS SEQUEL TRILOGY -- GALACTIC BRILLIANCE OR BANTHA POODOO? By Geoff Jackson

Since I was 8, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Star Wars universe (and, really - who hasn’t been?)

There was something special and life-affirming when seeing the original first movie at such a young, impressionable age. Since that time, back in the late 1970s, the market’s been flooded with Star Wars-related toys, action figures, comic books, and other material tie-ins; simultaneously, playground conversation was dominated by talk and conjecture about each movie, and as a middle-class male growing up in Ronald Reagan's retro-America, fluency about the series served as a bit of currency-for-coolness among my peers.

Star Wars is singularly unique in having a mix of variables that seems to enduringly appeal to a wide variety of audiences - the young, the old, the religious, the secular, and more. After we were given the original trilogy in 1977 through 1983, creator George Lucas followed-up with a “prequel trilogy” between the years 2002 and 2005. Whereas his first trilogy was groundbreaking and culturally-significant ("Use the Force, Luke!" "No, I am your father!") the second paled in comparison — relying way too much on green-screen special effects and computer-generated imagery over, say, physical set props and revolutionary costume-design. The fact that cliche tropes, wooden dialogue, and predictable storylines were offered in lieu of creative new directions meant the prequels were generally less significant and weren't as well-received by a rabid fanbase.

Flash forward to 2015 when the start of the "sequel trilogy" came into existence after an expensive Disney acquisition from LucasFilm, and we were once again treated to a set of movies that not only returned to a former look-and-feel, but also offered original actors reprising iconic roles -- among them, Mark Hamil as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

In my opinion there's basically a set tableau or matrix of variables one can use to grade or predict the success of any entry - TV or film -- within the Star Wars universe; they are:

1. Depicting a Hero’s Journey with relatable characters

2. Featuring some form of spiritual mysticism or unique religious creed

3. Offering cool SFX imagery and engaging looks at future technology

4. Using a familiar cinematic look-and-feel to Lucas’s original movie

5. Doing grand storytelling with an overarching vision, and (lastly)

6. "Intangible Greatness"*

Upon a little more reflection, I think these categories are rather self-evident; they're certainly salient points or characteristics about the original trilogy everyone can relate to. And as it comes to the sequel trilogy, specifically, let's drill down a bit within each and see what applies for Episodes 7 through 9, so as to give a corresponding grade accordingly (subjectively here on scale of 1-10).

Looking at the Sequel Trilogy holistically:

1. Depicting a Hero’s Journey with relatable characters: New director, JJ Abrams, wrote and directed the first film -- Episode 7: The Force Awakens -- as an intentional homage to the original 1977's A New Hope. As with Luke Skywalker, we have the central character of Rey (spoiler alert: Palpatine) walking the familiar path of the Hero(ine)'s Journey, heeding destiny's call and claiming a mysterious identity in a larger universe. Switching genders, this character arc is very similar to what Luke went through, replete with the big battle raging outside around a personal, climatic near-death experience in the trilogy's last film. Side characters of Finn, BB8, Poe Dameron, and even the villainess, Captain Phasma, say and do things convincingly along the old guard heroes, and support the story arc of our central figure. Grade: 8

2. Featuring some form of spiritual mysticism or unique religious creed: The Force features primarily as it always has in the sequels, but is used in new and different ways, so as to keep audiences entertained and second-guessing. Force projection is now a thing, as is breathing in space and not perishing from its cold or debilitating effects. Many found these developments to range from mildly-annoying to outright heretical, but I found them rather useful and exciting. Given the familiar relationships between masters and apprentices, and a quasi-religious order that studies in solitude amidst self-sanctification, the re-awakening of the Force was a key ingredient to what really makes Star Wars "Star Wars". Grade: 9

3. Offering cool SFX imagery and engaging looks at future technology: The SFX is both updated and wonderful in all three of the new films. We have a combination of familiar machinery and technology, alongside new armaments and droids, all doing both new and familiar things. The aliens are more varied as is the featured diversity showcasing more people of color and difference ethnicities among various humans. Grade: 9

4. Using a familiar cinematic look-and-feel to Lucas’s original movie: When it comes to a familiar tone and feel, Abrams was sure to use similar footage of tie fighter and X-wing battle sequences (especially showcasing closeups on pilots in cockpits), and made sure the infamous George Lucas frame swipes were employed liberally during more than a few different story transitions. Some say the plot is a direct retelling of the original Star Wars film (and it is), but the respectful imitation of cinematography, primarily in Episodes 7 and 9 (the ones Abrams handled), was pleasantly delicious. Grade: 9

5. Doing grand storytelling with an overarching vision: Now we come to where I think the trilogy breaks down. Most are familiar with the fact that Episode 8: The Last Jedi had a different writer and director in the personage of Rian Johnson, and that Johnson took great liberties with sacred tropes (looking at you, Luke Skywalker and your expected heroism). Most think fan disappointments around familiar expectations caused the online backlash and enduring hate it received. Personally, I think TLJ is the best of the sequel trilogy and breaks new ground, giving us new things to think about and subverting our collective expectations. But I do recognize a huge breakdown in continuity between episodes 7-9, primarily because Abrams and Disney admitted they didn't have an overarching story plan written at the outset of filming. And it shows -- by Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, we have many previous plot points started by Johnson totally undone and certain story lines "retconned" in 180 degrees to make fans generally more happy. Grade here: 3.

6. "Intangible Greatness": I believe this is the best, last category in which to judge a Star Wars entry -- did it make your heart skip a beat? Were you pleasantly surprised by things expected and unexpected? Was it magical in some way for the kid you were or the kid still inside you? I'd say episodes 7 and 8 earned high marks in this category -- but that episode 9 was just too overlong, frenetic, and served mainly to cram-in plot points and tie-up connections. As an average for the all three episodes, I'd subjectively say "intangible greatness" was still rather high throughout. Grade: 8

Composite overall score: 7.7/10. About a C+. I think that's a fair assessment that most would agree with.

This matrix of variables above works equally well for judging both the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and Andor -- the former noticeably tweaking the expectations of a Hero's Journey (adding a father-son component) and introducing a new mysticism ("This is The Way"), while the latter overtly lacks in category 2 (spiritual mysticism) so as to play more towards political intrigue.

Did I get my observations right? Do you have a comment to share or a perspective that differs? If so, please leave word in the section below and feel free to start a respectful dialogue!

(*full disclosure: I didn’t coin this term myself, but rather pinched it from my grading of past submissions to a local film competition — it just works so well, I had to use it!)

By Geoffrey W. Jackson

Posted 2/1/2023