Chat corner 186: The Force Awakens

[annathecrow]

Hi!

The theme for this chat corner is "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens", the first movie of the Sequel trilogy. It was released in December of 2015 (nearly ten years!), and directed by J. J. Abrams.

Any thoughts, feels, or opinions you'd like to share about this movie?

Alternatively, if you'd like a more abstract prompt: what's your strongest SW-related memory from 2015?

Comments

[seascribble]

Certainly gave us a top contender for one of the cutest droids.

[yourlibrarian]

True! He has such a great role too throughout the trilogy.

I rewatched this last month and while I still see the same problems as in the initial view I was struck again by how likable the new characters were in this. That was not a small feat given how much anticipation there was to see the original actors back in their iconic roles.

[annathecrow]

That's such a good point, the main trio is so likeable.

In a way I feel the rest of the movies didn't know what to do with that. Nowadays a lot of storytellers prefer a different kind of character: someone who's a mess, abrasive, or outright a jerk. Yoda in OT; Luke in ST. They're easier to build tension around, especially if they're the protag. The viewer wants them to do the Right Thing, and they don't and don't and don't until they finally do, and boom, instant tension.

[yourlibrarian]

I think you're right that this is an increasingly common character. I have to imagine it's more fun to write someone like that than more likable characters. However it has to be done in small doses and it depends who they're surrounded by. I find a little goes a long way.

[annathecrow]

Oh yep, they absolutely hit the target on "cute non-verbal critter" with BB-8! I'd complain that it's a cliché, but I can't, I fall for them every time XD (especially the mechanical ones).

[jaded_of_mara]

i really liked it when i first saw it, but it definitely fell victim to the mystery box trap, and the fandom (and worse, the anti-fandom) that sprung up online around it certainly didnt help

i remember in 2015 refreshing ao3's "star wars - all media types" tag pretty regularly in the summer of 2015, when it hovered right around 5,000 fics total - eu, prequel, tcw, everything. when the first trailer dropped, a little trickle happened. and then the floodgates opened.

[atamascolily]

What I remember most from 2015 was feeling tentatively optimistic about Disney Star Wars and hoping that in spite of what I saw as an inherently flawed premise underlying The Force Awakens (the destruction of the OT's trio's hopes/dreams/life work creating the conditions under which the new trio would come into their own), the franchise would take advantage of the clean slate to move in new and interesting directions. I wish I could recapture that feeling of hopeful excitement/anticipation/curiosity regarding new Star Wars material.