The eighth installment of the most famous galactic film franchise arrives (with the permission of Star Trek, the trekkies are not going to get angry) and, to take advantage of the occasion, many Star Wars fans are warming up by reviewing all the films of the saga .
Now, in the middle of the third trilogy, with a new movie in the making, many are not sure what order to follow to catch up with the rest of the titles that precede it; and more considering the dance of episodes and the number of temporary jumps that there are in each relaunch of the series.
The optimal order to fully enjoy Star Wars has always been discussed. Now, which is better?
In this article we will learn about three possibilities,one of which seems far fetched but makes a lot of sense.
- Did you know that Star Wars has one of the most famous McGuffins in cinema
: What is a McGuffin?
And the 10 best examples of cinema.
What titles will we take into account to follow the story?
Star Wars is a saga divided into several parts that have been released many years apart, something that can disorient those who are not attentive or lose track of the movies. And above, we must bear in mind that the order of release of each one is not linear with the chronology of the saga . Let’s see which ones are important:
First trilogy (“the classic”): Episodes IV, V and VI
Released between the end of the 70’s and the beginning of the 80’s, its action is actually located in the middle of the saga. It tells of the fight of young Luke Skywalker and his rebel friends against the Galactic Empire, led by the evil Darth Vader and his master, the Emperor.
What movies are included
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).
Second trilogy (“the prequels”): Episodes I, II and III
They hit theaters in the late 90s and early 00s. We jump back in time to learn about the childhood of Anakin Skywalker, Luke’s father, who would end up becoming the antagonist of the previous movies . Obviously, the films about his childhood and youth take place before chronologically speaking of those already mentioned.
What movies are included?
1. Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999).
2. Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002).
3. Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Third trilogy (in process): Episodes VII, VIII and IX
Started in 2015 with The Force Awakens, it has a story that takes place 30 years after Episode VI. New characters appear and the most transcendental of the first three films (the originals) are recovered. However, as it is halfway finished at the moment, we remain in suspense as we learn what connections link it to the classic episodes.
What movies are included?
1. Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015).
2. Star Wars, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017).
3. Star Wars, Episode IX: [headline pending] (2019).
Spin-offs (parallel stories to the main one)
Disney also showed interest (or desire to continue exploiting the goose that lays the golden eggs, depending on how you look at it) in telling different stories that take place within the same world as the rest of the nine films, but whose argument does not link them directly to them.
In principle, these spin-offs are three, but only one has come to us:
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). The action takes place before Episode IV (1977), as a “glue” between the prequels and the classic trilogy.
Star Wars: a story that goes from three to three
The particularity of Star Wars began to narrate a story that was already started (remember, Episode IV: a new hope).
A hint for those who are not clear: it is easier if we conceive it as a story explained in “packs” of three. Each triad has its own characters, although sometimes we see them appear in other titles belonging to another set of films; It happens in a different time and with exclusive plots , which are also connected to others that will happen later, but this way it is easier to understand and visualize the whole.
3 different ways to see Star Wars, which one do you choose
? Too much information
Calm down, we are going to offer three viewing possibilities that will allow all the Star Wars titles to fit together to get to know the story in depth. By the way, we will skip the Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels series, to focus exclusively on the movies.
Very simple
chronological order . It is about starting the saga according to the order that George Lucas himself defends.
This would be the order:
1. Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002).
3. Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
5. Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).
6. Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
7. Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).
8. Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015).
9. Star Wars, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017).
Following this order, here we leave the trailer for the first 7 episodes (not counting Rogue One):
Release order
In this case, it is about watching each movie according to the order in which they were released, from 1977 to 2017. It is in this order where more jumps forward and back in the plot we will do , so pay attention.
So, it would be as follows:
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).
Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999).
Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002).
Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015).
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
Star Wars, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
If you have not yet seen the trailer for Episode VIII, here we bring the extended version :
Advantages
Many of us have known the saga in this way and it still seems to us the truly optimal. Through this option one begins to become familiar with the classic trilogy, which is around which all the drama and epic of the saga revolves. Next, we jump back in the timeline to go through the three prequels that we know will not end well, precisely.
And this is where one of the key points to defend this form of viewing lies: as the prequels progress, the viewer gets closer and closer to a tragedy that we know will end up happening inevitably, although at times it seems that everything is going to have a happy ending.
The real emotion lies in the last hour of Episode III (as we said above), knowing that it is the inescapable prelude to the disaster that precedes the classic trilogy and for which it is possible.
drawbacks
So many jumps back and forth in the chronology can make more than one get lost and confuse characters and decades. After all, when Episode VI ends, we go back years. Finished Episode III, we move forward to VII. Then we go back in time to see Rogue One (bridge between III and IV) and, finally, we go forward a few years for VIII.
We understand that many make a mess.
Order ‘Machete’
A few years ago the “Machete order” was released, which was sold as the definitive order to enjoy Star Wars. This alternative arose taking into account that it is difficult that today there is no one who does not know who Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader are.
The Machete order proposes the following:
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002).
Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).
In the famous television series Big Bang Theory, astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali explains this way of looking at the saga:
Advantages
This peculiar way of viewing Star Wars dispenses with Episode I, which for a server is always an advantage. The excuse is that it is intended to contextualize the story of Darth Vader, narrated in II and III, once we first know who he is, thanks to IV and V. In this way, a parenthesis is created in the narrative.
When we already know how the bad asthmatic in the black suit has come to be, we resume the story with Episode VI to see everything concluded.
In this way, you get more out of the prequels , since they are not too loved by the average viewer; and many things are spun that may not be clear from the classic trilogy. Thus, the past of many key characters is investigated, such as Obi-Wan, Anakin, Yoda or The Emperor.
Disadvantages
Although revolutionary and effective if you know Star Wars well, the Machete Order has its flaws. Ignoring Episode I has its consequences, since starting with the next chapter implies that we are not clear about who each character is or what kind of relationship there is between them; especially when it comes to Anakin himself and his great love, Padme. Nor will we know anything about his childhood or how and why he becomes a Jedi apprentice.
Another downside: the Machete Order was proposed three years ago , when Episodes VII, VIII did not yet exist; nor Rogue One, the movie that links the two trilogies (prequels and classic); so it is not very clear at what time he would have to see her.
- You may be interested in knowing: The 12 best films about technological dystopias.
All the news and news about cinema and series of the moment, you will find them in this link.
All the news and news about cinema and series of the moment, you will find them in this link.
