Episode VII...Spoiler Alert

As for the trailer, here are my thoughts:

• Opening shot and voice over:  Looked and sounded perfect.  Like the overture for an epic.
• Pop goes the Stormtrooper: John Boyega entrance felt like a jolt.  The old music cue from Luke over the Sarlacc Pit was brilliant and following it with new violins reminded me of the tension that Alfred Hitchcock would get from soundtracks in his films.  The sound of a Probe Droid from on Hoth was unmistakable and instantly familiar.  And Bodega's acting...the look on his face and his frantic motions spoke volumes
• R2-FIFA looked both adorable and frenetic.  He was booking across the Tatooine landscape like a being meant to thrive in a desert wasteland.  Did he sort of wink at the audience as he was scurrying by?
• The shiny new stormtroopers.  Familiar but with a noticeable and welcome update.  More frenetic energy.  It took me back to the initial assault on Princess Leia's ship back in 1977.  But instead of seeing the tension build from the perspective of the waiting rebels lining the hallway of the Tantive IV, it was the reverse.
• Daisey Ridley on her Fudgsicle-Speeder could have been lifted directly from the Ralph McQuarrie sketchbooks.  The sound of the engines roaring as she raced off after clearly seeing something truly disturbing was perfect.
• Sleak X-Wing pilot helmet.  Same as the stormtroopers: familiar but with a noticeable and welcome update.  (I am told that the Aurabesh writing on his flight vest is upside down and says, "Pull to Inflate."  But I heard it on the Internet, so I have no idea if it's true.)
• The X-Wings racing along the lake.  It looks like someone was in a fourth vehicle racing next to the three on screen and filming.  Just filming.  Not CGI.  Not a model.  Just three X-wing fighters racing to save the day.  Building the music with deep brass horns was fantastic.
• The Man In Black.  I saw determination.  I saw youthful energy.  And the saber...I saw rage and uncontrolled energy unleashed.  Crackling like an electrical arc rather than an elegant laser.  This was a weapon from a LESS civilized time.  And the side vents took me off-guard.  A little boost, like Nigel Tunfel's amplifier going up to 11.  The bursts from the vents seemed like it was raw power that could not be contained...like flames spewing from the exhaust of a hot rod or belching out of the nostrils of a mighty dragon.
• "The Darkness...and the Light"  The voice-over has weight and texture to it.  The words felt like 3-dimensional solid objects carefully sculpted and crafted.
• And the Falcon...oh, the Falcon.  With the iconic John Williams music cue and the camera desperate to keep up with an expert flier followed by the TIE fighters screeching past, we all became six years old.  Ok..maybe you became a teenager...but there was probably at least of moment of elementary school that surfaced.
• Even the title logo was a warm comforting sight
• And the sudden end of the music as the horrible words: "December 2015" appeared.
• But with the darkness and quiet that followed, I just barely heard that Snap-Hiss of the lightsaber over the sound of my beating heart.

Now THAT'S a teaser!

Shaw versus Christiansen

The point of "Vader's" actions when he saved Luke was that his sacrifice redeemed him.   At that point Anakin returned.  Read that again...Anakin returned.   Literally, the name of the movie was "Return of the Jedi".

The character that Luke saw as played by Sebastian Shaw WAS Anakin.  It wasn't Vader who saved Luke...it was Anakin.   He was Anakin, the whole time.  Luke felt this.  He felt the good in him.

Yoda was wrong.   Darkness and Light are not irreversible paths, but a series of choices.

If Anakin stopped existing at the time of Order 66, then his sacrifice on the second Death Star meant nothing.

That is why it was correct that the Force Ghost was played by Shaw.

From a certain point of view.  ;-)The point of "Vader's" actions when he saved Luke was that his sacrifice redeemed him.   At that point Anakin returned.  Read that again...Anakin returned.   Literally, the name of the movie was "Return of the Jedi".

The character that Luke saw as played by Sebastian Shaw WAS Anakin.  It wasn't Vader who saved Luke...it was Anakin.   He was Anakin, the whole time.  Luke felt this.  He felt the good in him.

Yoda was wrong.   Darkness and Light are not irreversible paths, but a series of choices.

If Anakin stopped existing at the time of Order 66, then his sacrifice on the second Death Star meant nothing.

That is why it was correct that the Force Ghost was played by Shaw.

From a certain point of view.  ;-)

Expectations of Episode VII - Part Three (The Story)

For Expectations of Episode VII - Part 1 (The Tone) see here: http://rosie-verses.blogspot.com/2014/04/rxpectations-of-episode-vii.html
For Expectations of Episode VII - Part 2 (JJ Abrams) see here: http://rosie-verses.blogspot.com/2014/09/expectations-of-episode-vii-part-two-jj.html

Author's note:  The majority of this was written before the announcement of the title of Episode VII to be "The Force Awakens".  But it fit perfectly with what I had in mind for my speculation of the story.  You'll see...

Now onto Part 3 (The Story):
We return to our essay on expectations...already in progress.

So, the biggest question of our Expectations of Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens (other than the ability of Hamill, Fisher and Fird to perform well...of which I have no worries) is the question of what will the story be?

I couldn't or wouldn't even begin to speculate on the specifics of the details of the Sequel Trilogy.  The whole POINT of the Story Group and the reclassification of the established Expanded Universe as Legends was to allow for the final set of movies to be free to develop creatively wherever the best story (given the medium of film) could progress.  In other words...a great story developed over decades of novels may not be engaging or interesting as a cinematic event.

Pragmatists note:  I am under no illusion that a main driver for rebooting the saga is to increase ticket sales.  It is an attempt to eliminate the alienation of the 90% of the population who has NOT been keeping up with the novels.  But I, personally, don't see this as a real issue with Star Wars, as the saga moves forward.  There may have been satisfaction in seeing previously novelized stories, just to see them on the big screen.  But, I  doubt it would do Mara Jade, Admiral Thrawn and the Yuuzhan Vong justice to relegate them to footnotes in a screen crawl.  So we are left with their decision to create Legends and to reboot Star Wars.

It is what it is.  Good decision.  Bad decision.  That is for you to decide.

But, one thing we can agree on is that Episode VII is being created with a blank slate.  Sort of.  Not all of Star Wars was rebooted.  Episodes I to VI remain intact...basically.  In fact, that was the whole point.  Episode VII is meant to seamlessly continue the stories we saw in those films and in the two animated series directed by Dave Feloni.

In terms of long form fiction, the term "canon" is a promise from an artist that moving forward, the stories, characters and settings created will not contradict previously created work.  That's it.  It is not a statement of what is good or bad or exciting or boring.  It is just a statement of where continuity can be expected.  But it is also a statement that is intended to conserve momentum.  The actions in one chapter will have consequences that are felt in the following chapter, which in turn become the actions that have consequences for the next following chapter.

So...when we say blank slate, that isn't quite accurate.  And since Episode VII is NOT being created on a completely blank slate, we, as fans, can use our observations of the in-universe Galaxy That Lucas Built, plus our knowledge of storytelling in general to give us a pretty good idea of what is coming soon to a theater near you.   (Or at least a good guess.  Ok...at least a guess.)

So...what do we know?

We know Star Wars.  (And by Star Wars...I mean the film released in 1977, later known as Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.)  We know The Empire Strikes Back.  We know Revenge, uh, I mean...Return of the Jedi.  We know The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.  We know the tales of The Clone Wars and we know tales of Rebels.

But there are a few other things that we know about Star Wars.  We know about George Lucas' reverence for ancient storytelling techniques, observations of our own humanity through art and about Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey.   I think all of these give us clues as to what will (or should) be the driving themes of Episode VII, VIII & IX.

In 1977, a story "began".  We soon learned that the story that began was actually a story already in progress.  Star Wars was clearly a saga about a Galaxy with not just decades of history, but eons of history.

In 1980, The Empire Strikes Back was released with an opening crawl that indicated that the film being released was Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.  And then, in the re-release on April 10, 1981, we learned that Star Wars: A New Hope, was in fact, Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. 

Lucas has always indicated that that Star Wars (1977) was only the first act of a larger movie. (Although, he did not know that, so he took bits of the third act and included it in this release, which explains why there were two Death Stars.  But that's neither here nor there.

(For better insight into Lucas' original draft of "The Star Wars", I highly recommend collecting the 8-Issue comic adaptation recently produced by Dark Horse comics: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-824/The-Star-Wars-1-Nick-Runge-cover.  In it Han Solo is a large green lizard and the primate, fierce Wookies prove a pivotal element in the destruction of the Death Star)

But as for the films as they actually made, the OTHER significant statement about the original intent of the saga, is that Star Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, was the middle of a NINE part saga.  Recently, it has been reported that this is actually a 12 part saga (but the additional 3 episodes were meant to be stand alone films about one facet of the mythology, like just the droids or just the wookies.)

But, from a narrative standpoint, one of the critical components that George Lucas respected and adhered to was the three act story.

• Act 1: Introduce the characters
• Act 2: Put the characters in peril
• Act 3: Solve the peril.

So, how does that basic structure apply to what we have seen in the Star Wars saga?

Let's break down the Original Trilogy:

• Act 1: Introduce the characters (Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope)
• Characters: We meet Luke and Vader.  Luke starts as a child and ends with a demonstration of his bravery.  Vader starts as a villain and ends with a vendetta to regain his honor.
• Setting: The Galaxy is in Civil War.  The Evil Empire is crushing all opposition with a doctrine of fear.  A rebellion has been sparked to restore freedom.  The Evil Empire is thwarted. 
• Act 2: Put the characters in peril (Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)
• Characters: Luke learns that bravery is not enough...patience to develop skills are needed.  Vader defeats Luke.
• Setting: The Evil Empire, while thwarted temporarily at the conclusion of Act 1, remains a powerful, unstoppable force.  The rebellion is unable to stop their advancement and ends on the run.
• Act 3: Solve the peril (Star Wars: Episode VI: Revenge Return of the Jedi.)
• Characters: Luke learns the power of love over hate.  Vader does, too.
• Setting: The rebellion musters all it's strength for a targeted attack on the heart of the tyranny.  The head is severed eliminating the guidance and leadership of the supreme leader and giving the inspiration for a Galaxy to rise up against their oppressors.  The End.

OK...now let's see how the Prequel Trilogy fleshes out:

• Act 1: Introduce the characters (Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace)
• Characters: We meet Ben Kenobi and Anakin.  We meet Palpatine.
• Setting: The Jedi are good. The Trade Federation is bad. The Galactic Senate allows the Trade Federation to be bad because it is corrupt.   The Trade Federation is thwarted.
• Act 2: Put the characters in peril (Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones)
• Characters: Anakin finds fulfillment through his connections to others.  Anakin strives to protection those he is connected to.  Palpatine continues to consolidate power. 
• Setting: The Trade Federation while thwarted temporarily returns as a part of a more powerful, unstoppable force, the Separatist Confederacy .  The Jedi is unable to stop their advancement and ends on the offensive.  The Galaxy is drawn into its greatest existential threat...The Clone Wars.
• Act 3: Solve the peril (Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)
• Characters: Anakin becomes the very thing he has fought so long to vanquish...a danger to those he loves.  In his fear, anger and hate, he gains ultimate cosmic power, but pays the ultimate price...loss of self-determination. 
• Setting: The chaotic forces separating the galaxy are vanquished.  An exhausted galactic populace gains a long awaited peace, but pays the ultimate price...loss of self-determination.

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So, how does any of this help us figure out what path awaits us as acolytes of the Galaxy that Lucas Built?

Well, let's take another step back and see how our three act methodology applies to the overall saga.  We can think of Episodes I, II & III as Act 1, Episodes IV, V and VI as Act 2 and Episodes VII, VIII & IX as the concluding Act 3.

So, how does the overall story flesh out in this context?

• Act 1: Introduce the characters (The Prequels - Episodes I, II & III)
• Characters: The Galaxy is filled with a vast and diverse population.  Some live a physical existence, while others in tune with the interconnectedness of all life are able to see beyond this crude matter and are partly controlled by and partly control the great Force which connects us all.  Some used these connections to gain knowledge and defense, while others use these connections selfishly to give in to their fear, hate and suffering for personal gain.
• Setting: For a thousand generations, the Jedi were the Guardians of the Galaxy, providing peace and justice for over a thousand generations.  Their counterparts, the Sith, long stifled have lay in wait for their moment to tip the balance to grasp power for themselves.  Balance was returned as the Jedi were reduced to just a few and the Sith just a few.  
• Act 2: Put the characters in peril (The Originals - Episodes, IV, V and VI)
• Characters: A secular, technological dependent society becomes the only source for stability and progress.   As vast as the sprawling Galaxy is, it is only a small place because it's citizens who have a vague sense of a guiding goodness and purpose, they are blind to the larger world that they are all a part of.  Only a few remain who have the clarity, concentration and determination to open themselves up to the Force, an energy field created by all living things. They are blind to how it surrounds us and penetrates us. and binds the galaxy together.  The entities in the galaxy are now disconnected from the Force, and, for the most part, their lives have become disconnected from one another.  But the Force is not dead...it still penetrates all.  The connects are still there, and are valued when found, but the Force is dormant...sleeping.  
• Setting: Dark times have fallen.  Fear, anger and hatred manifest everywhere.  The galaxy has shrunk back from its ancient greatness.  The Light side has held back the darkness, but the Force remains splintered.  But without the darkness, the light is no longer needed...the Force goes dormant...a Galaxy that has evolved beyond a need to connect with the luminous beings that are their true selves.
• Act 3: Solve the peril (The Sequels - Episodes VII, VIII and IX)
• Characters:  The entities in the galaxy remain disconnected from the Force.  It is as if The Force went into hibernation...into sleep.  (See what I did there?) They struggle to repair the connections that bound the galaxy together.  Like a withering vine, life connections have atrophied.  The beings in the Galaxy are splintered and disjointed.  Some long for the connections that The Force embodied...some strive for a more technological approach that turns it's back on The Force.  They see The Force as a dangerous, powerful mystery that inevitably leads to the corruption, fear, anger and hatred.  In both camps, the powers obtained by learning about The Force are spoken only in whispers.  
• Setting:  It is a Galaxy adrift.  A culture of rejection of The Force has led to an underlying sense to lost connections.  The suspicion of the dangers of studying and learning about The Force and our connection to it has slowly begun to unravel reality itself.   The remaining remnants of the Sith see this as an opportunity to re-build without opposition, but the remaining remnants of the Jedi...the Light Side discover the plot to wipe out all connections to The Force and realize that if our connections are truly severed, then life and all of existence will simply cease to be.  It is only by joining with the the Dark Side acolytes that the Light Side Force users can fight back to win the hearts and minds of a Galaxy desperate to stay bound together as one.  The members of the Galaxy learn that they must embrace being open to a larger world while accepting the passion that sparks our drives.  It is the very connections rejected by the Jedi that led to their downfall.  Once the ancient rift is healed, can the nature of The Force be embraced by all opening up true understanding for an entire Galaxy.

Or something like that.

What do YOU think?