What Makes Star Wars So Great (in our opinion)

Disclaimer: I do like "Star Wars", I'm not a die hard fan but I know enough to appreciate it's glory. 

As May the fourth comes to a close on this beautiful Earth, I've been thinking: What has made "Star Wars" so successful? Many sci-fi shows have lived and died but Star Wars has stood the test of time, even during the awkward years of Anakin and Padme. There are also other series and sagas that have stood the test of time ie. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, and what do these three films/books have in common? They have created worlds for us to live in and there is a bond between characters that we love. 

"Star Wars" immerses us in a world where a farm boy finds out he's more special than he could have imagined and learns to fulfill his destiny with the help of a memorable cast of friends he meets along the way (The effects in the late 70's were also groundbreaking and are still fun to see on screen). The world expands for us when we watch the prequals - showing  the beauty of Naboo, the hustle and bustle of Coruscant and ominous forests of Kashyyyk. We meet new heroes and villains' and learn more about the ones we already came to love. (We could do another blog post nay an essay on why these didn't land as quite as the original trilogy). And now with The Force Awakens, the world continues to expand and bring us into another epic story where we learn more about the world that is "Star Wars". 

The characters are fun to watch, and we can find ourselves in them, whether it's feeling like we don't have direction like Luke, or wishing we could have the charisma of Han Solo, or trying to figure ourselves out like Ray. Having relatable and sympathetic characters has made "Star Wars" a success, (and the actors who played them did a fantastic job. RIP Carrie.) 

The loyalty and dynamic between the friends in these books/films is also something we admire and want to see more of, or maybe we see our friendships within these characters? 

Moreover, all the detail and information we get makes the world feel lived in. From small details like blaster scoring on a wall in a Mos Eisley to those weird dice Han has in the Falcon. Its easy to feel like there was a history there. People were here before the camera started rolling and they will be going about there live long after the director yells "Cut!"

It's awesome how "Star Wars" has stood the test of time. It has captured the imaginations of generations and brought us all together in a shared sense of wonder and escapism. (Unless you're one of those picky people who can't stand Rose or Jar Jar Binks). And guess what? Those people will still watch the next films or series because we're curious about what more is out there in this fantastic universe!

Now with the shows on Disney+ and near annual film releases, we have more of the universe to explore than ever before. It's becoming even more interesting for those of us who haven't read the cannon books. I'm one of those learning as I go. I was raised mainly on "Star Trek" and watched "Star Wars" here and there with my dad but I always get excited when I learn something new about the "Star Wars" universe. Fans have made stories for everyone in the world and how they relate. It's a good time and I'm excited to watch "Bad Batch" and other upcoming spin offs. 

"Star Wars" has a place for everyone, which is why everyone has their favorite movies and characters and will defend why their movie is best till their blue in the face! Why do you think "Star Wars" is so amazing?!