The Mandalorian

[JungleSkip]

Woof

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Based on everything we know, it's not looking good.

Spoiler

Although I still think this is quite a few years before the whole Ben Solo incident, so maybe Grogu turns out to be a successful student for Luke? Probably not, though. Now I'm wondering if there will be a Luke spin-off (which again would shrink the galaxy), but there's a lot to explore in terms of his Jedi training days.

Spoiler

Thinking about this--what if Grogu is the catalyst for Luke wanting to start to train more Jedi properly going forward? I think that's a very likely possibility; especially if they're going to flesh out the time in-between Revenge of The Jedi and the Sequel Trilogy; that having a Luke mini-series that only lasts one season may be enough.

With the way things are going, things seem pretty easy to deduce.

Mandorian will focus on the reclaimation of Mandalore, along with showing how The Empire handled the planet during the time in-between the Prequels to after Mandalorian Season 2.
New Republic focuses on how the NR is tackling former Imperial strongholds, with the potential rise of The First Order
Ahsoka focuses on her finding Thrawn, and ultimately Ezra
and The Book of Boba Fett focuses on Boba Fett becoming a power giant in the Galactical front.

 

[Jaden]

Spoiler: Spoiler

Great episode, loved seeing Luke and R2D2 appear at the end. Just one question, is Book Of Boba Fett S3 or is it a new series for D+?

 

[JungleSkip]

Spoiler

The more I think about it, the more I like today's episode. I think Luke's superhero schtick was over the top and indulgent to the worst parts of this fanbase, but have no issue with him showing up at all. I think I would have preferred us *not* seeing him slice through the Dark Troopers like swiss cheese, and rather just had the blast doors open with him standing in the midst of their broken down bodies.

That being said, I'm not sure this show works without Baby Yoda. I hope his absence from the show is temporary. And the stinger was laugh out loud dumb. I really hope the next season doesn't focus on Boba. I have no interest in that.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Spoiler: More Mando

It is funny to see a few people on here not wanting this ending. To me it was the perfect Star Wars Episode. I literally don't think you want what most Star Wars Fans want, I'm not sayign you are wrong I'm just saying you have a different view on SW and different wants. Dave/John and I have the same wants for the series which started in Clone Wars, continued in Rebels and now has to me peaked into Mando. I am so excited I get to be excited about Star Wars again the Sequels were to me so bad, they pandered but didn't even do that much fun stuff or dark stuff so whats the point? This might Pander but the moments are very well either fun or dark. Also if you didn't feel for Mando when he was saying goodbye to his son, this show just isn't for you.

Boba my guess is its own thing. Maybe even an anthology showing how he is going to gain power and those who partner with him and while yes he will be the main character will have many side characters like Mando to make episodes feel different. Think we will have some episodes where you are with pirates, the next bounty hunters, next a treasure hunter and so on.

 

[JungleSkip]

Spoiler: More Mando

It is funny to see a few people on here not wanting this ending. To me it was the perfect Star Wars Episode. I literally don't think you want what most Star Wars Fans want, I'm not sayign you are wrong I'm just saying you have a different view on SW and different wants. Dave/John and I have the same wants for the series which started in Clone Wars, continued in Rebels and now has to me peaked into Mando. I am so excited I get to be excited about Star Wars again the Sequels were to me so bad, they pandered but didn't even do that much fun stuff or dark stuff so whats the point? This might Pander but the moments are very well either fun or dark. Also if you didn't feel for Mando when he was saying goodbye to his son, this show just isn't for you.

Boba my guess is its own thing. Maybe even an anthology showing how he is going to gain power and those who partner with him and while yes he will be the main character will have many side characters like Mando to make episodes feel different. Think we will have some episodes where you are with pirates, the next bounty hunters, next a treasure hunter and so on.

I think the most vocal online SW fans want that, yes. I just think it's a mistake to only cater to that crowd.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I think the most vocal online SW fans want that, yes. I just think it's a mistake to only cater to that crowd.

Then who should they cater to? They did the General Audience and that sucked, like sure they made money but the actors don't even want to come back (I see no Rey, Poe or Kylo movies or shows coming soon), Mando is a HUGE hit besides the two people on here not into it I don't see people on reddit hating it, no one in person I've talked to hates it and I've talked to people not even into Star Wars and they love this show they think its interesting and fun and sometimes can have too many references but even without knowing how Ashoka is they still think its cool.

Your a Nintendo fan and you think Nintendo does best when they cater towards fans? (Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Ultimate, Zelda Breathe of the wild) or are the more Casual titles better? New Super Mario Brother, Pokemon Lets Go Evee and Mario Kart circuit? I know whcih I pefer, you have an audience and make them happy while making the best product you can. Your acting like Mando is some disappointment the two main characters are BRAND new, the style of the show is new to star wars, the effects are a blend of physical and CGI and the acting while not oscar worthy is fun and well done. Watch New Hope and tell me this doesn't feel like it's in the same cinematic universe.
To each there own but I think Mando is pretty much perfect Star Wars and think both fan and General TV watchers agree.

If I can ask what out side of the first three films have you enjoyed from star Wars? Did you like Knights of the old Republic? Force Unleashed? The Thrawn books?

 

[joelbryant11]

The show could end after that and it would be my all time favorite.

 

[youhow2]

I think the most vocal online SW fans want that, yes. I just think it's a mistake to only cater to that crowd.

Spoiler: Spoils

I think it's fair to give fans of the series one gratuitous, modern "Luke being a BA Jedi" scene. You can't not pay off the fans who have stuck with Star Wars through the 80's and 90's bought the merch, read the books etc. and longed for "The next adventures of Luke Skywalker" and have only been able to imagine it, never having seen it represented proper. It's why Marvel's stories worked, and where the SW sequel trilogy failed. You don't have to go full tilt, but you just got to do some "fan service"... And I think they've walked that line between being palatable to someone more casual, whilst staying true to the universe and the fans quite well... Even though at some point you have to choose where to take the story, and staying within the established roots of the universe really is the only choice. You just can't completely retcon and write off 40 years of stories.


Now, Even though personally I thought the ending was a bit too gratuitous, I choose to see it as a gift to a community that I only find myself treading water, rather than a blight on a piece of media I enjoy. Maybe, all the close up shots of the droids, their design and the inherent cheese factor of the way they directed the action was meant to be interpreted a specific way...

The same way in the Rodriguez directed episode he planted that shot of Mando clearly taking off his jetpack and placing it neatly against the rock, then had Din fumbling up and down a hill for the entire episode.

I guess I just don't understand being upset about giving the fanboys a luke moment... Or even the Boba Fett thing, which is clearly meant to be more of a teaser than a serious representation of the product they are filming.

Some of the most engaging stories to come out of the "Legends" novels were centered around Tatooine after the empire fell, Boba Fett and the Hutts. It will be very interesting to explore them, even with the Disney brush on them. It's like you're almost complaining about Star Wars being Star Wars? If you've enjoyed Mando thus far, I can't imagine any reimagining of any of those stories being a turn off.

Was making Ultron a Villain in Avengers a mistake (quality of the second avengers outing aside)? Tony donning the Hulkbuster Armor? Was making a movie about Iron man in the first place a mistake?


I mean, come on dude, you're on a Theme Park forum, discussing Star Wars. You're not all too removed from that crowd, you're just obviously a bit less into "Star Wars" than some. It's okay to laugh at things and laugh at yourself some and enjoy cheesy and corny things.

I'm happy with the way the series has turned out and am excited to see where they take things with the way things ended. In a sense, all the spin-offs connected to Mando make sense now. I hope they stay loosely connected.

 

[JungleSkip]

If I can ask what out side of the first three films have you enjoyed from star Wars? Did you like Knights of the old Republic? Force Unleashed? The Thrawn books?

Love: STAR WARS, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE LAST JEDI, RETURN OF THE JEDI, KOTOR I/II, JEDI FALLEN ORDER (though this one is more on gameplay than story, which was fine but nothing special)

Like: THE FORCE AWAKENS, SOLO, ROGUE ONE, MANDO S1, MANDO S2 Episodes 1, 7, and 8 (even if the bit at the end rubbed me the wrong way)

Can take it or leave it: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Mostly Bad: CLONE WARS, REBELS, REVENGE OF THE SITH, the rest of MANDO S2. I read a bunch of the EU books as a tween/teen, and none of them are good, though they can be entertaining on a lizard-brain kind of level

Just bad: RISE OF SKYWALKER, ATTACK OF THE CLONES

You also talk about "Star Wars fans" as if I am not one. Quite the contrary. I have the Falcon's dice hanging from my car mirror. I went to Savi's for my birthday this year. I got married on May the 4th. I just want Star Wars to do great things, not the boring/obvious choices it's fallen into. Mando S1 felt like what I was looking for in Star Wars moving forward. New characters and stories free from the Skywalker saga. Yes, it could wink and nod here and there to them, but that's fine. S2 just threw itself MCU style into crossovers, and I found that to be distracting and disappointing.

As for your Nintendo analogies, I actually quite enjoy POKEMON LET'S GO and NEW SUPER MARIO BROS.

Spoiler: Spoils

I guess I just don't understand being upset about giving the fanboys a luke moment... Or even the Boba Fett thing, which is clearly meant to be more of a teaser than a serious representation of the product they are filming.


Was making Ultron a Villain in Avengers a mistake (quality of the second avengers outing aside)? Tony donning the Hulkbuster Armor? Was making a movie about Iron man in the first place a mistake?

I'm not "upset" about anything. I just didn't like it. That's the difference between the level of fan I am and the one's I'm talking about. I didn't love a lot of this season, or where they're clearly taking the franchise. But whatever. I'm not gonna send death threats to Dave Filoni or try and run this episode's guest star's body double off instagram. Just gonna be slightly bummed that we're going to LCD moving forward.

The Marvel comparison is bad. That's a universe defined by its crossovers and it's adaptions. SW can be anything, but they've reverted to trotting out the same tired old ponies rather than letting it grow.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Love: STAR WARS, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE LAST JEDI, RETURN OF THE JEDI, KOTOR I/II, JEDI FALLEN ORDER (though this one is more on gameplay than story, which was fine but nothing special)

Like: THE FORCE AWAKENS, SOLO, ROGUE ONE, MANDO S1, MANDO S2 Episodes 1, 7, and 8 (even if the bit at the end rubbed me the wrong way)

Can take it or leave it: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Mostly Bad: CLONE WARS, REBELS, REVENGE OF THE SITH, the rest of MANDO S2. I read a bunch of the EU books as a tween/teen, and none of them are good, though they can be entertaining on a lizard-brain kind of level

Just bad: RISE OF SKYWALKER, ATTACK OF THE CLONES

You also talk about "Star Wars fans" as if I am not one. Quite the contrary. I have the Falcon's dice hanging from my car mirror. I went to Savi's for my birthday this year. I got married on May the 4th. I just want Star Wars to do great things, not the boring/obvious choices it's fallen into. Mando S1 felt like what I was looking for in Star Wars moving forward. New characters and stories free from the Skywalker saga. Yes, it could wink and nod here and there to them, but that's fine. S2 just threw itself MCU style into crossovers, and I found that to be distracting and disappointing.

As for your Nintendo analogies, I actually quite enjoy POKEMON LET'S GO and NEW SUPER MARIO BROS.


I'm not "upset" about anything. I just didn't like it. That's the difference between the level of fan I am and the one's I'm talking about. I didn't love a lot of this season, or where they're clearly taking the franchise. But whatever. I'm not gonna send death threats to Dave Filoni or try and run this episode's guest star's body double off instagram. Just gonna be slightly bummed that we're going to LCD moving forward.

The Marvel comparison is bad. That's a universe defined by its crossovers and it's adaptions. SW can be anything, but they've reverted to trotting out the same tired old ponies rather than letting it grow.

Many people enjoy those games..but are they your favorite? The Best Pokemon are the ones made for fans not the ones made for anyone to play. Not that any of the Pokemon games are hard anyway and Breathe of the Wild is for sure great for both new fans and old....but its for sure not made for everyone.

I agree with you on the just bad but...but basically the only things Star Wars I don't like are most of the "new" books and the Sequels. I'm rewatching Rebels and enjoying it maybe more than the first time (but I understand the art/graphics could have been better in most of the series for sure....Clone Wars season 7 shows what animated Star Wars should look like)

It might just have become something you are going to have to try out certain shows/game and see what you like but this is the first time in so long that I'm excited to be a Star Wars fan....it just feels great after years of the sequel making me think Star Wars was no longer for me and this show says "F...Those films and get ready to enjoy the universe again"

 

[Nick]

Spoiler

The more I think about it, the more I like today's episode. I think Luke's superhero schtick was over the top and indulgent to the worst parts of this fanbase, but have no issue with him showing up at all. I think I would have preferred us *not* seeing him slice through the Dark Troopers like swiss cheese, and rather just had the blast doors open with him standing in the midst of their broken down bodies.

Spoiler

I agree, and I think even you have said in the past, Luke is the only one that made sense to go get the kid. I had no problem with him showing up. R2 showing up was a bit over the top for me, but it did provide a bit of an interaction with Grogu which I thought was interesting, as if they've crossed paths before.

That being said, I'm not sure this show works without Baby Yoda. I hope his absence from the show is temporary. And the stinger was laugh out loud dumb. I really hope the next season doesn't focus on Boba. I have no interest in that.

I think the most vocal online SW fans want that, yes. I just think it's a mistake to only cater to that crowd.

When you look online and even in this thread, Star Wars fans are happy again. I think that's the thing. This is a huge 180 in terms of how excited the fans are about the future from where they were a year ago after TROS. And for that, I applaud them. After all, Star Wars and entertainment franchise is made to entertain and make people happy. They are achieving that again.

Although yes, I did like TLJ, but the sequel trilogy was a mess and after it I had no faith in LucasFilm's direction. Now I do.

Spoiler

Thinking about this--what if Grogu is the catalyst for Luke wanting to start to train more Jedi properly going forward? I think that's a very likely possibility; especially if they're going to flesh out the time in-between Revenge of The Jedi and the Sequel Trilogy; that having a Luke mini-series that only lasts one season may be enough.

With the way things are going, things seem pretty easy to deduce.

Mandorian will focus on the reclaimation of Mandalore, along with showing how The Empire handled the planet during the time in-between the Prequels to after Mandalorian Season 2.
New Republic focuses on how the NR is tackling former Imperial strongholds, with the potential rise of The First Order
Ahsoka focuses on her finding Thrawn, and ultimately Ezra
and The Book of Boba Fett focuses on Boba Fett becoming a power giant in the Galactical front.

Spoiler

I really don't think CGI Luke would get them an entire season. They'd have to cast an actual actor. I know everyone wants Sebastian Stan (and for good reason), but I just don't see a Luke *SERIES* happening.

And yeah, the Boba thing was confusing and Disney really needs to clarify. Is The Book of Boba a S3 subtitle or a new show? Because they just announced during Investors day that Mando S3 will come back in December 2021 and I highly doubt they''d have two Star Wars live action shows going at once, so I don't have a good feeling about where this could be headed.[/spoiler]

 

[JungleSkip]

When you look online and even in this thread, Star Wars fans are happy again. I think that's the thing. This is a huge 180 in terms of how excited the fans are about the future from where they were a year ago after TROS. And for that, I applaud them. After all, Star Wars and entertainment franchise is made to entertain and make people happy. They are achieving that again.

Although yes, I did like TLJ, but the sequel trilogy was a mess and after it I had no faith in LucasFilm's direction. Now I do.

Sure, nothing in Mando is as bad as TROS, but I'd also say nothing in it is as good as TLJ or even TFA. Disney has made a killing on hitting the "it's fine" level, and yea, more power to them. I just don't find that very exciting.

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

Spoiler

TBH, I’m not sure if it would’ve made sense that any other Jedi *except* for Luke show up. They’re saving the Ezra storyline for the Ahsoka show, too imo. Plus, I don’t think Ezra could’ve given those Dark Troopers the business like Luke did.

I think Grogu is about to go get chopped up by Ben, though.

Spoiler

I was thinking Cal Kestis in terms of who realistically it could have been, but having him show up this late in the timeline probably would have caused trouble for Fallen Order 2, since we really don't know anything about it yet and that would be a pretty hefty issue to write around.

 

[Nick]

Sure, nothing in Mando is as bad as TROS, but I'd also say nothing in it is as good as TLJ or even TFA. Disney has made a killing on hitting the "it's fine" level, and yea, more power to them. I just don't find that very exciting.

I don't totally agree, I think there's been many great episodes of The Mandalorian. But I think Disney saw they had a major Star Wars problem after the sequel trilogy and decided to do what Marvel does, which is give the fans what they want. And yes, when I say fans, I mean the hardcore fans. Giving Cobb Vanth got people excited and he's a little known character from the books. But then came Bo-Katan, Ahsoka, Boba (along with a back from the dead Fennec) and you know who.

Sure, that's a ton of fan service, but they at least made it all tie into the story and didn't just throw the characters there with no purpose. This has popularized lesser known characters to GP and gotten the sweaty's peeing their pants. IMO, it's a win-win and it rebuilds brand trust going forward.

Spoiler

I was thinking Cal Kestis in terms of who realistically it could have been, but having him show up this late in the timeline probably would have caused trouble for Fallen Order 2, since we really don't know anything about it yet and that would be a pretty hefty issue to write around.

Spoiler

You also have to think about it from the perspective of the general public. That scene was probably 5 minutes long and we only saw Luke's face for a minute or 2. The GP has no idea who Cal Kestis is. After an entire season of bringing in characters that they don't know, bringing in Luke brought some familiarity. The character had to make a big impact in a small amount of screen time since it was what ended the season and really only Luke could do that.

But beyond that, it just makes complete sense that Luke would find Grogu.

 

[youhow2]

Love: STAR WARS, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE LAST JEDI, RETURN OF THE JEDI, KOTOR I/II, JEDI FALLEN ORDER (though this one is more on gameplay than story, which was fine but nothing special)

Like: THE FORCE AWAKENS, SOLO, ROGUE ONE, MANDO S1, MANDO S2 Episodes 1, 7, and 8 (even if the bit at the end rubbed me the wrong way)

Can take it or leave it: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Mostly Bad: CLONE WARS, REBELS, REVENGE OF THE SITH, the rest of MANDO S2. I read a bunch of the EU books as a tween/teen, and none of them are good, though they can be entertaining on a lizard-brain kind of level

Just bad: RISE OF SKYWALKER, ATTACK OF THE CLONES

You also talk about "Star Wars fans" as if I am not one. Quite the contrary. I have the Falcon's dice hanging from my car mirror. I went to Savi's for my birthday this year. I got married on May the 4th. I just want Star Wars to do great things, not the boring/obvious choices it's fallen into. Mando S1 felt like what I was looking for in Star Wars moving forward. New characters and stories free from the Skywalker saga. Yes, it could wink and nod here and there to them, but that's fine. S2 just threw itself MCU style into crossovers, and I found that to be distracting and disappointing.

As for your Nintendo analogies, I actually quite enjoy POKEMON LET'S GO and NEW SUPER MARIO BROS.


I'm not "upset" about anything. I just didn't like it. That's the difference between the level of fan I am and the one's I'm talking about. I didn't love a lot of this season, or where they're clearly taking the franchise. But whatever. I'm not gonna send death threats to Dave Filoni or try and run this episode's guest star's body double off instagram. Just gonna be slightly bummed that we're going to LCD moving forward.

The Marvel comparison is bad. That's a universe defined by its crossovers and it's adaptions. SW can be anything, but they've reverted to trotting out the same tired old ponies rather than letting it grow.

Eh, that's fine and all dude. Your post come off a certain way critiquing the blatant fan service of the show as if people who enjoy certain elements are "beneath you" and your taste, and your taste is more or less what should be catered to. So, while I agree conceptually with you about most things, I just can't stand behind the way you critique, especially when you speak condescendingly about things people have said they enjoyed in this thread. That's where you are losing me, personally.

I love some of those novels. You call them "lizard brain" while replying to me. That's a bit of a faux pas a best, gaslighting a discussion at worse.

I'm glad you have a strong opinions about the content, much like the fans you criticize , but your language makes a huge difference in how your opinion comes across... Especially when you open up the box of criticizing people over the content they enjoy, and for people enjoying that content... While simultaneously participating in a discussion about that same content you're criticizing.


I also wholeheartedly disagree they are just treading old water, were getting some on screen representation of the post-empire saga in live action, Something that has been universally clamored for, for a long time.


I don't think Disney is just at "it's fine", I think it is giving the fans some well overdo fan service. I think opening up the Spin-offs is going to give them room to settle in to where they started the series and explore different kinds of story telling, and I think the "sins" of season 2 were necessary to create space for different approaches... But they had to introduce characters and elements that make up the universe. Now they can flesh out stories without crowding Mando's space.

Now that there is space in the narrative and characters have been introduced, I can't wait to see what they do moving forward.

 

[shiekra38]

OMG I CAHNT BELIEVE THEY KILLED THE MANDALORIAN AT THE END

 

[JungleSkip]

Eh, that's fine and all dude. Your post come off a certain way critiquing the blatant fan service of the show as if people who enjoy certain elements are "beneath you" and your taste, and your taste is more or less what should be catered to. So, while I agree conceptually with you about most things, I just can't stand behind the way you critique, especially when you speak condescendingly about things people have said they enjoyed in this thread. That's where you are losing me, personally.

I love some of those novels. You call them "lizard brain" while replying to me. That's a bit of a faux pas a best, gaslighting a discussion at worse.

I'm glad you have a strong opinions about the content, much like the fans you criticize , but your language makes a huge difference in how your opinion comes across... Especially when you open up the box of criticizing people over the content they enjoy, and for people enjoying that content... While simultaneously participating in a discussion about that same content you're criticizing.


I also wholeheartedly disagree they are just treading old water, were getting some on screen representation of the post-empire saga in live action, Something that has been universally clamored for, for a long time.


I don't think Disney is just at "it's fine", I think it is giving the fans some well overdo fan service. I think opening up the Spin-offs is going to give them room to settle in to where they started the series and explore different kinds of story telling, and I think the "sins" of season 2 were necessary to create space for different approaches... But they had to introduce characters and elements that make up the universe. Now they can flesh out stories without crowding Mando's space.

Now that there is space in the narrative and characters have been introduced, I can't wait to see what they do moving forward.

Glad you like those books. But high literature they are not. I read a lot of them. But they’re nerd versions of trashy supermarket romance paperbacks. That’s fine! I also unabashedly love a lot of garbage content. 90% of Godzilla movies are stupid pro wrestling matches between dudes in rubber suits. But I love em!

And I never said people can’t enjoy these things. All I’ve ever put forth is my opinion.

And IMO, “fan service” for the sake of fan service, or in most of Mando’s cases fan service for the sake of backdoor pilots for other TV shows, is not better than “fine”. It’s lazy writing. If people like it, cool, but a lot of people are also fine with “it’s fine”. That’s not a bad thing. I’d just like to see more effort put into SW than “MCU in Space”.

 

[Nick]

Love: STAR WARS, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE LAST JEDI, RETURN OF THE JEDI, KOTOR I/II, JEDI FALLEN ORDER (though this one is more on gameplay than story, which was fine but nothing special)

Like: THE FORCE AWAKENS, SOLO, ROGUE ONE, MANDO S1, MANDO S2 Episodes 1, 7, and 8 (even if the bit at the end rubbed me the wrong way)

Can take it or leave it: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Mostly Bad: CLONE WARS, REBELS, REVENGE OF THE SITH, the rest of MANDO S2. I read a bunch of the EU books as a tween/teen, and none of them are good, though they can be entertaining on a lizard-brain kind of level

Just bad: RISE OF SKYWALKER, ATTACK OF THE CLONES

I respect your list, but gotta majorly disagree with you on your assessment of the prequels. IMO, it’s the worst of the three and it took me 15 years to watch the prequels from start to finish because of how bad it is.

Attack of the Clones isn’t great, but it’s not bad either. It’s something I’d classify as extremely important due to its world building. Revenge of the Sith is legit one of my favorite Star Wars movies. Probably #4.

It’s clear you love the Original trilogy, TLJ, and seemingly have issues with most other stuff. Star Wars is never going to be a prestige franchise though and it’s almost like you expect more than is reasonable. It’s a sci-if adventure set in a world of laser swords and droids and is and always has been aimed at kids. I’m not saying I’m not critical of SW because I am, but I criticize it based on a multitude of factors. How much did I enjoy it? How good was the content itself? How much did it make sense canonically? Etc, etc.

 

[JungleSkip]

I respect your list, but gotta majorly disagree with you on your assessment of the prequels. IMO, it’s the worst of the three and it took me 15 years to watch the prequels from start to finish because of how bad it is.

Attack of the Clones isn’t great, but it’s not bad either. It’s something I’d classify as extremely important due to its world building. Revenge of the Sith is legit one of my favorite Star Wars movies. Probably #4.

It’s clear you love the Original trilogy, TLJ, and seemingly have issues with most other stuff. Star Wars is never going to be a prestige franchise though and it’s almost like you expect more than is reasonable. It’s a sci-if adventure set in a world of laser swords and droids and is and always has been aimed at kids. I’m not saying I’m not critical of SW because I am, but I criticize it based on a multitude of factors. How much did I enjoy it? How good was the content itself? How much did it make sense canonically? Etc, etc.

ATTACK is absolutely painful to watch. Horrible performances top to bottom, ugly filmmaking, and a terrible script. PHANTOM isn’t *good*, none of the prequels are, but I appreciate George going for something different.

I don’t have issues with “most other stuff”. 7 of the 11 films are things I like. I don’t expect “prestige”. Star Wars is never gonna win a best picture, and I’d never expect that kind of movie from them. I expect care, craft, and at the very least a compelling story worth telling. IMO, anything below the “Like” column is missing 2 or more of those things.