I’m not one of those people fortunate enough to have grown up with Star Wars. Sure I had Thundercats, and played Ninja Turtles on the playground, but I was just young enough to miss out on all of it. My now-husband and I met just after Episode 2, and in his fanboy-fervor taught me all there is to love about Star Wars. We watch the cartoons, read novels, and go to conventions together. We can talk about it endlessly and I have a permanent partner in geekdom with him.
As an out-of-the-closet Star Wars fan, I am constantly bitched at about all the things George Lucas has done “wrong”, either by ex-fans or just plain haters. I don’t know when I got hired to represent him, but for some reason, anyone who has a negative opinion (especially about the prequels) feels that it’s perfectly acceptable to complain to me in minute detail. I don’t know if they expect me to let George know, or have a revelation and say “You’re right! I suddenly hate this franchise I’ve loved for decades!”
First of all, there’s nothing terrible you can tell me about Star Wars that I don’t already know. I am aware (as is the rest of the planet) that Hayden Christianson can’t act, Jar Jar is an embarrassment, and Padme has the worst excuse for death I’ve ever heard. I love it in spite of these things. Han Solo’s conversation with the Stormtrooper on the detention level makes up for a lot in my book, as does the “I love you”, “I know” moment. Ok, maybe I just love Han. And maybe my face is getting a little flushed right now thinking about him.
Second of all, why does it bother you that I enjoy Star Wars? What is it about Star Wars in particular that drives people over the edge? I love Honda also, and no one ever screeches “HONDA SUCKS, TOYOTA IS THE BEST EVVAAARRR!!!” at me. People don’t get so vehement about Back to the Future, or Harry Potter (at least not to me).
Lastly, this will sound trite, but if you don’t like it go create your own $4 billion franchise. I’m not saying George can do no wrong, or that I agree with every choice he’s made. For instance, I loved the Karen Traviss Republic Commando books, and I think it’s a huge mistake that they are no longer “true”. That being said, I recently reread them, and still enjoyed the story and characters.
Keep in mind that the only reason Star Wars was created at all was because George did what he wanted and ignored all the naysayers. Everyone thought the movie would flop, and George had to overcome everyone from studio execs to prop artists who thought they knew better than he did. Sometimes that turned out great, sometimes not so great, but he still created something amazing, regardless. He has followed his own vision for the series, and considering the amount of blowback he gets from fans CONSTANTLY, we should just be glad he hasn’t fire-bombed Skywalker Ranch into oblivion.
I also end up trapped in debates with supposed Star Wars “fans” who complain to me about everything they don’t like in Star Wars. As you can probably tell by now, I have very little patience for this, and I go from zero to bitchy at lightspeed. If anyone wants to debate me on anything, especially something I know so much about, I will pull out the stops and let loose, very quickly, and very loudly.
For the uninitiated, there are different levels of “canon” in Star Wars. Anything George has personally worked on, the movies and Clone Wars cartoon, are considered “G” canon, which is the gold standard of truthiness. Anything else, from obscure comics to the Droids cartoons are Expanded Universe, or EU. G canon trumps everything else, so don’t think you can say “The movie was wrong because in comic #56 blah blah stuff blah”. It doesn’t matter. If it’s not in the movies it’s all basically a “what if” scenario.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say something crazy: all of this is pretend. None of it actually happened at all, ever, except on a soundstage. I don’t know why Star Wars in particular seems to piss people off to the point of destroying the ability for rational thought, but it does, and people need to get some perspective. IT’S IMAGINARY. I love Star Wars because it’s fun and interesting, not because it has rigid dogma.
I am not saying George Lucas is the greatest filmmaker of all time. I am saying that he changed the sci-fi genre forever, and also I AM NOT HIS WHIPPING BOY/GIRL. I don’t care if you have a problem with it. Why don’t you spend your time contributing to society instead of whining? Especially to me. I have a whole stack of bitch-slaps just waiting.
