Something to think about, if you haven't realized it before. Future generations will never know the feeling of the earth-shattering surprises in the Original Trilogy.

Not even future generations. I never felt that shock that elder fans did.

Star Wars is embedded in our culture, and some things can't be avoided. "Luke...I am your father!" is as culturally ingrained as "Use the Force, Luke." Everyone has heard it, every know what it refers to. It is impossible to exist in our society and not know it.

There are several surprises in the OT. Chewbacca wasn't actually captured by a rel Bounty Hunter, it was part of the plan. The Battle of Endor was a trap. That funny green dude in the swamp is the Jedi Master Luke is looking for. And of course, the biggest spoiler of all, Vader is Luke's father. The latter two especially, are part of common cultural knowledge, and you can't grow up without figuring them out.

The saturation of these things in out collective mind is relevant because you cannot genuinely experience the movies at a young enough age to not know the answers.

That what happened in my case. I saw the movies at a young age. I don't remember when I first saw them. As far back as I can remember, I'd already seen them, and already knew what happened. I knew that the green dude was Grover--I mean Yoda, I knew that Vader was Luke's father, I knew how it all ended. But I knew all of that long before I could have possibly been surprised at their revelation.

In a way, it's comparable to how everyone felt about the prequels, Revenge of the Sith in particular. Everyone knew what was going to happen. It was simply unavoidable. No shock there.

That's how the original trilogy is for countless young people, and for every future Star Wars fan. You elders I'm sure can remember sitting in a theater in 1977 at the age of twelve, excitedly watching. I'm sure you can remember your shock at the revelation that Vader was Luke's father a few years later. But you should treasure those memories, because those feelings won't ever be felt again by future generations, because Star Wars is so culturally embedded.


Is this a bad thing, or a harmful thing for the Star Wars franchise. No. Over the years, there have been and continue to be more people joining the fandom, without any of the emotional shock that the first generation felt. And the prequels have appealed to many, even though everyone knew what was going to happen.

The big surprises of the OT are and always will be big exciting moments, but everyone should recognize that forever more, the same emotional impact is impossible.