Halp: Trek Wars Question

"EL_ULY" (uly)
03/22/2017 at 15:36 • Filed to: estar guars

My wife has never seen Star Wars, any episode. A couple days ago we saw Rouge One. I explained as best I could kind of/ sort of what things were. She liked it and now wants to see the rest. Question is, in what order?

Do we do 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7?

Is it perhaps simpler to do 1-7

I can see more points for the latter but the key point for 4-7 is crucial

DISCUSSION (75)

WiscoProud > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:40

The first one is the correct answer. She needs a base of good moves to help her move through the prequels.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:41

1 and 2 aren’t needed...

3-4-5-6-7 is the right way

Alfalfa > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:41

4, 5, and 6 first. That’s the most important, do whatever you want after that. Maybe even skip the prequels altogether.

Spaceball-Two > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:43

I say 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7?

random001 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:46

4-5-6-7

random001 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:46

Oh, and start with the Kirk Pilot, not the Pike pilot. That one was crap.

bobbe17 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:47

Machete Order

4, 5, 2, 3, 6 (episode 1 isn’t worth watching).

You get the storyline of the original trilogy and learn that Vader is Luke’s father (spoiler alert), then you go back and watch 2 and 3 to see how Anakin becomes Vader, then you jump forward to 6 to see how it all plays out. Then I guess you watch 7 to continue on.

wafflesnfalafel > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:47

start with 4 and see how that goes, then 5, 6, 7, (skip 1-3, they just distract and confuse...)

SpeedSix > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:52

I’ve personally only seen IV, V, and VI.

beautimouse > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:54

http://www.t3.com/features/the-star-wars-machete-order-explained

Urambo Tauro > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 15:55

Kinja'd!!!

EL_ULY > Alfalfa
03/22/2017 at 16:02

I honestly can’t remember anything significant in the Clone Wars

Alfalfa > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:04

Yoda has lightsaber skills. I think that’s it.

EL_ULY > bobbe17
03/22/2017 at 16:06

Idk, Episode One help build Obi and shows the best character in the entire franchise, Darth Maul

EL_ULY > WiscoProud
03/22/2017 at 16:07

That was the main key point for the first scenario, establishing a good base

EL_ULY > Urambo Tauro
03/22/2017 at 16:07

Buzz, don’t be a moron

EL_ULY > random001
03/22/2017 at 16:10

Kinja'd!!!

EL_ULY > beautimouse
03/22/2017 at 16:10

Indeed. I think this has plenty of vote. Machete it is

EL_ULY > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
03/22/2017 at 16:11

I think 1 has it’s valor. 2, hellz no

EL_ULY > SpeedSix
03/22/2017 at 16:11

oh wow, never heard of anyone having done that

EL_ULY > Spaceball-Two
03/22/2017 at 16:11

TIL it’s called Machete Order

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:11

4, 5, 6 is crucial if you want to understand TFA. I quite like the prequels (yeah go ahead and burn me at the stake. Whatever), but I don’t think they’re nessecary to understand 7 as long as you watch the original trilogy.

EL_ULY > random001
03/22/2017 at 16:12

lol oh buuuurn 1, 2, 3

EL_ULY > wafflesnfalafel
03/22/2017 at 16:12

lol that seems to be a common notion

EL_ULY > Alfalfa
03/22/2017 at 16:12

Oh yeah the fight seen.

Clemsie McKenzie > bobbe17
03/22/2017 at 16:13

That’s the one. Although I guess you could include Episode 1 if you felt like it. It doesn’t add much to the story but I find it less terrible than 2 and 3.

SpeedSix > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:13

I’ll probably eventually get around to watching them, but I’ve only watched those since I started watching them by release date - that, and my parents have a LaserDisc of IV, plus a (formerly) working LaserDisc player.

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/22/2017 at 16:13

some suggest 4, 5, 6, 7...... I honestly may consider that but I do feel at the very least 1 and 3 have some very significant info

Clemsie McKenzie > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:14

So you’re saying you find Maul cooler than Vader? BURN HIM AT THE STAKE

EL_ULY > Clemsie McKenzie
03/22/2017 at 16:14

Vader would win a fight, Maul was more badass for more time

bobbe17 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:14

I suppose but JarJar and kid Anakin really drag down the rest of it. Episode 1 is optional before watching 2.

Clemsie McKenzie > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:18

But have you seen that last scene in Rogue One? OHMAGAD badass.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:19

Then you need to go all out then. 4, 5, 6, seven, 1, 2, clone wars, 3 , rogue one

Clemsie McKenzie > bobbe17
03/22/2017 at 16:20

Yeah JarJar is annoying, but I detest kid Anakin less than angsty teen “I hate sand” Anakin. Also racing! But yeah it is optional.

random001 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:21

We don’t recognize those as canon anyway.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:27

I don’t like sand...

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Clemsie McKenzie
03/22/2017 at 16:29

Until I read the most recent Vader comics I also would have rated Maul over Vader.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Clemsie McKenzie
03/22/2017 at 16:29

NOW THIS IS POD RACING!

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Clemsie McKenzie
03/22/2017 at 16:29

NOW THIS IS POD RACING!

beautimouse > SpeedSix
03/22/2017 at 16:33

LOL. I bought the laser disc versions of the original trilogy so I would have something a bit more hearty than VHS versions. The few times I have played them, man does it look horrible on a modern TV. I think the best output method on my laser disc player is S-Video, so nothing I can do about that. Wonder how it would look through a scaler. Hard to polish a turd.

Once a year I have the thought to rip them to one of my machines and see what re-encoding would do, but then I see something shiny and that’s the end of that for another year.

Spoon II > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:35

I’d definitely start with the 4, 5, 6. I think in the case of Star Wars, it makes much more sense to watch them in order of release date rather than by title number

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:37

The correct order is 4,5,6,7, R1.

That’s it. If you make her watch “the others,” especially first, she’ll hate Star Wars forever.

Textured Soy Protein > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:38

I wouldn’t start someone who is new to the franchise on 1-3 because they’re just not very good movies.

Sure you see how Anakin started out as a kid in Ep. 1 but he goes from precocious, promising youngster there to a total whiny snot in Ep. 2 which has some of the worst dialogue of any movie ever. I’ve seen Ep. 2 exactly two times: once in the theater where I was like “wow this is terrible” and once on DVD the following summer thinking “maybe this won’t be as bad on re-watching it.” It was. Ep. 3 continues with Anakin being a whiny snot but now he becomes an evil whiny snot.

Nothing in 1-3 improves the development of Darth Vader as a character, and if anything my reaction to them is “well Anakin was such a whiny snot in 2-3, Vader is cooler, and he’s supposed to be one-dimensional anyway.”

In terms of understanding the overall story arc of the franchise, other than showing a time when the Republic existed, before the Empire, there’s just not much interesting stuff.

If she’s seen Rogue One, going from that to 4-7 is simple enough. You could give her the option of 1-3 but with the asterisk of letting her know they’re kinda stupid.

EL_ULY > SpeedSix
03/22/2017 at 16:42

oh dang I haven’t heard of a laser disc in a while.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:43

the machete order is pretty good, it’s 4,5,2,3,6. skip 1 entirely and treat 2 & 3 like flashbacks after learning vader is luke’s father in 5. Then I guess add 7 at the end. If you want to watch 1 you would watch it after 5 but before 2.

EL_ULY > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
03/22/2017 at 16:47

oh man I don’t feel like skipping one is a good thing. Everyone is saying to do so doe

EL_ULY > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/22/2017 at 16:47

I would count that option out

EL_ULY > Spoon II
03/22/2017 at 16:48

1, 2, and 3 are indeed very needy of the others. But maybe going in order to fresh eyes can produce another opinion.

EL_ULY > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
03/22/2017 at 16:49

*actually gets shivers*

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:50

Well, if you want to put 1 in, that would make it 4,5,1,2,3,6,7. you treat 1-3 like a flashback to show how Anakin fell from the light and became Vader, then wrap the story up in 6.

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/22/2017 at 16:51

or maybe just 1-7. It may form an interesting opinion for fresh eyes

EL_ULY > Clemsie McKenzie
03/22/2017 at 16:51

hellz yeah!

EL_ULY > bobbe17
03/22/2017 at 16:52

a lot actually. Clone Wars helps nothing

EL_ULY > Textured Soy Protein
03/22/2017 at 16:56

he does get super whiny already on Clone Wars. Ugh that movie helps nothing. My wife just turned 20 and like almost all others her age, attention span is pretty short as far as entertainment is concerned (movies, music, etc.).

I honestly do think 1 is a significant movie for Obi Wan’s sake. But you’re right about there not being any true significance of the Republic before Empire

EL_ULY > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
03/22/2017 at 16:57

that’s actually not a bad idea the more I think of it

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:58

Fine. 4,5,6,7,R1, light saber fight in 3, nothing in 2, pod race and light saber fight in 1. Tell her that’s all you can do.

Sir Halffast > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 16:58

If she’s already seen R1, then 4-7 in that order. Forget 1-3 unless you really want to do 3, in which case show it last. 1 and 2 are just bad. 3 is barely mediocre. Better to avoid them all together honestly.

EL_ULY > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/22/2017 at 17:17

LOL yeeeeesss! That sounds actually perfect. I can fill her in any other details between then and show the few good bits in 1-3. Genius!

EL_ULY > Sir Halffast
03/22/2017 at 17:18

I do want her to see 1 and 3 but possible just the highlights. 2 is probably a no go, Cinema Sins is brutally reinforcing this

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:22

Could do. I don’t know.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:24

Definitely at least 4 and 5 first, probably followed by 6 and the prequels. Probably not a good idea to leave the cliffhanger in 5 hanging, but if you wanted to, you could...

My pet claim is that 1 and 2 are not good movies, but they are good *star wars*, which is to say, they tread new ground, try to bring new things into the series, and generally are much better at expanding the universe than having likable characters, a very compelling story, etc. etc. 7, on the other hand, is an okay movie, but it’s fake star wars. The shooting techniques, pacing, storytelling, and many other aspects just don’t work for me - to the point that even being a better movie as a movie, I wouldn’t rather watch it than 2. Really.

R1, on the other hand, gets all those little things right, and it matters.

Sir Halffast > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:28

Save him for last then. Get the highlights out of the way, then you can go MST3K on 1-3.

derf > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:41

Behold the “machete order” (IV, V, II, III, VI - yes, it omits I entirely):

http://www.t3.com/features/the-star-wars-machete-order-explained

On a somewhat related note, you may want to check out Darths and Droids. It’s a screencap webcomic that reimagines the Star Wars movies as a tabletop RPG being played by a bunch of friends. They do a particularly good job of explaining / poking fun at some of more uh.. questionable aspects of the prequels, and develop some of the characters along surprisingly different lines from what we might expect (for example, it’s virtually certain that no one had ever put the words “Jar jar, you’re a genius” together in the same sentence before).

Best to start at the beginning - they’re just reaching the end of Jedi now and there would be actual spoilers despite it being based on the movie footage: http://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0001.html

The Compromiser > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:41

Depending on what you told her, 1 to 7. It’s fun watching someone go,”Holy shit! Anakin in is Darth Vader? Min blown!”

Textured Soy Protein > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:45

Ehh, I dunno about it being significant for Obi Wan. Qui-Gon eats it and Obi Wan’s a full Jedi, no longer an apprentice.

Just don’t spoil the ending of Empire Strikes Back for her!

for Michigan > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 17:56

My vote is for 4-7 first, then 1-3 if she’s interested in those for their contributions to the overall Star Wars narrative over their entertainment value.

EL_ULY > Textured Soy Protein
03/22/2017 at 18:11

she has no clue. Soooo epic!

EL_ULY > The Compromiser
03/22/2017 at 18:12

Indeed, she knows nothing! So awesome!

EL_ULY > derf
03/22/2017 at 18:13

i’ve been introduced to this here. Easily a good option but it can be modified from replies here

EL_ULY > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/22/2017 at 18:15

I 100% agree. It seems like i’m going to pick at 2 and 3 after biting my tongue at 1.

Lol buuuurn on 7 :]

EL_ULY > for Michigan
03/22/2017 at 18:23

It will indeed be a good choice to give her a warning before asking if whe wants to see 1-3

punkgoose17 > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 20:22

4, 5, 6 end.

The Compromiser > EL_ULY
03/22/2017 at 21:30

Then the whole progress is needed in order. You don’t read just the good chapters of a book.

EL_ULY > The Compromiser
03/22/2017 at 23:36

Cinema Sins really amplifies the bad lol.

EL_ULY > punkgoose17
03/22/2017 at 23:37

Despite it all..... this does seem like a good option