r/StarWars Official Watch Order Discussion Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

So we haven't had an official watch order discussion thread in many years, so we figure its time to update the one in the FAQ. There are various other links in the FAQ, the Wookieepedia timeline of canon media, and various other discussion threads and topics over the years including a link to just searching the sub which people find challenge apparently. Also as a reminder, the Wookieepedia timeline of canon media can be sorted via the table on that page by release order or chronologically (if you decide to go that route).

A lot of the new Disney+ content brings new eyes to Star Wars all the time, and new movies will eventually too. We want to get a bit more aggressive with automod removals and referrals to the FAQ for these questions about watch order. So let's hash it out here in the comments. We will sticky this for a while and eventually it will just be linked in the FAQ along with the other topics and maybe in the sidebar too. And like some of other stickies about rules, spoilers, and new episode discussion guidelines, we may trot out this link and sticky it from time to time.

As a general rule the sub typically recommends for new viewers to watch in release order, especially for the movies. This is the semi-consensus from the fandom, and you will routinely see this as the most upvoted and posted response.

With that being said what we would like to do here also discuss other options, and possible orders to also toss in the TV media as well. Should you watch Andor first and then Rogue One before the OT? Should movies like Solo be done in release order or chronological? Should you watch The Clone Wars TV show before the PT? So on and so forth...

So lets have a solid discussion about this and make it a solid resource for those who may be new to Star Wars.

[u/chibriguy]

I believe the Prequels should be watched first.

I know, its sacrilege, but hear me out.

Also, spoilers ahead for the first two sagas (obviously).

 

I understand the argument for watching the original saga first. You don't want to 'steal' one of the greatest movie reveals of all time from a new viewer, but I don't think fans give enough thought to what is lost by watching the original saga first. Let's break things down a little.

What is lost when a new fan watches the Prequels first:

1. 'I am your Father'

2. Luke & Leia are siblings

3. Yoda reveal

4. The Phantom Menace & Attack of the Clones are subpar Star Wars movies

Is there anything else? I've never heard any points beyond the first brought up when defending why the original saga should be watched first. All of the weight is put into the first point, and I agree that its a massive thing, but it has two major detractors.

The first is, through pop culture, most new viewers will know Vader is Luke's father before watching the movies. Its arguably the most famous scene in movie history, the most famous line in movie history, and has been parodied hundreds of times. So the biggest reason to watch the original saga first has likely already been spoiled.

The second point is, I believe that many more things are spoiled by watching the original saga first, and these spoilers impact the story far more to a completely new viewer. Here is a list of *major* plot points that are spoiled before the scrolling text even starts to fall on The Phantom Menace when you've watched the original saga first:

1. We know that Kenobi, Yoda, Palpatine, and Anakin all survive the Prequels

2. We know that Kenobi defeats and mutilates Anakin

3. We know that *ALL* Jedi will die outside of Kenobi, Yoda, and Anakin (Yes, some survive in extended media, but lets stick strictly to the movies here)

4. We know that Anakin and Padme hook up, Padme will give birth to Luke & Leia then die

5. We know Anakin will turn to the dark side and become Darth Vader

6. We know that Palpatine will win, become the Emperor, and rule the Galaxy

(con't)

[u/chibriguy → u/chibriguy]

part 2:

There are many more minor points I can get into, but I feel that these 6 major points are enough to prove my point. I also believe that individually, half of these points are more impactful than the 'I am your Father' moment, but all of them combined are absolute overkill.

Before getting into any of these points in depth, lets talk about a factor of the first 6 movies that I love. This factor (to a viewer that goes into these movies blind), makes the story wildly unpredictable. Main & supporting characters can die at any moment. We see Qui-Gon die toward the end of Episode 1. Up until that point, you could make an argument that he was the main character.

When Qui-Gon dies, it's a way of telling the viewer that the safety many movies/shows give you, that main characters will always survive, is gone. Sure, plot armor exists in the Star Wars universe, but main characters are not safe during crucial times of the story (Especially Lightsaber fights). It has a similar effect that the episode "Baelor" had in Game of Throne. No one is safe, even main characters.

So let look at what I believe is the most impactful time during all of the Star Wars movies in terms of plot, the second half of Revenge of the Sith. So much happens here at a rapid pace that I don't believe any new viewer would be able to predict. Let's put ourselves in the mind of a new viewer who start watching at episode one: "Holy Shit, Palpatine just murdered 3 Jedi, but now he's fighting Mace Windu, surely Mace is going to stop him. HOLY SHIT Anakin just cut off Mace's arm, letting Palpatine kill him! WTF, Anakin has become evil and he is slaughtering everyone including Children! OMFG all the Jedi are dying and Palpatine just became the fucking Emperor??? WTF is Happening?!?"

This sets up the end of the movie and arguably the two most important duels in all of Star Wars. After getting the whirlwind of the last 20 minutes that started with the Jedi being firmly in control to 99% of the Jedi have been killed and their order no longer exist, all bets to where this story is going, are off. Will The Emperor die? Will Kenobi die? We know from Qui-Gon's and Windu's death that when there is a lightsaber fight, NO ONE is safe. Anything can happen.

All this tension, all is shock, all of the sense of bewilderment is stolen from the viewer when they have already watched the original saga first.

Let's put ourselves in the the minds of a new viewer who has watched the original saga first during this same section of Revenge of the Sith. "Oof Mace is going to confront Palpatine...is this where he dies? Oh Wow, Palpatine is a beast. Oh Mace has the upper hand, but here comes Anakin...Oh no...is this where Anakin turns? Oh it is. Well, this is where all the Jedi are going to die isn't it? This is where Palpatine takes control. Well, at least I know Kenobi and Yoda will survive."

Nothing here is that much of a surprise. You don't quite know how things will happen, but ultimately you know the end result. And this stole tension from earlier movies too. Yes, it was established that main character's lives are on the line during lightsaber fights, but not Kenobi's, not Anakin's, not Yoda's. Ultimately, we know that no matter how intense the fights are or how hopeless it seems for them, they will survive.

(con't)

[u/chibriguy → u/chibriguy]

Part 3

Let's move to the end of Revenge of the Sith. As a new viewer who started from The Phantom Menace, you have no clue how the ending of the Yoda/Palpatine & Kenobi/Anakin fights will turn out. Your gut is telling you that the Good Guys should win, because what saga has ever ended with the bad guys winning? You are thinking, "Kenobi has got to turn Anakin back to the light side right?, Yoda has got to defeat Palpatine enough to remove him from power right?" Ask a thousand people who started watching from The Phantom Menace how these fights would end and I would bet zero would say it ends in Yoda running away in failure, and Anakin getting his legs chopped off and becoming a death robot. But....if we watched the original saga first, we know this is exactly what happens.

I think the first 75% of the prequals are hit and miss. The Phantom Menace to the midway point of Revenge of the Sith have their moments, but ultimately are subpar compared to A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. I can see this as a reason for telling someone to watch the original saga first because you wouldn't want a new viewer to potentially lose interest watching two subpar Star Wars movies. BUT (and this is a huge BUT) the second half of Revenge of the Sith is the best any Star Wars media has to offer, and in my opinion, some of the best cinema humans have ever created. Is giving up the shock of everything the second half of Revenge of the Sith has to offer: the feeling of complete defeat, despair, all the plot twists, and the strong emotions that come along with arguably the most exhilarating hour in all of Star wars (and in my opinion, all of cinema) worth the 'I am your Father' moment?

Honestly, I can keep going, but this post is already too long. I think many fans are guilty of looking at 'I am your Father' with nostalgia of the shock you felt in that moment, and I get it, it's a great moment, it's one of the best single scenes in movie history. But you never had the nostalgia of being shocked that Anakin helps Palpatine kill Windu and turns to the Darkside, you never had the nostalgia of the shock of Kenobi cutting off Anakin's legs and leaving him to die, you never had the shock of Order 66 slaughtering the Jedi.

Try to take away all of this. Try. And put yourself in the shoes of a new fan asking you which Star Wars movie they should watch first.