Perhaps more than any other film franchise, the terms “prequel,” “sequel,” and “trilogy” have become most synonymous with Star Wars. That has been a clear indicator of just how much of an impact the franchise has had on film and pop culture. Since 1977, Star Wars has transported audiences to a galaxy far, far away, dropping them amidst epic battles between good and evil. But over the franchise’s more-than-40-year history, Lucasfilm has enjoyed bouncing between different eras in the Star Wars timeline.
From the fall of the Republic to the rise of the First Order, Star Wars has consistently told new stories in a nonlinear format. This has allowed for a wide variety of different styles, with many fans preferring a certain era over another. Oftentimes, one’s favorite Star Wars era corresponds with the films they grew up with, but each storytelling era has had their own pros and cons. Here’s a look at what each era did best, and which one is truly the best Star Wars era overall.
The Clone Wars Era Was Star Wars at its Most Ambitious
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Unlike the other Star Wars trilogies, the prequels had a clear storytelling destination from the very beginning. The prequel trilogy was confident in what kind of story it wanted to tell, and always knew that they would lead into the events of A New Hope. While the films were widely criticized for their clunky dialogue and an overabundance of CGI, they always had a unique charm that couldn’t be found anywhere else. Public opinion has largely turned around on the prequels, so much so that they have become beloved.
The prequel trilogy was Star Wars at its biggest and most ambitious, featuring large-scale battles and excellent world-building, and utilizing groundbreaking new technology. Though George Lucas often describing Star Wars as being “for 12-year-olds” (via Polygon), the prequels contained very relevant and thought-provoking themes. More specifically, the transformation of a democracy into a dictatorship. The process did not happen via a coup, but rather, the people willingly surrendered their democracy to a dictator. With the help of the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the prequel era was able to reach incredible heights. The Clone Wars was responsible for introducing some of Star Wars’ greatest characters, including Bo-Katan Kryze, Captain Rex, and Ahsoka Tano.
The Original Trilogy and the Hero’s Journey
Star Wars has often inaccurately been labeled a “sci-fi.” In actuality, The Skywalker Saga was more akin to a fairytale set in space, featuring knights, space wizards, and princesses. The thread running through A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi was a straightforward one, but also carried a surprising level of depth. The original Star Wars trilogy drew heavily from Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, the story template known as the “hero’s journey.” Farmboy Luke Skywalker answered the call to adventure, received supernatural aid, faced many challenges, and emerged a Jedi like his father before him. Luke recognized there were other ways to fight than through physical violence, throwing his weapon down and bringing his father back to the light. The act of love allowed Darth Vader to remember his past as Anakin Skywalker, which led to Palpatine’s defeat and the end of the Empire’s rule.
Luke’s journey was interwoven with a galaxy-wide struggle for freedom, both the story of underdogs taking on a massive evil. Surrounding Luke were some of the most iconic characters in film; the roguish Han Solo who hid a heart of gold, and the resourceful Leia Organa who broke away from traditional princess archetypes. Meanwhile, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO made for perfect supporting characters. The simultaneous simplicity and effectiveness of the original Star Wars trilogy has positioned it as a timeless classic. All the moving pieces came into place to tell a powerful story about love, friendship, family, and redemption.
With the Age of Rebellion being the least divisive era in all of Star Wars, it’s no surprise most spin-offs have been set around this time period. The long list of films and hit television series has included Star Wars Rebels, Andor, and Rogue One. Even shows set after Return of the Jedi such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett remained very connected to the original trilogy. The fact that fans continue to be so keen on revisiting this era shows how much it has truly resonated with them.
Untapped Potential in the Sequel Trilogy
In 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened with the Empire’s successor, The First Order, attacking a village on Jakku. The scene confused many moviegoers, making them wonder if the Empire really had been defeated at the end of Return of the Jedi. Due to what may have been a reactionary move to criticisms directed at the prequels, the politics were never properly explored in the sequel trilogy. Fans had to turn to expanded media, particularly the novels, to learn about the state of the galaxy. It was revealed that the New Republic had signed the Military Disarmament Act with what remained of the Empire. The Imperial remnant secretly ignored regulations, prompting General Leia Organa to start the Resistance without the authorization of the New Republic. In this, the sequel trilogy missed an opportunity to emphasize core Star Wars themes of protecting democracy and the reemergence of evil.
High production values, John Williams’ fantastic music, and brisk pacing kept audiences engaged throughout the sequel trilogy. Adam Driver’s portrayal of Kylo Ren was a major highlight, showing a morally conflicted Ben Solo and his fear of never becoming as strong as Darth Vader. The Last Jedi is still one of the most visually stunning Star Wars productions to date. Rian Johnson took some bold swings even if the creative decisions were met with a mixed response. However, despite assembling the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, and Gwendoline Christie, the sequel trilogy failed to leverage the talent of its amazing cast. It also seemed two thirds of the trilogy were at war with each other, with Rey being established as a “nobody” in The Last Jedi before being made the daughter of a failed Palpatine clone in The Rise of Skywalker. Too much time was spent on Rey’s lineage and not enough time on her as an individual.
Which Era is the Best?
Each Star Wars era brought their own things to the table, having different goals and different ways of telling their stories. The prequel era had huge ambitions, but the execution was panned by critics and fans for a substantial period of time. In contrast, the sequel era suffered from its inability to chart a course and committing itself to seeing it through. It has been generally agreed upon that the original trilogy was the best from a purely filmmaking standpoint. The Empire Strikes Back has been widely regarded as the best Star Wars film, although Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One have steadily been receiving more love over time. While it might come across as a diplomatic answer, it goes without saying that the best Star Wars era depends on what you are looking for.
