saving what we love

In 2012, it was revealed a third trilogy of Star Wars films would be made. On December 18th, The Force Awakens premiered. On Sunday, December 20th, my father took me to an early showing before his shift at work, and my life changed forever.

Luke Skywalker has vanished. In his absence, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until Skywalker, the last Jedi, has been destroyed.
With the support of the REPUBLIC, General Leia Organa leads a brave RESISTANCE. She is desperate to find her brother Luke and gain his help in restoring peace and justice to the galaxy.
Leia has sent her most daring pilot on a secret mission to Jakku, where an old ally has discovered a clue to Luke’s whereabouts….

quotes

✦ So, who talks first? You talk first? I talk first?
✦ The garbage will do!
✦ Tell that to Kanjiklub
✦ Escape now, hug later?
✦ As long as there's light, we've got a chance.

favorite facts

The FIRST ORDER reigns. Having decimated the peaceful Republic, Supreme Leader Snoke now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the galaxy.
Only General Leia Organa’s band of RESISTANCE fighters stand against the rising tyranny, certain that Jedi Master Luke Skywalker will return and restore a spark of hope to the fight.
But the Resistance has been exposed. As the First Order speeds toward the rebel base, the brave heroes mount a desperate escape…

quotes

✦Happy beeps here, buddy, come on.
✦Just for the record, Commander Dameron, I'm with the droid on this one. Thank you for your support, General.
✦ Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you can see it, you'll never make it through the night.
✦ No, no. We are the spark that will light the fire that'll burn the First Order down.
✦ You're not alone. Neither are you.

favorite facts

  • oscar isaac filmed both the last jedi and annihilation at the same time, as they were being shot on the same lot. he'd walk between productions, still in full poe costume.
  • the smoke after bb-8 launches the credits at the canto bight police force, was real.
  • the throne room fight took so many takes to film, that when they finally finished it, daisy ridley and adam driver were so excited that adam driver lifted her into a fireman's carry and they ran around the set.
  • rose's hairtie is actually made of electrical cords.
  • the final scene between leia and amilyn, was the brainchild of laura dern and carrie fisher. laura dern wanted a moment with leia, that would respect the character and speak to how much leia meant to her.
  • poe and rey were originally meant to meet at the end of the force awakens and it was originally filmed (and remained in the novelization), but was removed so that they could meet at the end of this film at the request of rian johnson. oscar isaac referenced it as being their version of the iconic "i know from the love confession in the empire strikes back.

The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of REVENGE in the sinister voice of the late EMPEROR PALPATINE.
GENERAL LEIA ORGANA dispatches secret agents to gather intelligence, while REY, the last hope of the Jedi, trains for battle against the diabolical FIRST ORDER.
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader KYLO REN rages in search of the phantom Emperor, determined to destroy any threat to his power....

quotes

✦They win by making you think you're alone. Remember? There's more of us.
✦We go together.
✦ Rey, some things are stronger than blood.
✦ In the heart of a Jedi lies her strength.
✦ Good people will fight if we lead them.
✦ It's not a navy, sir, it's just people.

favorite facts

  • the destruction of kijimi was a practical effect, rather than cgi.
  • while a good chunk of the speeder chase was cgi, a lot was filmed practically and on location for the final cut to be as realistic as possible. the speederbikes the first order used were real, modified vehicles.
  • according to writer chris terrio, d-0 represents that no matter how badly you were previously treated or where you come from, you can find new belonging. he felt this was the heart of rey, finn and poe's dynamic, as they all had troubled pasts but made a family with each other.
  • the final scene between poe and leia, where poe is confiding that he's unsure if he can do what she had done, was oscar isaac's idea. he wanted a moment between the two characters to highlight their bond, and it ended up flourishing into the final scene where lando gives poe advice, and he seeks out finn's help.
  • the civilian's fleet includes plenty of recurring characters: the ghost from star wars rebels is seen prominently (and lands on ajan kloss at the end of the film), although it's unconfirmed who is piloting it. zay versio appears in the novelization, and the colossus from star wars resistance appears, with kaz xiono, as well. wedge antilles is shown in the falcon with lando, arriving minutes after his step son's, snap wexley, death in the initial wave of the battle. overhearing so many people arrive, including old friends, is enough to move poe to tears in the novelization, and it takes him several seconds to regain composure and lead them.
  • rey's outfit is meant to be a visual homage to leia's outfit in a new hope.
  • although he enjoyed filming the speeder chase, oscar isaac said that his favorite scene to film was the moment on the roof between poe and zorii, as it was a rare moment of vulnerability from poe, and he liked the dynamic of zorii knowing who poe is, and being able to pull him out of his despair for it.

essays

While I may not agree with everything said in these essays, they have informed my understanding of the trilogy and given me a greater appreciation for the story it is telling.

Reylo and the Hades & Persephone Myth in TFA | Death and the Maiden | The Genius of Rey Skywalker's Arc | Why Reylo Was A Great Love Story
Poe & Zorii As Parallels To Rey & Ben | Poe & Vulnerability (with Zorii) | I Know You Of Old (Poe & Zorii) | Sequel Trilogy & Feminine Perspective
Sequel Trilogy Romances & Beauty and the Beast | Sequel Trilogy & Reconciliation

my essays

coming soon

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