What follows has risen beyond opinion; it's a logical argument on how to spend 158 hours inside the Star Wars Universe to maximize the story’s value in your life.
I include estimated run times to give you a scale of the amount of your life that you’ll be investing to consume this narrative entertainment. It’s important that you consider the time you’re about to spend as an investment and not just passive consumption of fiction on the screen. Why are you watching Star Wars? I would like to prompt you to compose a thesis sentence about this series. Here is mine:
By the time the viewer finishes the entire Star Wars Saga, they should have been dramatically affected by this deep meditation on love, loyalty, and balancing ambition and power with humility and service.
You will be investing 6.6 days, so let's round that up to a whole week of your life. What else could you be doing with a week of your life? Consider this before you commit this time. Make sure it’s worth it. For me, it has been, because I think and act differently in the world than if Star Wars had never been part of my life. This series became my obsessive focus for weighing my spiritual maturation. A generation ago, it would have been the church for me; Star Wars saved me from all that.
Why Does There Have To Be A Proper Order to Watch Star Wars?
I am late GenX, which means I should be stuck in my ways and complain about everything that isn’t a mono-recorded vinyl record. I should be a mopey pain in the ass to everyone in my life. But I’m not and when it comes to art, I am always asking myself, “What is the best experience of this work?” For Star Wars, I think of a young 5-7-year-old child watching the series for the first time. They are going to sit down for a whole week of time and experience an epic story filled with wonderful characters undergoing intense trauma and conflict.
Screening 1 (30.5h)
It’s critical that we put ourselves in that young child’s frame of mind as they move through the Skywalker Saga. But we need to set the stage and the young child watching this won’t even see or hear the Skywalker name until they get to Episode IV: A New Hope. This will be after they’ve already invested 32.7 hours!
The viewer must understand the context of the struggle and what’s at stake when they meet Luke Skywalker.
So the child will understand the struggle and the heroic sacrifices that were made to eventually get those Death Star Plans into Obi-Wan Kenobi’s hands at the start of Luke’s journey to learning his role in the fate of the Galaxy. This why we begin with:
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018 - 2h15m)
It all begins with Han Solo in one of the darkest, bleakest films in the Star Wars canon. This is a heist movie, and it exposes the criminal rot at the heart of The Empire. This would be like running diamonds in Russia right now. It ends with Han Solo providing a little rag-tag group of rebels with the means of taking a shot at bringing down The Empire. This film is about when rebellions start turning towards revolutions amid merciless cruelty and an obsessive lust for power fueled by turning the suffering of the poor into wealth. Watch it quick before Republicans start banning it in America.
Screening 1a
Rebels: Seasons 1-4 (2014-2018 - 28.2h)
This show occurs at the end of The Emperor's obsessive quest to hunt down and destroy all Jedi Knights who remain alive and in hiding. It takes us to the decisive moment, where a desperate rebellion becomes a spiritual revolution, guided by fate.
Note: As pointed out by AZ Johnston on Facebook, Ahsoka’s introduction to Rebels assumed the viewer has the back history with her Clone Wars story. Introducing her as an older Jedi will affect the way she is viewed when they get to Clone Wars. Personally, I’m okay with Rebels being Ahsoka’s introduction, but I appreciate calling it out.
Screening 2 (2.25h)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016 -2h13m)
Rogue One is of the best war movies ever made, certainly in the Star Wars universe. Get the codes to the Death Star into the hands of the leaders of the Rebellion. So far, everything we've watched is leading up to the opening scene of Star Wars Episode IV. The ending of this film is some of the most intense and rewarding in this entire exercise. Still, even though we know the results of these events, the critical moments of the battle, bravery, sacrifice, and loss that come from this film are moments to treasure in the Star Wars Saga.
Screening 3 (2h)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977-2h1m)
The droids barely escape with the plans for the Death Star, and the Princess is captured for interrogation and possibly extermination. Alderaan is destroyed in the act of genocide. The Empire is poised to crush this insignificant Rebellion once and for all. Then, there will be order through merciless cruelty and slavery.
Except…there's this business of the Last Jedi.
Screening 4 (2.1h)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980 - 2h4m)
Mysteries are revealed. The Rebellion is on the ropes. Finally, Luke Skywalker learns who his father really was and loses his hand. At this point, it makes the most narrative sense to gaze back to several decades before this journey started with Solo.
The viewer must have their curiosity answered after the shock of revelation settles when Darth Vader’s identity is revealed.
And this is why we move from Empire Strikes Back immediately into The Phantom Menace.
Screening 5 (2.3h)
Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999 - 2h16m)
This is the most critical shift in the viewing order. For maximum narrative impact, the revelation of Darth Vader being Anakin, Luke's father, should be immediately followed by any starry-eyed child by, "WHAAAAAAT?" Well, guess what, little pip? You will learn exactly how it happened that a Dad can be a bad guy, and it starts with a charming little tale called "The Phantom Menace."
This is as far back as we go, back to the time of the great Galactic Republic when the Jedi Knights were the protectors of the civil order in the Galaxy. But unfortunately, the Jedi, bloated and ancient in their ways, have become blind to the machinations of power happening in the moneyed interests of the Trade Federation. The latter are pouring massive wealth into the dark circles of political power, corrupting everything.
George Lucas showed us a vision of the future of America when Republican politicians would be bought out and blackmailed by global organized crime into abandoning Democracy and attempting to set themselves as American oligarchs. The lever of power used is anger and hatred, with a healthy dose of fear of the Other (whoever that may be).
I was just about to graduate from college when this film was released, and I recognized it for the perfect analogy of totalitarian corruption in a democratic system, which it conveys masterfully. This reason alone is why I allow no one to shit talk this film in my presence. If someone mentions Jar Jar Binks to me, I will immediately refer them to the prescience of the rise of Trumpism as a force of corruptive destruction and kindly thank them for shutting their faces and paying attention.
Screening 6 (71.4h)
Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (2002 -2h22m)
War is being used to secure power behind the curtain. Yet, everything is not what it seems. The Jedi are playing checkers in a chess game.
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The Clone Wars: Seasons 1-7 (2008-2020 -60h)
The bonds of friendship formed in battle are nearly unbreakable. Anakin gets his own unofficial padawan, and Ahsoka becomes a critical player in the unfolding events.
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The Bad Batch: Seasons 1 -? (2021 -9hrs+)
How did the Clones turn against their Jedi generals? What has happened to the Clone Army? Their sense of purpose and commitment has been warped through some nefarious influence.
How could beings who call themselves Patriots storm the Capital of their civilization and cause harm to those they have sworn to protect? This is a poignant question for today's world we find ourselves living in.
Screening 7 (12.3h)
Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005 -2h20m)
The darkest moments of corruption in the Saga. Heartbreaking final scenes where the complete corruption of The Dark Side Of The Force forces a man to become a ruthless killing machine aligned completely to an Extreme Negative Force.
Nearly all is lost..but not yet. Now that we understand the almost complete corruption of Anakin Skywalker, we are left with the only question left, which has become Luke Skywalker's obsession. Can Anakin Skywalker be redeemed?
Can balance be brought to the Force, once and for all, so that the Sith no longer plague the Jedi and the Jedi no longer allow their stewardship over Galactic Liberty to become feeble and filled with dogmatic hubris?
By this point, the young child watching the series in this order might be asking you, the all-knowing parent, "Did they just show twins being born?" Ah, give them this moment to ask the question. Let them dream. It will be answered soon, followed by, "Wait, didn't he kiss his sister then?" This is the inevitable question that shows you they are paying attention.
Now, I want to throw a caveat in here: I believe it is critical to view Return of the Jedi immediately following watching Revenge of the Sith. There are thematic and narrative echoes in both films that are diminished by their distance in the standard numbering system. We must avoid this, because these echoes must be strongly woven into the viewer’s understanding, in order to make sense of why parts 7-9 matter.
That being said, I’m going to put the upcoming series Obi-Wan Kenobi between them and reserve judgment as to whether it diminished the impact or enhances it, between these two critical chapters of the Skywalker Saga.
Screening 7a
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Seasons 1-? (2022 -10h?)
Did Obi-Wan intervene during this period? Did he monitor the maturation of Luke and Leia? How much does he discover about the genocide of the Jedi? What can he do to protect them and help the Rebellion grow into a formidable counterforce?
There is also a potential to see an Obi-Wan ghost in the future beyond Return Of The Jedi. I'm holding out hope for this.
Screening 8 (27.6h)
Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi (1983 -2h11m)
Narratively, it's essential to view Revenge of the Sith and Return Of The Jedi close together. I've become used to watching them back to back, and the themes resonant so much deeper with tragedy by positioning the viewing so close together.
It turns out that Anakin Skywalker did have a path to redemption, and he took it at the last moment. Seizing on the one remaining corpuscle of compassion left in his soul, Anakin spends it as mercy on Luke. Anakin turns against The Emperor, tossing him into oblivion (but not to death); the Empire crumbles along with the second Death Star in the great and noble Battle Of Endor.
Screening 8a
The Mandalorian: Seasons 1-2 (2019 -11h)
The aftermath of The Battle Of Endor wasn't a final collapse of The Empire. Instead, the New Republic is desperately attempting to retain and seize power in the wake of the Emperor's death. And like always, what is happening behind the scenes is far darker than the surface reveals.
The Mandalorian seeks a life of honor and order in a galaxy spiraling out of control and draining itself of honor. The deep affection between this almost automatic man (when we meet him) and this unique little creature, Grogu, may substantially impact the events to follow, including intersecting with Luke Skywalker's journey in a post-Emperor galaxy.
Screening 8b
The Book Of Boba Fett: Seasons 1-? (2021 -4.4h)
Nowhere in the Universe is the struggle for power and order more apparent than on Tatooine. Boba Fet barely escapes from the Sarlacc monster, becomes enslaves, then freed by the Sand People, and rises to rule the former Hutt territories of this dusty planet.
This storyline converges wonderfully with The Mandalorian and by trade with Luke Skywalker's journey to train a new generation of Jedi Knights with the hope of bringing order back to the Galaxy through this ancient religion.
Screening 8c
Ahsoka: Seasons 1-? (2023 -10h?)
Ahsoka is already peripherally involved in both The Mandalorian and The Book Of Boba Fett. Who knows what other part she will play in the events between The Clone Wars and The Force Awakens. This means that Ahsoka is arguably the Jedi who stays alive longest during Skywalker Saga. I hope her story will fill in many mystery gaps in what we know and assume and maybe even open up a few that can recast our understanding of the existing narrative.
Screening 9 (2.3h)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015 -2h18m)
Who is Rey, and why is she intimately linked to the Skywalker Saga? There are echoes of Anakin's and Luke's story with Rey. The Resistance still struggles against the horror at the center of The Empire turned into the First Order. In the end, every Jedi must have a master, as does every Sith. This trilogy is about shaking that order into a final conclusion that ends the Skywalker Saga.
Screening 10 (2.5h)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017 -2h32m)
This film destroys the Jedi Order once and for all. So many recalcitrant priests literally couldn't see evil in front of their faces or be corrupted by the lure of power over all other attributes of life. Through Luke's failure, Rey must learn that the hubris of The Jedi must end to bring balance to the Universe.
Like Khaleesi in that other story, Rey must break the wheel once and for all.
Screening 11 (2.4h)
Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019 -2h21m)
The Last of the Jedi and the Last of the Sith join together to defeat the ruthless corruption of selfish evil, which never dies in a two-party system. Everything has been leading up to this. One corpulent soul's greed and viciousness must never again infect the Galaxy with trauma and misery. The final line is drawn. The die is cast. A Skywalker will never rise again, and neither will a Sith.
That transition from Empire Strikes back to Phantom Menace is INTENSE.