A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an epic space opera called Star Wars laid the foundation for post-millennial cinematic history. Written by George Lucas and brought to the silver screen for the first time in 1977, Star Wars teleported people to a different world of interplanetary wonder. It was the dawn of everything cool – right from the uber fancy light sabers to stormtrooper costumes to baddest yet coolest villain Darth Vader himself. If you’re a Star Wars novice but want to catch up with the nerdy brethren of the galactic empire, here’s all that you need to know.
First thing to note is that the series doesn’t go in consecutive order. The first episodes were released as films were 4, 5, 6 in 1977 and continued with 1, 2, 3 in 1999.
Phantom Menace (1999) is about a galactic empire of Jedi knights who are guardians of peace and justice. The Jedi use a mystical energy field called the force to enhance their mental and physical skills. They practice the light side of the force, and their enemies, the Sith, practice the dark side of the force. Obi Wan Kenobi and his master Qui Gon Jin go to rescue Queen Padme Amidala from the possible invasion of the planet Naboo. After rescuing her, their ship is damaged and they have to stop at a deserted island of Tataouine for repairs. There they meet the young Anakin Skywalker, a slave boy who is extremely strong in the force. Qui Gon is convinced that young Anakin Skywalker is the chosen one and asks Obi Wan to train Anakin as a Jedi as his dying wish.
Attack of the Clones (2002) is where Obi Wan trains Anakin Skywalker to become a Jedi for 10 years. After multiple assassination attempts on Senator Padme Amidala, Aakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her. In the course of his mission, they fall in love. During this time, the galaxy is in turmoil and on the brink of a civil war. A battle breaks out between the Republic’s Clone Forces and the Separatist Droid army. Count Dooku, a fallen Jedi, is leading a thousand soldiers against the clone troopers to bring down the Jedi order. Grandmaster Yoda saves the two Jedis after they are defeated by Count Dooku. The Clone Wars officially begin. After which Anakin and Padme get married in secret.
Revenge of the Sith (2005): The clone wars have been raging, and Palpatine, the leader of the Republic is captured by Count Dooku. Anakin and Obi Wan rescue the chancellor and defeat Dooku. Upon return, Padme reveals that she is pregnant. Palpatine reveals himself to Anakin as the Dark Lord Sidious who has been controlling the Republic and the Separatist movements. When the Jedis actually attempt to arrest Darth Sidious, but are unsuccessful because Anakin actually helps him. Anakin is seduced by the dark force and becomes Palpatine’s new apprentice, known as Darth Vader. The republic crumbles as the clones turn on their own Jedi generals. The Jedis are decimated and almost entirely wiped out. Yoda and Obi Wan decide to fight the Dark Lord. Yoda fails at defeating Sidious but Obi Wan defeats his former padawan and friend Anakin on the lava planet, Mustafar. Darth Sidious finds the dying Anakin burnt badly but not dead and puts him in a full suit of black biochemical armour. Before his death, Anakin’s wife gives birth to twins but dies during childbirth. The two children Luke and Leia are separated to different foster parents. The new empire rises and begins to develop a massive station.
A New Hope (1977): 19 years after the formation of the empire, Princess Leia, member of the Rebel alliance, steals a death star plan that reveals its fatal flaw. She hides it in a droid, R2D2 and is captured by Darth Vader shortly after. The droid escapes to a planet Tataouine where they fall in the hands of Luke Skywalker. The droid also has a message from Obi Wan, requesting him to take the plans to Alderaan, home planet of Princess Leia. After Luke’s foster parents die in the hands of the Empire, he decides to go with Obi Wan. He gives Luke the Jedi training and his father’s lightsaber. In Tataouine, they pay a smuggler, Han Solo and Chewbacca to transport them to Alderaan. In the meantime, Darth Vader destroys the planet of Alderaan with the death star as a punishment for being involved in the Rebel Alliance. When Luke Skywalker and his friends come out of hyperspace, the planet is non-existent. Nothing is there but the Death Star and their ship is pulled in by the tractor beam of the Death star. Luke and Han rescue Leia while Obi Wan turns off the tractor beam. Obi Wan sacrifices himself for the cause. Now having plans to the Death Star, the Rebel Alliances come to destroy the space station. Luke succeeds in destroying the Death Star and emerges as a hero.
Empire Strikes Back (1980): The Imperial Forces continue to pursue the rebels. The rebels have based themselves in the icy planet of Hoth which they are forced to evacuate due to an invasion by Darth Vader. Luke travels to the planet of Dagobah to train with Jedi master, Yoda. Meanwhile, Han, Leia and Chewbacca are pursued by the Imperial troops and are eventually caught at the cloud city of Bespin by Darth Vader. Luke continues his Jedi training till he realizes that his friends are in danger. Darth Vader lures young Skywalker into a trap. There, Han is frozen in carbonite and taken by bounty hunter Boba Fett. After a fierce duel with the Dark Lord, Luke faces the evil revelation that Darth Vader is actually his father. Luke is humiliated and shocked and intentionally falls off the bridge. Leia comes to rescue Luke while Chewbacca and Lando go to Tataouine to find Han.
Return of the Jedi (1983): Almost after a year, Leia along with Chewbacca and other rebels break into Jabba’s palace to rescue Han Solo. However, all of them are captured in the process and sentenced to death. Right before the execution, Luke manages to free himself and defeats Jabba’s forces. At the same time, Leia strangles Jabba to death. Luke returns to Dagobah where Luke realizes that Yoda is dying. Yoda and the ghost of Obi Wan tell him that he must fight Vader to defeat the Empire only then will he truly become a Jedi. The Rebels learn that the Empire has been constructing a new Death Star under Palpatine himself. On the Death Star, Luke defeats Darth Vader. Unsuccessful at bringing him to the dark side, the emperor begins to force lightning on Luke. Anakin kills Palpatine to save his son and redeems himself. The Rebels successfully destroy the main reactor, thereby, destroying the Death Star once again. Planets across the universe celebrate the victory.
The Force Awakens (2016): Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, the First Order has risen from the fallen Galactic Empire and seeks to eliminate the new Republic. The Resistance movement is backed by the Republic and is under the leadership of General Leia and are looking for the Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker. Amidst the search, new heroes rise in the form of Rey, a Force-sensitive scavenger from Jakku; Finn, the Stormtrooper who defected from the First Order and Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the Resistance. Han Solo helps them in their search and in their mission to destroy the First Order’s new superweapon, Starkiller Base which targets the New Republic. They are opposed by villains such as Kylo Ren, a dark warrior from the First Order, who is a successor to the Galactic Empire.
Making its first Indian TV premiere, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will premiere on Star Movies and Star Movies Select HD on 24 December at 1 pm and 9 pm.