10 Years Later: Was The Force Awakens Really That Bad?

In the early 2000s, the Star Wars prequel trilogy hit the scene, and it proved to be divisive. I was a wee child when The Phantom Menace came to theaters, and it was my introduction to the series, so the prequels have a special place in my heart. I definitely understand the hate they get, though. Throughout my youth, Star Wars continued to mean a lot to me. It helped show me the magic of filmmaking, but it also scratched the video game lover part of my brain. Whether it was playing The Force Unleashed on my PSP or watching The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, I ate it up. So, when The Force Awakens was announced on the eve of my 18th birthday, I was ecstatic. Little did I know that The Force Awakens would mark the beginning of yet another incredibly divisive trilogy.

After 10 Years, The Force Awakens is a Story Filled With High and Low Points

As much as I love Star Wars, it's been a little while since I've watched The Force Awakens, and seeing it without the rose-colored glasses I once had definitely feels like a different experience. There are plenty of aspects of The Force Awakens that I like, but there are also a lot of things that I don't enjoy. Considering this movie is so divisive among Star Wars fans, I'm not exactly surprised by this, though. There are moments that make me feel like a kid again, while others leave me utterly frustrated.

The movie is a solid introduction to the series for a younger generation that likely didn't see the prequels or the original trilogy, but for longtime fans, watching The Force Awakens can be a bit of a headache. From the lack of true character development in its newcomers to the shocking regression of beloved originals, The Force Awakens tries to recapture the magic of A New Hope, but it probably should have tried something riskier in the long run.

The Force Awakens Sets Up a Long List of Compelling Scenarios That Never End Up Going Anywhere

Now that the sequel trilogy has ended, it's frankly nearly impossible to look at the movie without taking its two follow-ups, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, into consideration. For longtime fans, it's no secret that The Force Awakens is a mirror image of A New Hope, and while this is seen as a bad copy and paste job by some, I don't exactly see it that way. Yes, it's derivative, but I also see it as playing into the idea that history and time are a series of cycles that repeat over and over again. Empires fall and rise, and there is always a hero or some kind of seemingly "chosen" figure to either take down or bring back these circumstances. Enter Rey and Kylo Ren.

Rey takes on Luke Skywalker's role, Kylo Ren serves as the Darth Vader of the story, and Luke has become Obi-Wan. That's obvious. These parallels aren't only important in demonstrating history repeating itself, but it's essential to introduce a brand-new, younger audience to the formula. However, many of the similarities should have stopped there. Repurposing the Death Star into the Starkiller Base feels lazy, while bringing back Han Solo feels more like fan service than being a useful piece of the plot. There is a lot of debate about Han Solo's place in the movie in general. There are arguments that Han's return to smuggling showcases the emotional toll Kylo Ren's turn to the dark side had on him, but I felt like it was regressive. Han's only actual purpose for the story was to reveal that he's Kylo's father, and there simply isn't enough build-up to pull off the emotional weight that such a character dynamic should have.

Some of the most interesting parts about The Force Awakens are the scenarios it sets up, simply for them to go nowhere later in the trilogy. When it comes to new characters, Rey could have benefited from being a more flawed and complex character. Finn had the potential to be a strong hero, but his arc is ultimately wasted throughout the rest of the trilogy. He's teased as a potential Force user, but that breadcrumb never goes anywhere. Beyond Rey and Finn, Captain Phasma is another character that was teased as playing a larger role down the road, only for her story to completely fizzle out later on. Rewatching The Force Awakens, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to watch these set-ups, but then I was reminded of how disappointing much of the story gets down the road.

Even With its Flaws, The Force Awakens Remains an Optimistic Reminder of What Could Have Been

When I put on blinders and take in The Force Awakens for what it is, I enjoy it much more. Knowing what happens in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker can dampen the experience a bit, but that still doesn't stop the first entry from being an optimistic and charming attempt at introducing the Star Wars formula to younger viewers. I'm not going to pretend that The Force Awakens is a great movie, because it isn't, but it definitely isn't a bad movie. Frankly, this is what I imagine many original Star Wars fans felt when seeing The Phantom Menace for the first time.

The Force Awakens plays it safe in a lot of ways, but it also tries to set up fresh ideas that, unfortunately, didn't pan out in the way the story made it seem they eventually would. It's the definition of a mixed bag, but it also still has the power to introduce a new generation to the Star Wars franchise, and that's one of its greatest qualities.