Friday, October 3, 2014

Five Reasons Why You Will Hate Star Wars Rebels


1. It is on the Disney Channel.

There is rampant speculation that Rebels will be made for kids. Sure, you were a kid once and the films appealed to you. But Star Wars should be created just for your age group. The show must be something that appeals first and foremost to you 30- and 40-year olds. Kids these days just don't have the special appreciation for the Star Wars galaxy that you do. You must be catered to.

2. It is the first episodes of the first season.

You expect a new show to be fully developed with a cast that is already full of chemistry and completely integrated with the technical and story writing teams. Also, all the animation models for every character, ship, and world are fully designed with no need for a single enhancement. You believe the first episode of the first season should have the exact same level of quality as an episode at the end of the third season.

3. It is not the Clone Wars.

You believe Star Wars: The Clone Wars was the highest form of animated entertainment and that anyone who did not watch the show regularly are not "real fans" or are Prequel-bashers. You like dark stories with little humor and a serious approach to the content. You expect that since Dave Filoni is heading the team that the same style of stories will be told. You don't want anything new or different. Lastly, for you, if the animation is not rendered in detailed high-definition then it is not good animation.

4. It will sell toys and merchandise.

How could a company possibly consider selling merchandise when spending millions of dollars making a television series? Nevermind the fact that it was because George Lucas retained merchandising rights back in 1977 that Lucasfilm could even come into existence. You also overlook the hours of fun you had playing with those 3.75 inch figures in your backyard, or looking at your Empire Strikes Back lunchbox on the bus on the way to school. Now it is all just greedy, soulless capitalism to your enlightened (cynical) mind.

5. The 1983 George Lucas is not involved.

It is not Star Wars unless George Lucas is involved - but it must be your version of George Lucas. The one from 1983 who made the original trilogy, or the one from 1980 if you hated the Ewoks. Certainly not the one from 2005 who made the prequels - or maybe the one from 2013 who made those Clone Wars episodes that reflected classic movie style because those didn't "feel like Star Wars" to you. You know you have the right version of George Lucas.

6. Is this not you?

Congratulations! You have a healthy level of interest in the Star Wars universe. You know not everything will be perfect. You understand that the people at the helm will make creative choices that you may not agree with or will take time for you to get into. You know that mistakes will be made and learned from. But, no matter what, you are excited that new Star Wars stories are being told and that the joy you felt as a kid will be passing onto future generations that you can share your fandom with.