It is a great year to be a Star Wars fan. New content is launching all over the place as Disney’s ownership comes into full effect this year. We’ll be seeing new movies, novels, video games, and comics from the best space fantasy of all time. In honor of this, and specifically the beginning of Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s run on Marvel’s new Star Wars series this Wednesday, a primer on the events of the universe is not a horrible idea for anyone, even the most die hard fans. Beginning with the movies, We the Nerdy will update you on all the major events of the Star Wars universe as the year progresses. So, without further ado: the movies.
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on the film, Phantom Menace is a key part of the Skywalker saga, beginning the story of Anakin Skywalker’s rise to power. The film, as with all other Star Wars films, kicks off in space, specifically a panning shot of the Trade Federation blockade of the peace-loving planet Naboo. As soon as the ship lands in the hangar bay, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are escorted to a conference room, where the leader of the Trade Federation, Nute Gunray, will meet them. The Jedi are able to escape a death trap, and travel to Otto-Gunga, where they receive a sub from Boss Nass, and pilot it to Theed. Upon their arrival to Theed, they find the city occupied, and quickly stage a rescue of Naboo’s young queen, Padme Amidala. The group commandeers a ship from Theed’s main hangar bay, and escape the blockade. The group head to Tatooine, a nearby desert planet. Qui-Gon, Jar Jar, and one of Padme’s handmaidens enter Mos Espa, where they meet the young Anakin Skywalker. Because the group cannot afford the parts needed to fix their ship, Anakin agrees to enter a podrace on their behalf, which he wins. The result is his freedom, along with the parts required. With the parts, and Anakin, the group departs Tatooine, though not before a run in with Darth Maul. Upon their return, they meet with the resistance and Boss Nass, and garner the assistance of the Gungans. The Gungans face the Trade Federation in battle, while the rebels carry out an attack on the palace, and Anakin heads into space to destroy the main trade Federation battleship. Qui-Gon is killed while fighting Darth Maul, but Obi-Wan quickly avenges him, and agrees to train Anakin.
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Attack of the Clones begins with an assassination attempt against Padme Amidala, who, in the ten years since the events of the Phantom Menace, has become the senator of Naboo. The Jedi are quick to blame Dooku, and after another assassination attempt, dispatch Obi-Wan to investigate, and Anakin to protect Padme on Naboo. Obi-Wan discovers a Clone army, ready to fight for the Jedi, and Anakin dreams about his mother, arriving on Tatooine just in time to watch her die, leading to his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders. Obi-Wan’s investigations lead him to pursuing Jango Fett to Geonosis, where he is captured, as are Padme and Anakin when they come to his aid. Fortunately, a task force of Jedi shows up to help free them, and clashes with an army of battle droids. They are then saved by the Clone army, which has already commenced battle against CIS forces. Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue Count Dooku, who proves his worth by defeating both of them, Fortunately, they are saved by Yoda. At the end, Anakin and Padme get married.
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Three years after Attack of the Clones, the Clone Wars is in full swing. After six months commanding the Outer Rim Sieges, Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant with their fleet to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from General Grievous before Grievous can escape. The two face off with Dooku, and Anakin kills him at the request of the Chancellor, while Obi-Wan is unconscious. However, they are captured by Grievous, but manage to escape when his ship is shot down by Republic forces. Once back on Coruscant, Anakin reunites with a pregnant Padme. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan is redeployed to Utapau, with Anakin remaining on Coruscant as the Chancellor’s liason to the Jedi Council. Upon realizing that the Chancellor is actually Darth Palpatine, Anakin relays this message to the Jedi, who dispatch a team to kill the Chancellor. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan succeeds in his mission to kill Grievous. Palpatine easily dispatches most of the Jedi, though requires Anakin’s assistance to finish off Mace Windu. Once this is done, and Anakin turns to the Dark Side, the GAR is given Order 66, and begins to pick off Jedi, whilst Anakin assaults the Temple. Having survived the attacks, Yoda and Obi-Wan unite aboard Bail Organa’s ship, and go after Anakin and Palpatine. Yoda is defeated by Palpatine, and Obi-Wan leaves Anakin to die, though he is saved by Palpatine before he succumbs to death, and becomes Darth Vader. Finally, Padme gives birth to twins, one of whom is sent to Tatooine, and the other with Bail Organa.
Episode IV: A New Hope
Ah, the original. A New Hope began Star Wars with a Star Destroyer bearing down on the Tantive IV above Tatooine, and capturing Princess Leia. During the struggle, R2-D2 and C-3P0 manage to escape, and are purchased by Luke’s uncle Owen on Tatooine. The droids lead Luke Skywalker to Ben Kenobi, Obi-Wan in disguise. Luke returns home to discover his aunt and uncle dead, and agrees to go to Alderaan with Obi-Wan, as per Leia’s request. They enter a cantina in Mos Eisley, and hire Han Solo and Chewbacca to take them to Alderaan. Upon arrival, they find the planet destroyed by the Death Star, due to Leia’s inability to cooperate. The Millenium Falcon is captured, but the crew is able to escape and free Leia. although Obi-Wan is slain by Vader. Leia leads the crew of the Falcon to the rebel base on Yavin IV. Unfortunately, they were tracked, and the Death Star shows up. On the bright side, the Rebels were able to find a weakness in the Death Star, and launch an attack against the battle station. Luke blows it up using the Force, and is given a medal in recognition.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Ah, the best of the Star Wars movies. Empire Strikes Back sees our heroes on Hoth, facing an impending Imperial invasion. As the Empire lands their forces, the Rebellion puts up resistance as their transport ships escape. Despite small victories, the resistance turns out to be futile, and they are overrun. Han, Leia, Chewie, and the droids escape through an asteroid field in the Millenium Falcon to Bespin, where they meet and are betrayed by Lando Calrissian. Meanwhile, Luke trains with Yoda on Dagobah, but is plagued with visions of his friends being killed, and so departs for Cloud City. There, he confronts Darth Vader, and despite some initial success, is defeated, before the revelation that Vader is his father. Oh yeah, and Han was frozen in carbonite and Leia professed her love for him. The film ends with Luke and Leia staring out at the galaxy, and planning to rescue Han.
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
After leaving Han as a captive of Jabba the Hutt, his friends decide that its finally time to break him out. With everyone in place, and after killing the Rancor, Jabba takes Leia, Luke, Lando, Han, and Chewie to the Pit of Carcoon to be fed to a Sarlacc. Fortunately, they manage to escape, and kill both Jabba and Boba Fett in the process. Luke returns to Dagobah just in time to watch Yoda die, while the rest head back to the Rebel Fleet at the rendezvous point. As the Rebellion is planning their strike against the second Death Star – oh yeah, the Empire built another one – Luke returns from Dagobah. Along with the rest of the main cast, he travels to the forest moon of Endor, where he turns himself in to Darth Vader. Meanwhile, the Rebels enlist the assistance of the Ewoks, and lead an attack against the shield generator, while the Rebel Fleet begins their attack. The Shield Generator and Death Star are both destroyed, while Luke duels Vader, ending in the death of both his father and Emporer Palpatine.
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