Everyone has a comfort movie, but for many, Star Wars is a comfort franchise. This world is the only place large enough for all of us to escape to when the harsh realities of our own world become too suffocating. From mesmerizing us as kids to getting us through the lockdown a few years ago, this franchise has given us much more than we give it credit for.
My journey with Star Wars began on a school trip to watch Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. I had not watched any Star Wars movies until I saw Episode II, and I was completely mesmerized. It was a lot to take in, and the only way to describe my feelings was "love at first sight."
I was completely taken in by the different worlds, the colors, the sounds, the creatures, and John Williams's spellbinding score. The prequels made a strong impression on me and stayed in a corner of my heart for years. I remember waiting for Hayden Christensen to return when it seemed impossible. Anakin was dead, and Vader's fate had already been written. Shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels were a continuation my young mind couldn't possibly have imagined.
I took a long break from the franchise after Rogue One until The Mandalorian brought me back with the same love and passion as the prequels. I believe Star Wars finds us when we need it the most. It's fine to not like everything equally, and for every project to make us feel a different way. Not everything will be perfect, but the Star Wars story and characters that are meant to heal you will always find you when you're at your lowest. Din Djarin and Grogu in The Mandalorian, Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor in Rogue One, and Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars found me when I had nothing else to give me happiness. I hope this continues for many years, and I hope Star Wars will always have what it takes to heal me and heal all of us.
With The Mandalorian and Grogu set to hit theaters this month, I have mixed emotions because fans have been oddly hostile to the movie so far, but that's what Star Wars fans have always been like. With time, I know this movie will make a place in everyone's hearts. This is the only franchise that can rely on the same formula of family, hope, and courage across multiple stories without losing its edge. The only bad Star Wars is the one that's bleak and hopeless. Apart from that, although our tastes may differ, I'm sure if we all sat down and discussed why we liked a particular story set in the galaxy far, far away, we'd find more similarities than differences.
I believe Star Wars is for everyone, but most importantly, it's for those of us who haven't lost our whimsy and those of us who wish to heal our inner child. Thank you, George Lucas, for creating a larger-than-life world based on the most relatable aspects of the human experience. On this Star Wars Day, I'm grateful to call myself a Star Wars fan.
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