Comments on: The Star Wars sequence for kids

By: Shalambao

Shalambao — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:45:42 +0000

Wish I’d found this site before Dad made 3,5,and 9 yr olds sit through I and II, with the intent of taking them straight through VI. They were so bored I had to google all the best Star Wars Legos mashups on YouTube to even peak their interest in IV. CareBears of the SW Universe… if only we can get to you!!!!

By: Jason Fry

Jason Fry — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:37:06 +0000

When I came to this pass with my kid, I advocated for IV-V-I-II-III-VI.

My main goal was not to ruin the surprise of TESB, which makes the saga what it is. In this order, your immediate hunger for knowing how Anakin possibly became Vader is satisfied, and ROTJ works better, because you see the parallels between it and ROTS and have a real fear that Luke will fall into the same trap his father did, killing the Sith apprentice and taking his place. The only thing spoiled is discovering the Emperor is a master of the dark side, but that’s fairly small as spoilers go.

What I hadn’t counted on was the osmosis of children’s social lives: My kid knew before he’d seen a single Star Wars movie that Darth Vader was Luke’s father. That made my careful plans kind of pointless, and so we saw them IV-V-VI, I-II-III. Oh well.

By: Tim Carmody

Tim Carmody — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:57:22 +0000

Jedi has flaws, but man, it has its moments, too. I don’t know if I’d want to live in a world without Han’s rescue from Jabba the Hutt, Yoda’s death scene, the speeder chase on Endor, or Luke’s confrontation with Vader and the Emperor.

By: Tim Carmody

Tim Carmody — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:41:28 +0000

Unfortunately, ALL FOUR seasons of The O.C. have become required viewing for standardized proficiency tests in my state. We can only hope that they change the requirements before my son hits junior high.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:08:57 +0000

You said what I came here to say. I’d only add that ROTJedi is borderline too-sucky-to-bear. And that the Clone Wars should be killed.

By: Jaffa

Jaffa — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:00:58 +0000

I’m a firm believer in the ‘third position’. When I have kids someday, I wouldn’t ever want to subject them to the hideousness of the prequel trilogy. Episodes IV-VI in order, thankyou very much! Also, when the kid(s) gets older I’ll do my level best to conceal the existence of The Godfather Part III, Die Hard 2 and 4, the Lion King sequels and season 3 of the O.C.

By: Saheli

Saheli — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:25:05 +0000

J.K. Rowling really handled that bit correctly. But Guy, that’s not completely dissimilar to my experience with Indiana Jones. “Ooh, Raiders, awesome”. Prequel Sequel comes out. “Racist and demeaning, never mind .. ”

By: Saheli

Saheli — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:21:22 +0000

That sounds like that will take time, so yes please, EC. ;-)

By: Saheli

Saheli — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:20:24 +0000

Oh I wasn’t accusing you of being gender exclusive, just that it got me thinking. I think I subconsciously assumed that this was all a subtle way of your working out the dilemma as you yourself must be facing it shortly? ;-)

By: Robin Sloan

Robin Sloan — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:32:32 +0000

This is SO. FASCINATING to me. In a way it re-invigorates the shock/surprise of the series! I mean, that’s pretty amazing actually: to consume this whole gigantic media stream that’s telling you X is the hero… and then, *errrrrk*, suddenly X is a black-suited demon-cyborg. Cool.