While yet another Star Wars Day is upon us, this year is vastly different from years past, as we attempt to find new ways to celebrate during a social distancing pandemic. Also, the later part of 2019 brought The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion to the 42-year spanning, nine-part Skywalker saga. Both of these events have prompted me to revisit and reanalyze the entire multi-episodic adventure.

Now that the Skywalker saga has been completed, I’ve been digesting and reflecting upon the galactic journey as a whole. Although we now take for granted films depicting other worldly space adventures, nothing can replace the excitement, joy and nostalgia I still feel for Star Wars. For those who know me, I’ve previously shared in depth my unwaning love for my favorite space opera of all time in a piece I’d written a couple of years ago titled, For the Love of Star Wars. For those who don’t and who are interested in such things, my previous piece can be found by clicking the feature’s aforementioned title link.

I find it disheartening whenever I see the negativity and incessant whining surrounding Star Wars of late, but then I remind myself that those proclaiming to be “so-called fans” are really not the true fans at all, but merely self-absorbed crybabies who have lost touch with the inner childlike wonderment of their long lost imaginations. As the elite number of the truly devoted know, Star Wars isn’t bound to merely one film, trilogy or era, it’s an intangible entity belonging to those of us who still truly embrace the wonderment found within its timeless fantastical spirit and lasting inspiration.

I for one, am extremely grateful for being amongst the generation lucky enough to have been precisely the ideal age to fully appreciate the original trilogy, as well as all that have followed. I find great comfort in knowing the Star Wars galaxy is and will remain easily within my grasp whenever I want to revisit a galaxy far, far away. May the fourth be with you.

“We are the spark, that will light the fire…”