How to Star Wars – A Beginner’s Guide to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

“YOU’VE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS!?!”

-literally everybody

Or maybe you have, but you saw the films years ago and don’t really know what’s happened since. Fear not. With Star Wars: The Force Awakens barely a month away (at the time of writing this), many of my friends and coworkers have been asking me about where to even start with Star Wars. While there is no right or wrong way to Star Wars necessarily, this guide will help you find a way to learn the ins and outs of one of the world’s most amazing fandoms in time for the big release on December 18th!

How to use this guide

It’s pretty simple really: In an effort to help make you a Star Wars expert, I have steps laid out by priority. My first priority, for example, is to watch the films. If you know the films, then skip to Priority 2, and so on. Just find your level and continue on the path. You certainly don’t have to complete this journey in a month, but the further you can get the better. If you’re a superfan already but have a friend or coworker who wants to understand the films and fandom that you’re so passionate about, send them here and they’ll have an easy road map to get them caught up with what we fanboys and girls already know. Ultimately, this is an outline for fandom- a first step into a larger world.

Before we begin, a quick word on canon

In 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm, Ltd and announced they would be telling new Star Wars stories! This was incredibly exciting to fans, but in order to be able to tell use the characters we all know and love, they needed a clean slate. So in 2013 Disney announced that all the stories (and there were a lot) that had been told through books, comics, video games, etc. would not be a part of the official Star Wars canon, or storyline. Rather, these stories would be rebranded as Legends, a sort of “what-if” universe. This meant that characters from the popular novel series that readers had been following since 1991 no longer existed in any official capacity. While many fans were saddened by this massive purge, the books, comics, and video games that have come out since the announcement all fall under one consistent storyline. This guide will focus almost entirely on that storyline.

And now, I present to you How to Star Wars: A Beginner’s Guide to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Priority 1: Watch The Films (Available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital download)

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

By far, the most important thing you can do to get into Star Wars is to watch Star Wars. All other Star Wars media really takes a back seat to the films.  This seems pretty straightforward, right? The thing is, there are nuances about these films that make it tough to even figure out how to watch them.  It’s most fortunate that I’m here to help.

• On versions:
  • These films all have multiple versions available and there is a lot of debate over which ones you should watch. While every release seems to see a few small changes, it really boils down to this: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI) have two major versions, the original theatrical versions and the 1997 Special Editions. The Special Editions were rereleased in theaters with pretty significant changes being made to the films (at least compared to all the other version-to-version changes). The official canon supports the newest versions of the film, but purists prefer the theatrical cuts. I’m going to be very clear about this: It doesn’t matter which versions you watch.

• On viewing order:
  • Since the original trilogy consisted of Episodes IV, V, and VI, and the prequels told the back story of I, II, and III, there are really only two obvious orders: release order (IV, V, VI, I, II, III) and chronological order (I, II, III, IV, V, VI). I’ve done both and can certainly see the merits of either, but ultimately I tend to think release order is better for first-time viewers. It keeps all the surprises intact (if pop culture hasn’t completely spoiled them) and those three films are what hooked the planet on Star Wars in the first place.
  • There have, in recent years, been a handful of other orders that have surfaced on various sites and blogs, and after you’ve seen them all once, a re-watch can really be whatever order you like but I’m not a big fan of most of these. Flashback Order (IV, V, I, II, II, VI) may be the only exception since it places the prequels directly in a contextual point where it would make sense to flashback, but most other wacky viewing orders are just that to me- wacky. And don’t even get me started on Machete Order.
  • Whatever versions you watch and whatever order you choose, just watch them. It’s certainly not a bad idea to get multiple viewings in too since even the most seasoned fans (myself included) can still pick up more and more interesting stuff on repeat viewings.

Priority 2: Watch The Clone Wars (Available on Netflix, Blu-Ray, & DVD)

In 2008, Lucasfilm put together a brilliant television series called The Clone Wars. This is not to be confused with Clone Wars, the earlier series by animator Genndy Tartakovsky, commonly referred to as “The Genndy Series”. That “The” in the title also distinguishes the two. The Clone Wars takes place in-between Episodes II & III and tells the story of Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka Tano (Anakin’s new padawan, or pupil), and the rest of the Jedi Order as they fight battle after battle in the notorious Clone Wars. Eventually, the series came to an abrupt end when Disney bought Lucasfilm, so it didn’t get the ending many fans were hoping for, but it told some amazing stories in its five season run. After it was canceled, Netflix picked up the series and added the unfinished 6th season as The Lost Missions.

One of the reasons The Clone Wars is so important in the greater Star Wars pictures is that it fleshed out the character of Anakin Skywalker and actually made him feel like a hero, something many fans had criticized the prequels for not doing enough. It may sound strange, but I’ve heard a lot of people swear that watching The Clone Wars makes you like the prequels a lot more. I couldn’t agree more.

Another important addition that The Clone Wars brings is that of Ahsoka Tano. Not only is she a strong new female character who is interesting in her own right, but she also adds so much depth to Anakin’s character over the years. In fact, she’s still adding depth to Anakin, from a certain point of view.

There are a lot of episodes of this one and I know you may be on a limited schedule with The Force Awakens fast approaching, so I found a nice little fast track episode guide from pointofgeeks that gets you an abridged version of the show that only runs 18 episodes. It includes a good amount of the characters and storylines that shape the framework of the show. It was written before The Lost Missions aired on Netflix, so I would DEFINITELY add the first four episodes of The Lost Missions to this list, but otherwise I think it’s pretty fantastic. If you have more time, or maybe after The Force Awakens, you should definitely watch the rest of this incredible series.

Priority 3: Watch Rebels (Available on Disney XD & Watch Disney XD)

When Disney pulled the plug on The Clone Wars, it made up for it by producing a marvelous brand new animated show on Disney XD called Star Wars Rebels. Taking place between Episodes III and IV, Star Wars Rebels follows the crew of the Ghost as they make their way through a galaxy becoming more and more oppressed by the Galactic Empire. While the crew and most of the villains are all-new characters, many familiar faces appear in this show, whether they’re from the films or from The Clone Wars. As with The Clone Wars, Rebels not only tells fun new stories in the Star Wars universe, it also expands on some of the themes that apply to all of Star Wars: Imperial oppression, the Force and how it works, characters from the films’ backstories, and more.

Season one of Star Wars Rebels is available on Blu-Ray and DVD, and seasons one and two (the current season) are available through Watch Disney XD (cable subscription required).

Priority 4: Gather Reference Material

Some may want to do this before starting their journey, but I find it best to go into all the aforementioned viewings without distractions. Eventually, you’re going to get your Rodians and your Ithorians mixed up. You’re going to forget the subtle differences between a Dathomirian and a Zabrak (None of us really knows). That’s where reference guides can come in handy.  Fortunately, there’s a lot of readily available information out there for those of us who wish to continue our training.  My three strongest recommendations are (in order): Ultimate Star Wars (by Ryder Wyndham, Adam Bray, Daniel Wallace, and Tricia Barr), StarWars.com, and Wookieepedia. Buy the book and bookmark the pages. You’ll need them later.

• Ultimate Star Wars is a simply stunning book that works as a sort of in-universe encyclopedia, covering characters, vehicles, weapons, and more from all the films, The Clone Wars, and Rebels. An absolute must-own for Star Wars fans.
• StarWars.com is the official site of Star Wars and as such has a lot of exclusive content as well as links to all of their social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Also, try their new mobile app. It’s available for iOS and Android and features a fresh new mobile interface for their site and some fun bonuses like Star Wars emojis and GIFs.
• Wookieepedia is exactly what you’d expect it to be, a Star Wars wiki page. It has an unfathomable amount of articles detailing not just current Star Wars canon, but also extensive reference material for all the great Legends books, should you wish to read them.

Priority 5: Continue The Clone Wars

Since The Clone Wars never had a chance to properly wrap up their storylines before the show was canceled, there were a lot of unfinished episodes that told important storylines and helped tidy things up a bit for Revenge of the Sith. While we still have questions about some things, executive producer Dave Filoni and team made sure we fans got as much clone content as possible through several media.

• Dark Disciple by Christie Golden (Available in Hardcover and digital)
  • You’re going to meet some amazing characters in The Clone Wars.  This is their story. A team-up book about the jedi Quinlan Vos having to work with Count Dooku’s former apprentice Asajj Ventress, this is one of the best Star Wars novels out there and it tells an important story for understanding the saga as a whole and the nature of the Force. I believe this to be the best book to start your journey into Star Wars novels.

• Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir by Jeremy Barlow, art by Juan Frigeri (currently only available second-hand)
  • Marvel Comics acquired rights to the Star Wars license in January of 2015 but for years prior Dark Horse Comics had been telling countless stories in a galaxy far, far away. The very last story they published was also based on unaired episodes of The Clone Wars and was called Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir. It really serves as a finale to his story in season 5 (which is included in Point of Geeks‘ fast-track viewing order). Trying to track down copies of this may make you a little crazy, but if you can find it, it’s absolutely worth reading the four-issue run.

Priority 6: Experience the “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the moniker under which all post-Return of the Jedi stories are going. These books have the unique quality of being able to tell stories where the reader really doesn’t know who lives and who dies, as opposed to say, a book set between episodes of the film saga, where you already know which characters are in the next movie. Journey To Star Wars: The Force Awakens (or JTTFA as it is commonly called) packs a punch with a whole lineup of books that released on 9/04/15, but here’s the fast track:

• Aftermath by Chuck Wendig (Available in hardcover and digital)
  • The first novel in the “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens” line, Aftermath details the events after Return of the Jedi, a period that no book, TV show, or anything else has ever explored in the current canon. The book follows Norra Wexley, a Y-wing pilot who fought in the battle of Endor as she tries to go back to her civilian life. Aside from the new character, who are quite entertaining, we get insight into the state of the Empire post-Emperor as they scramble to organize and maintain control.
• Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka, art by Mark Checchetto (available in single issues, Marvel Unlimited, and in trade paperback 11/18/15)
  • Another favorite part of the “Journey” is a 4-issue Marvel comic series called Shattered Empire. It follows Shara Bey, an A-Wing pilot from Green Squadron who fought in the Battle of Endor as well. In addition to an introduction to Shara, who will ultimately play a big role in the Star Wars universe (you’ll see), we see our old pals Han & Chewy back in action as well as Lando hitting on Shara (because of course).
• Lost Stars by Claudia Gray (Available in hardcover and digital)
  • Lost Stars features two childhood friends in Ciena and Thane as they see the rise of the Rebellion and the fall of the Empire and, while it’s marketed as a young adult novel, has been widely praised as one of the best of the batch by readers of all ages.  Bring tissues.

Priority 7: Expand on Rebels

As a newer television series, Star Wars Rebels still has a lot of mystery to it. Many characters’ backgrounds haven’t really been explored, but a couple have been set pretty well.

• A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller (available in paperback and digital or as part of the Rise of the Empire double feature)
  • The first book to be released after Disney swept all the old books into the Legends universe, A New Dawn introduced fans to Kanan and Hera even before Rebels had aired. In it, Kanan isn’t much of a jedi and Hera is just starting to act on her impulse to fight back against the Empire.
• Kanan: The Last Padawan by Greg Weisman, art by Pepe Larraz (single issues currently available in comic shops and digitally)
  • In Rebels, we’re only exposed to snippets of Kanan’s youth, but Kanan: the Last Palawan tells us of his days as a padawan to master Depa Billaba and how he survived the notorious Order 66. Excellent art and a real tear-jerker at times.
• Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp (available in hardcover and digitally)
  • While the protagonist of Lords of the Sith is Hera’s father Cham Syndulla, it really bridges the gap between The Clone Wars and Rebels more than it focuses on Rebels. The best thing about this book is that it is the most terrifying depiction of Darth Vader EVER.

Priority 8: Get into the fan community!

There is a vast array of Star Wars fansites and podcasts out there. Over the last few years, the online Star Wars community has grown to an astounding number of shows, articles, videos, fan fiction and any other kind of content you could imagine! We all love talking about Star Wars and you can learn a lot from some of these folks. This list is just a few highlights of good sites to bookmark and some shows to get you started. There are so many other GREAT sites out there, but I had to pick a few here:

• Fansites
  • Jedi News
    • Uk-based Jedi News is the most comprehensive fan site out there, period. They post everything. They probably posted this article. This really is the best place to go to get ALL of the Star Wars news. Whether it’s official Star Wars business, fan-related events, or exclusive content, Jedi News has it.
  • Making Star Wars
    • The biggest, baddest behind-the-scenes site out there.  Most notorious for their spoilers and rumors, the Making Star Wars team is well connected and always seems to run stories that can’t be confirmed at the time but almost always end up true. If you want the inside scoop on Star Wars, aim your browser here. Also producers of Now, This Is Podcasting! and Rebel Grrrl.
  • The Force.net
    • Not only a quality news site, but also quite a community.  The Force.net produces several podcasts, covers pretty much every Star Wars-related event in the world, and has a long history of being the fansite to turn to.
  • RebelScum.com
    • An excellent resource for collectors featuring high-quality photo galleries of most Star Wars action figures. Makes collecting a little easier.
  • Coffee With Kenobi
    • One of the bigger networks out there in terms of presence, Coffee With Kenobi has one of the best names and one of the biggest teams. They constantly have new blog posts like Rebels episode reviews, comic reviews, or just postulations on Star Wars in everyday life. A very fun site to just browse til you find a post or show that interests you.
  • Club Jade
    • If you find yourself gravitating toward the Star Wars novels and want to find a great place to discuss them or just learn more about them, CJ is an excellent place to go. Good commentary on other topics, as well.
• Podcasts
  • The Forcecast
    • Kind of the original Star Wars podcast, the show has gone through some changes over the years, but it’s always been there for fans. The official podcast of The Force.Net, The Forecast is one of the most exhaustive Star Wars podcasts out there, covering the films, books, TV, comics, games, and much more. They also have their own network with specialized shows just for books or just for Star Wars Rebels, for instance.
  • Full of Sith
    • A safe haven for Star Wars fans, Full of Sith welcomes prequel lover, prequel haters, collectors, cosplayers, hardcore fans, casual fans, any anyone else under the sun. Made up of a diverse cast as far as opinions go, they all bring interesting perspectives to age old questions, like “Where are the Naberries?”
  • Coffee with Kenobi
    • Another fansite-turned-podcast-turned-network, Coffee With Kenobi shines in their analysis of Star Wars. The hosts are both very bright and excel at trying the stories of Star Wars into real life and extrapolating real world lessons from the films.
  • Far Far Away Radio
    • Every episode is a whole posse of fans talking about the latest tidbits of news as well as some specialized shows about books and a hilarious audio drama version of A New Hope. Great discussion on the Legends Rogue Squadron books, if you’re into those.
  • Radio Free Tatooine
    • They’re alright I guess.  We try to make a Star Wars show that’s approachable, water cooler Star Wars. Don’t know a lot about Star Wars? That’s okay, neither do we. Only difference is we prove it once a week.
  • Some niche shows:
    • Mos Eisley Comic Port
      • Stay up to date on all the Marvel Star Wars Comics.
    • Star Wars Bookworms
      • A Star Wars books podcast that’s great for catching reading ideas.
    • The Trade Federation and Illuminerdy
      • Two shows all about Topps’ Star Wars Card Trader app.
    • Rebels Report
      • Every episode broken down in detail.
    • Who Shot First?
      • Star Wars trivia hosted by comedian Dylan Hesp

• Social Media
  • Get on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or wherever kids go these days and follow Star Wars. Their social media team is top-notch, interacting with fans all the time and producing exclusive online content like Rebels Recon, a short video series giving you behind-the-scenes access to each episode of Star Wars Rebels.

There is always more Star Wars ready for your consumption, that much is true no matter how into it you are. Hopefully though, this helps some of you find your way through the jungle of films, TV, and books. After following this guide, you’ll be able to talk advanced Force theories and explain why Darth Vader is the main character of the saga. Or is it Luke? Either way, have fun getting into debates at work or wherever you frequently spot Star Wars fans. We LOVE to debate! From here one could spring into tabletop games (as they’re pretty great), video games, collecting, costuming, and so many other things. Perhaps that’s another post, “How to Keep Star Warsing.”

Take care and May The Force Be With You!