# Mandatory Star Wars thread: What order should a newbie watch it in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674 "2002-09-20T00:18:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/1 "2002-09-20T00:18:58Z")
No, not me, stupid… My girlfriend has never seen ANY of the Star Wars films, save Episode IV, which she’s only seen in part. So we’re going to start watching them together this weekend. The question is…do we watch them in numerical order, or order of release? Personally, I’d rather show them to her in numerical order, as the “surprise” of Vader’s identity in _Empire_ will be all the more fun since Episode III isn’t out yet. By the time we get to _A New Hope_, all she’ll know is that Anakin is “dead,” has a son, and some guy named Vader is bringing the galaxy to ruin. (Plus, _Clones_ will be out on IMAX in a month, and I’d like to take her to that.) Are there any reasons why I should REALLY show it to her in the release order instead? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/2 "2002-09-20T00:29:11Z")
Yes. The release order gives you the chance to avoid the steaming, fetid lumps of yak-turd that are Episode I and 2. The correct order to watch the Star Wars franchise is: A New Hope The Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi Then stop. There IS no Ewok adventure. There IS no Ewok adventure 2. There IS no Star Wars Christmas Special. There IS no Droids or Ewoks Saturday morning cartoons. There are no steaming, fetid piles of yak turd that are Episode 1 and Episode 2. There is only the original triliogy. Fenris Wan Kenobie ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/3 "2002-09-20T01:42:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **Yes. The release order gives you the chance to avoid the steaming, fetid lumps of yak-turd that are Episode I and 2.** Not to mention the fact that Episode II has not yet been released in any video format. > [@](#): > > \*\*The correct order to watch the Star Wars franchise is: > > A New Hope > The Empire Strikes Back > Return of the Jedi > > Then stop.\*\* I would argue that one should stop watching **before** Return of the Jedi. Spare yourself the stomach ache of Jabba’s palace dancers and the Planet of the Teddy Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/4 "2002-09-20T01:44:05Z")
**Fenris** , you Purist. You HAVE to watch the Ewok movies! YUB YUB!!! ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/5 "2002-09-20T01:45:45Z")
Oh – and stay away from the “Special Edition” release of Episode IV. The added special effects have the feel of a Disney kiddie flick. ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/6 "2002-09-20T02:00:51Z")
**Tracer** , Hey, I’d argue that, barring any muppets (Yoda excluded), Jedi is a pretty darn good movie. The Battle of Endor is one of the best space battles I’ve ever seen. I’m enough of a purist to avoid the Special Editons. I own the originals on VHS and I’m sticking to them. And like I said, _Clones_ is coming on IMAX November 1 and DVD on November 12. We can wait a month for them…it’s not like we’re doing ALL FIVE FILMS in one night. …although we probably should watch the Muppet Show episode as well, which I do have on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/7 "2002-09-20T02:37:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ResIpsaLoquitor \* > \*\*…although we probably should watch the Muppet Show episode as well, which I do have on DVD. \*\* You mean, that episode of the actual Muppet Show [TM] where Mark Hamill and company were the guest stars? (Or am I being “whoosed” by a sarcastic reference to _Ewoks: Battle for Endor_ here?) If the former – hell, why not watch _The Star Wars Holiday Special_ while you’re at it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/8 "2002-09-20T05:27:02Z")
Definitely show them to her in order of release. I’m not a big Star Wars fan but I’ve been watching them over again on video because my young son just discovered them. The only thing that makes The Phantom Menace at all bearable is the lingering affection I have for the original trilogy. If I’d come to PM cold without anything invested in the universe my response would have been “What is this crap?” and I never would have watched any further. Get her on board with the thrilling rollercoaster ride and stunning display of imagination that is Episode IV. Once she’s hooked she’ll be willing to slog through I & II. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/9 "2002-09-20T06:20:35Z")
Ep.IV Ep.V Ep.VI Ep.II And skip Ep.I altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/10 "2002-09-20T06:43:52Z")
As a general rule: _Any_ series of literary works is best read or watched in the order released. The artist will expect that you are familiar with the earlier works, and plan the later works accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/11 "2002-09-20T10:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\* > Not to mention the fact that Episode II has not yet been released in any video format. > I would argue that one should stop watching **before** Return of the Jedi. Spare yourself the stomach ache of Jabba’s palace dancers and the Planet of the Teddy Bears. \*\* I’d agree, except that the last 30 minutes or so of Luke, Vader and the Emperor is fantastic and it’s worth suffering through the other stuff. And the one other Star Wars tie-in that should be watched is the Saturday Night Live special from 1977 where they did that bizarre “Star Wars meets an Annette/Frankie beach movie” thing. _That_ was creative. IIRC, the Muppet Show tie in was good too. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/12 "2002-09-20T15:26:47Z")
Original release, definitely. And I’d skip the new ones as well. Hell, if I ever watch ROTJ, I generally fast forward through almost half of it to get to the parts I can stand. ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-star-wars-thread-what-order-should-a-newbie-watch-it-in/128674/13 "2002-09-20T15:33:07Z")
And for the record, I _loved_ Episode II. Nyah-nyah.