I didn’t grow up watching Star Wars—I didn’t think it was my thing. When I got tickets to go for my birthday last year, I was dubious and unamused. But when the movie let out at 1 a.m., it kind of blew my mind.
The next day, I watched Episode 4, 5 and 6 within the span of about eight hours, and have gone to see the movie four other times. Now I’m unapologetically down $60, and here’s what I’ve gained from my many trips to a galaxy far, far away.
1. Once you start, you can’t really stop.
I'm not really mad about all the time I'm wasting.
2. Yeah, so where is Rey?
After my fourth trip to the movie, I wandered through the exciting City Target and saw the full movie set of action figure dolls—and Rey wasn’t there. Or BB8, and I am not quite sure which is more of a disgrace. Mild feminist rant aside, it doesn’t make any sense—why does the world need yet another Storm trooper figurine?
3. Star Wars weirdly bonds people more than anything else.
My friend Emmie is basically the greatest, coolest human I know. She grew up with the films, and I was able to witness her seeing "The Force Awakens" for the first time. The theater had about 15 people in it which was solid because we were the loudest bunch of weirdos in there. Every time C2PO, R2D2, the General Princess came on the screen should freak out in an amazing way—and at the end of the movie, some girls turned around to thank her for showing all the emotion they were too weary to do in a theater around other people.
4. No, seriously, it brings people together.
Two days later, we were at a coffee shop down the street writing and people-watching. We were fumbling with our words when we both said, “that’s not how the force works.” The two people next to us interjected into our conversation and started talking about the movie, and then about life. They had seen it six times. I needed to catch up.
5. Adam Sackler, from "Girls," is just casual Kylo Ren.
I know Hannah Horvath didn't want to get back together but he may have taken the break-up harder than he should have. Enter Emo Kylo Ren.
6. "I like that Wookiee"
You and me both, Maz Kanata.
7. Let us all take a moment to talk about the real hero in the movie.
8. And finally, we cannot be so sure that a young David Swimmer isn’t masquerading as Kylo Ren now.
*Shout out to everyone who told me to watch it over the last 20 years—you were right.
