*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN "THE FORCE AWAKENS"*

I'm writing this list mere days after witnessing the thing of beauty that was Episode VII of "Star Wars." After receiving intense hype since last year's Thanksgiving teaser release, "The Force Awakens" finally opened on December 18th and has already made (since the writing of this piece; the current number is undoubtedly much higher) $248 million in the box office, shattering previous box office records, and utterly destroying the runner-up, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" (which only made $14 million in comparison).

Needless to say, "The Force Awakens" is doing incredibly well. One of its biggest successes is bringing the next generation of fans into the galaxy far, far away. But there are plenty of payoffs for fans who have stayed with the series for nearly 40 years. Here are some reasons why:

1. It Forgets The Prequels, But Remembers Their Mistakes

(Most Notably, This One)

You remember when everyone loved "The Phantom Menace", right? Do you remember how long it took for public opinion to change? The people behind "The Force Awakens" heard your complaints and righted the starship. No more will we have to worry about Jar Jar Binks, boring plot-lines, or wooden acting, which leads me to my next point:

2. Its Cast Is Incredibly Talented

Everyone from Max von Sydow to Mark Hamill brings their A-game. Harrison Ford, especially, delivers his best performance in ages, and his comments about his unwillingness to return to the franchise seem to have been exaggerated, or maybe not even real in the first place. Even if you haven't seen the movie yet (which at this point is highly doubtful), you have to admit that there's not a single weak player in the game. And on top of that:

3. Its Young (and Diverse) Cast Goes Above And Beyond

The devotion that John Boyega and Oscar Issac give to the film as Finn and Poe Dameron is something to behold, but Daisy Ridley is the one who should have your attention. She arguably gives the best performance of the whole film as Rey, a scavenger with a past that will most likely be explored in the next Episode. Not to mention, with more women and minorities than any of the previous films, "The Force Awakens" is on track to expand its already wide universe existentially.

Speaking of fresh blood:

4. Its Villains Are The Most Fearsome The Universe Has Seen in Years

Not only does "The Force Awakens" offer some of the best and deepest villains in its own universe, but specifically Kylo Ren and General Hux are some of the best villains I've seen on screen period. Ridley's performance only narrowly beats out Adam Driver's role as Kylo Ren, arguably the film's most conflicted character. *SPOILERS AHEAD* When it was revealed that Ren is actually the son of Han and Leia, whose real name is Ben Solo, not only did his actions become much more sinister, it also raised the question: "Why?" And when Ren confessed his fears to his father, only to run him through with his lightsaber, you didn't just see a villain; you saw someone who was consumed by both sides, and falling fast. His whole dynamic had shifted, and that somehow made him a much more effective villain than I would have hoped for. I am beyond excited to see what happens to him next. *END OF SPOILERS*

General Hux, played by the brilliant Domnhall Gleeson, however, is completely and unforgivably evil. In the speech he delivers to the First Order halfway through the movie, his eyes are both cold with apathy for the galaxy and fiery with all the rage and fury of the old Empire. His calls for the destruction of the Resistance were with frightening vigor and conviction, enough to make your skin crawl and seriously worry about the fate of Rey, Finn, and the rest of the Resistance. Not to mention the one controlling them all, Supreme Leader Snoke, who promises to be as menacing, if not more so, than the Emperor was.

Finally, perhaps the most rewarding thing about "The Force Awakens":

5. It Plays It Safe, While Still Having Its Own Style

Director J.J. Abrams planned this film very intelligently. There are many parallels between "Force" and "A New Hope" and "Return of the Jedi." The film was shot mostly on built sets with real props and alien costumes being used. John Williams was brought back to conduct the brilliant score. A majority of the Easter eggs found in the film are linked back to the original trilogy. And yet, the beautiful and iconic cinematography is all Abrams. He and his team kept very closely to the original formula in order to make a successful re-entry into the beloved universe and put their own influence into how the film was presented which clearly worked.

This is very good news for fans for two different reasons:

1. No unwanted surprises or changes to the canon like trying to explain the science behind the Force (thanks a lot, "Phantom Menace") or the abomination that was Jar Jar Binks.

Seriously. Ugh.

2. Now that they've reintroduced the Star Wars universe and have gotten the mandatory nostalgia out of the way, the director (which will be Rian Johnson for Episode VIII) and his team can now explore new galaxies and ideas.

Simply put, it's my own opinion that "The Force Awakens" is potentially the best thing to happen to the franchise so far because of these elements. Imagine it as a clean drink of water to get the bitter taste of the prequels out of your mouth. And perhaps the best part of this film: With the production team it has, and the talented cast that cares a great deal about how this story goes, there's a great chance that the Force is stronger than ever in this one, and old and new fans alike are bound to be rewarded.