It's a wonderful time to be alive. Ignoring literally everything else, one could easily claim that today's children are growing up in the golden era of "Star Wars" films -- we've been promised Episodes IIX and IX of the sequel trilogy, a Han Solo anthology, and two more mysterious films based in that universe -- and we're already seeing the effects of this revival of the most iconic science fiction saga. The special effects are marginally better than they were in 1977, and the casting department and Disney executives are finally willing to dip their toes into some diverse casting that doesn't end up looking like the racist depiction of the Tusken Raiders or the Trade Federation (though they still seem to be allergic to the concept of more than one leading lady per decade). Especially with the advent of the spectacular "Rogue One," it's clear that one doesn't have to be a wildly overpowered lightsaber-wielder to save (or annihilate) the galaxy. The power lies in the ordinary people who choose to do something about the predicament they're in.

The spin-off "Rogue One," set right before Episode IV, is the first unique film to take place in Lucas's universe (while "The Force Awakens" was fun to watch, one has to admit that its structure was identical to that of "A New Hope"). The team that captures the plans to the Death Star in the final act comprises of four men of color (one blind, two with heavy accents, two of them probably in a romantic relationship) led by the female main character.

Though Diego Luna's Cassian Andor in his blue parka is running a close second, my favorite part of the movie was Jyn Erso's character: an unforgiving, brutal antihero, who only initially aids the Rebellion because her refusal would land her back in an Imperial labor camp. As we dive deeper into her backstory, riddled with abandonment issues that have built up her emotionally-closed-off demeanor, the plot that hinged on her father's sacrifice now turns inevitably to Jyn, and she has to make the pivotal decision to fight against the Empire. Jyn and Cassian eventually grow to trust each other as well, showing signs of a budding friendship.

Which makes the ending even more heartbreaking.

This darker, on-the-ground perspective that gives a name to all the faceless rebels we see walking behind Luke and Han in the original trilogy is the perfect way to breathe fresh life into a decades-old saga. Domestically, it was the highest-grossing release of 2016 ($440.9 million), and the seventh-highest grossing globally ($801.9 million). I suppose, from this data, we can safely conclude that diversity sells.

Now that Star Wars has firmly established itself as a cultural icon, it can flesh out to fresher stories, new angles, and characters who aren't as painfully archetypal. "Rogue One" was eloquent in the way it handled aspiring dictators and preemptive violence that the audience is all too familiar with today.

The message: don't be afraid to stand up against the megalomaniac who seeks to build and control his empire. Choose to fight back, even if the odds are great -- sometimes it is the choice itself, not the outcome, that carries the most weight.