How to approach Star Wars if you’ve never seen Star Wars

Every few years—maybe more—the planet erupts in Jedi-fueled pandemonium. 

Whether it’s a new film, TV series, or video game, the Star Wars fandom is a behemoth, capable of commandeering conversations and the entertainment news cycle for days, even weeks at a time. For fans, these pop culture holidays provide jovial excuses to rush to the theater/couch/game store and splurge like it’s Black Friday on Jakku. It’s a chance to unite over a fantastic world, and then fight about its intricacies until the next installment arrives. 

This cycle spews FOMO on an intergalactic scale.

But for the small contingent of folks who’ve failed to board this saga over the past 42 years — either because they didn’t grow up with it, didn’t have interest until recently, or were just too intimidated by the size of it all — this cycle spews FOMO on an intergalactic scale. 

For many, the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker acts as a reminder that another major cultural milestone is going by, leaving wanna-be Star Wars fans even further behind. It can bring a sense of shame, an itching feeling that if you had just sat down and watched 22 hours and 40 minutes of this stuff by now, you’d get it already. 

I mean, it can’t be that hard, right? 

There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that getting in on this epic sci-fi can indeed prove stress-inducing; there’s tons to cover and a million suggestions as to how you should go about doing so. (Seriously, what other franchise can you watch in the “wrong” order?) 

That’s all a bunch of Ewok Jerky.

The good news? That’s all a bunch of Ewok Jerky.

For years, I was one of those Star Wars-less souls, wandering the world in search of a chance to understand the allure of this obviously masterful story. 

Hadn’t Darth Vader been killed already? What was a “Porg”? And uh… how exactly did Adam Driver fit into all of this?! I was too intimidated to ask questions of my knowledgable fan friends, but dying to get in on something I knew would bring me joy. 

Finally, I had had enough. Following the release of The Last Jedi, I got off my thermal exhaust port and molded myself into a bona fide Star Wars fan. It wasn’t always easy, but I learned a lot about catching up on a major cultural movement — and now, I’m sharing with you, young Padawans. 

Here are 6 tips for joining the Star Wars fandom as painlessly and joyously as possible, whenever and if ever you so choose. Welcome to a galaxy far, far away! 

1. You know more than you think 

Chances are, you know a Star Wars fan or two that is really, really into Star Wars. Not only do they know the name of every species that has ever been in the franchise, they can tell you ancient lore, share the specs on starships, and recite entire films from memory. 

You never have to reach that level — unless, of course, you want to! 

Star Wars, like most great storytelling, follows easy-to-grasp principles. You’ve got good guys, bad guys, some folks in between, and tons of tension. That’s what most of the plot revolves around; the rest is just fun sci-fi set dressing.  

The other nice thing? Star Wars has permeated our culture so much that you likely already know a ton of the characters involved. You might not know their backstories and relationships all that well, but you’ve got the basics. Darth Vader? Bad guy. Luke Skywalker? Good guy. Yoda? Talks funny! 

See? You’ll get there in less than 12 parsecs. (No, you don’t need to know what that means.) 

2. Pace yourself

It’s tempting to cram all your Star Wars viewing into one loooong marathon. I should know, I’ve done it twice. But Star Wars adventures tend to be better appreciated with a bit of breathing room. 

Seeing the entire Skywalker saga — that’s 9 films (not counting the standalone films) — is a really special experience. Unfortunately, given the 40+ years this story spans, the quality and taste levels are all over the place. Start trying to catch up on the video games, comics, and TV shows and you add a million other variables on top of that. 

My suggestion? Consume however much Star Wars you’d like, whenever you’d like. Despite the pressure you might feel to finish catching up — be it to see The Rise of Skywalker before it leaves theaters or to get your Wookie-loving friends off your back — don’t let this turn into work. Even when you hit the prequels. Especially when you hit the prequels. 

3. Go where The Force guides you 

As I mentioned before, you may have heard that there’s a “right” and a “wrong” way to start exploring Star Wars. This — and I cannot stress this enough — is completely untrue.

If you want to watch A New Hope, watch A New Hope. If you want to start with The Rise of Skywalker, start with The Rise of Skywalker. If you just want to play Jedi: Fallen Order, then I hope you play the absolute hell out of it! 

Go toward whatever in the Star Wars universe intrigues you. Yes, it can help to create some structure so as to not get confused by the plot — but ultimately, you shouldn’t be intimidated by the possibility of somehow doing this story the incorrect way. You’re here, and you’re welcome. 

The internet can be a great resource for finding Star Wars guides (Oh, hey! That’s what you’re doing right now!), but that shouldn’t dictate how you enjoy this awesome world.  

4. Talk theories, ask questions, find allies

Although it’s not true across the board, most Star Wars fans are eager to talk about Star Wars, even with folks totally new to the franchise. A question you might think is dumb — “Wait, are droids… ?” — can spark fascinating conversations with the people who know this story best. There aren’t always definitive answers, but it’s never a bad thing to find friends and allies when you’re on an adventure. 

5. Keep things on the light side 

Now, the flip side of that whole “make friends” suggestion? Star Wars discourse can get ugly. Really, really . I’d be remiss to tell you to explore the Star Wars-loving internet with reckless abandon if I didn’t first warn you that some of the more impassioned fans can be jerks. 

No matter the conversation you get into, remember that your opinion is the one that should matter most. Don’t let someone tell you to hate a movie you liked, or to disavow a hero you champion. It’s your galaxy, and the haters are just living in it. #TeamTheLastJediWasGood

6. Relax and have an interstellar blast

Most important of all, have a freakin’ blast! You are entering a world that will make you smile, cry, hold your breath, scream, and pretend to wield a laser sword. Star Wars is one of the best parties I’ve ever come late to, and if you’re meant to love it, I’m positive you will. 

Revel in meeting Baby Yoda for the first time, sob when [spoiler censored] hits your screen, and spend hours perfecting your C-3PO impression. Now, repeat after me: “May the Force be with you.”