When someone says Jedi, most of us picture a space knight with a lightsaber. But did you know there are seven ranks of Jedi? And that some of your favorite heroes with lightsabers aren’t actually Jedi Knights at all? The Jedi Order used ranks for training and leadership. The lifetime, rigorous training, from youngling to …
Louise Y. Wilson
Star Wars is a much-loved, multi-generational saga with characters that have become household names. We’ve seen beloved characters such as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia as babies right up to their surprisingly early deaths (Luke at age 53, Leia at 54). Anakin Skywalker grew from a bowl-cut-haired child to a half-robot, middle-aged Sith Lord. Filmed …
Lightsabers are an iconic part of Star Wars. ‘A Galaxy far, far away’ is synonymous with glowing laser swords – the “elegant weapon for a more civilized age”. Generations of children have whacked each other with makeshift lightsabers (pool noodles always worked nicely) in gleeful homage to the famous weapon. Star Wars has many sophisticated …
For those new to Star Wars, it can be confusing to work out which movie or TV series to watch first. Start with the oldest film? That’s Episode IV. The Disney Plus shows? They’re set before the most recent movies. What about the animated series, are they just for kids? Or can adults enjoy them …
Anakin Skywalker’s slow and tragic fall to the dark side is the major storyline of the Star Wars prequel films. The original trilogy was the story of Darth Vader’s redemption, but viewers learned little of the man behind the mask. The Phantom Menace introduced the world to Anakin Skywalker – a fresh-faced, sweet-mannered boy destined …
Boba Fett is one of the most famous and instantly recognizable Star Wars characters. Despite only having a small role in the original Star Wars trilogy, the mysterious bounty hunter quickly became a permanent fan favorite. We learned Boba Fett’s origin story in Attack of the Clones and followed his journey in The Mandalorian and …
Jar Jar Binks was a notoriously divisive character in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. Adult Star Wars fans were irritated and critical of his buffoonery, while children – the next generation of Star Wars fans – loved him. As those children grew up, they challenged the idea of Jar Jar Binks (and the prequels themselves) as …
Anakin Skywalker – Darth Vader – is the pivotal character of the Skywalker Saga. He is the hero, then villain, of Episodes I to VI, with the sequel trilogy exploring his legacy. Anakin’s parentage was revealed in The Phantom Menace. Viewers learned Anakin’s mother was a slave named Shmi Skywalker. And his father? As Shmi …
The Mandalorian introduced one of Star Wars’ most popular characters ever – ‘Baby Yoda’, otherwise known as Grogu. But what exactly happens to everyone’s favorite little green alien? Grogu’s fate is a mystery. There is no appearance or mention of him in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, set 25 years after the events of The …
Rey’s parents are Dathan and Miramir. Dathan, her father, was a clone of Palpatine. Miramar, her mother, was from the forest planet Hyperkarn. The pair left Rey behind on Jakku to hide her from Ochi of Bestoon, an assassin hired by Palpatine to kidnap her.
The relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren – the heroine and villain – is one of the main storylines of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Rey is a desert scavenger with powerful Force abilities. Kylo Ren is a leader of the villainous First Order. He is also Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and …
‘Baby Yoda’, or Grogu, was the surprise star of The Mandalorian. The big-eyed, elven-eared little creature quickly became a popular Star Wars character. Jedi Master Yoda has always been a Star Wars fan favorite, so it’s not surprising Grogu was a hit with audiences. But who are the little green Force users, and where did …
Pippin’s song is a key emotional point in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The short, melancholy tune, sung mostly acapella, is performed by Pippin for an unfeeling Lord Denethor. Denethor gorges on food – tomato bits dribbling down his chin like blood – as his son Faramir embarks on a military suicide mission. …
Morfydd Clark is a Welsh actress who plays Galadriel in the Rings of Power. She is a rising star with an impressive career in film, television, and theatre. Born 17 March 1989 Birthplace Sweden Nationality Welsh Height 5ft 3¾ (162 cm) Before playing Galadriel, Morfydd was most well known for her role in the horror …
Trees feature prominently in The Lord of the Rings, from the White Tree of Gondor to the woods of Lothlorien, and the walking Ents of Mirkwood. The enduring symbolism of magical trees originates in two magical gold and silver trees of Valinor, created and destroyed long before Frodo Baggins and the One Ring. The Two …