the prequels politics were really interesting. it was most things else about them that sucked
this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2026
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Love that they went deeper into the politics in the prequels. Wish the trade route blockade bit had been more fleshed out.
I want to see more Star Wars plotlines that aren't JUST about the heroes. Of course I haven't seen the more recent shows or played too many of the games. I think S1 or S2 of The Mandalorian is the newest thing I've seen. Haven't had the time to keep up and maybe there's lovely new Star Wars content that's perfect for me and I just haven't seen it yet.
I'd really love to see something in the lower levels of Coruscant. Like the cancelled game Star Wars 1313. I'd love to know more about the politics of different eras.
There's an interesting universe, interesting planets, interesting species and people. But most stories are about a select few heroes and villains (thankfully more than just the Skywalker and Palpatine lineages now). There's so much more that could be done without being repetitive. It's like a money printing machine that they're just not using.
You would like Andor if you haven't tried it already.
I have not, but I've heard good things. I'll see about adding it to my server.
It's about the inner works of the start of the rebellion, there are "heroes" yes, but it very down to earth and refreshing. One of top points of the series after Rogue One.
Politics in film can be interesting when it is executed well. The problem with the prequels wasn't necessarily the ideas, but the execution was just awful.
speaking of which, do you guys know of any good fan edit that fixes the bad execution for the prequels?
Kind of impossible to fix IMO. The editing and pacing isn't particularly egregious. The direction, the dialogue, the stilted acting, and the overuse of CGI are the main problems, and short of cutting out the worst offenders, you can't change that.
Yeah. The elements were there.
I mean - the scene where Anakin turns on Windu and joins Palpatine was executed terribly, but the bones of the scene were solid. Windu, the head of the "enlightened" Jedi order, was about to kill a defenseless enemy out of fear.
Anakin had never been trusted by the Council, but when he decided to show faith in them, the Council betrayed him by being no different than the Sith.
But the execution was terrible and it made the whole thing feel rushed and out of left field.
that's sad. I hope I this doesn't come out as heresy to any Star Wars fans (I mean, I am one, but mostly for the games and the TV series) but I really wish they could redo at the least the prequels.
Like, I don't know, maybe redo Episode I,2,3 in the style of the Clone Wars show, give a season with 6 episodes for each movie and really expand the idea better on them. Maybe I am the only weirdo who would like that lol
I really wish they could redo at the least the prequels
Disney:
Didn’t somebody make a cut where they just clean took out jar jar?
Probably, but Jar Jar was the least of that trilogies problems.
I feel like star wars could have gone more into politics and philosophy, maybe flesh out the main story a bit more (aka not spinoff shows). They could have done so much more but of course story and consistency are clearly secondary to magic space wizards swinging around spicy glow sticks.
George Lucas had a missed opportunity to unintentionally radicalize Star Wars fans against capitalism. Seriously.
Then it would be more like Dune 1984. Far more political. I know you said not including spinoffs, but Andor has everything you mentioned in spades minus space wizards and glowing swords.
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He's still on the hook for the special editions which were a worse crime than any of the prequels
I'd take Obi-Wan vs. Anakin over Jedi Rocks any day
Got a little to far into the K pile one new years and spent multiple hours trying to figure out if I was hallucinating or watching the remastered versions. I'm still not sure
It still doesn't explain WHY the blockade was happening. The horrible forced love scenes that made no sense. "I'm a senator!" As well as rolling around a hill of flowers. Not to mention the rest of all of the prequels and dealing with medichlorions as a medical fact rather than the mythos of force sensitive beings having measured for power. I still enjoy them, no doubt. But they got issues.
The new trilogy had similar issues. People complain about how bad the middle one was - and it was pretty bad - but at least it was setting things up for a more interesting, more complex plotline, like when the one dude was talking about how the same corporations making weapons for the rebels were also manufacturing for the Empire.
And then JJ Abrams took the reins again and... somehow... emperor palpatine returned.
Except that was all wrong. THE empire had its own dedicated ship manufacturers ... for instance, Sienar Systems in its various forms made TIE fighters for the empire and first order. That's it. They made Imperial ships.
Ruin Johnson just didn't check lore.
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The OT was also corny. People who pick apart details like this are thinking too hard.
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The blockade was happening because Palpatine and Plagueis arranged it. The trade federation said they wanted a better trade deal, but were really there to avoid being killed by the sith (motivation) and to militarily take over the planet (goal given to them by the sith). They likely also had an expectation that they'd get a better deal, which might have been better prices, reduced tarrifs, setting their own tarrifs, exclusivity/monopoly, or anything that could be used to increase their wealth. The specifics weren't important to the overall plot, main point was that they were attempting to ecnomically dominate Naboo at first and then were financially backing one side of the clone wars and their main motivation was because the sith would kill them if they didn't (which was their fate in the end even though they did because they were always just tools).
The planet was picked because it was Palpatine's home planet and he was the senator; it was a false flag attack intended to garnish sympathy that he would leverage for more political power.
Shockingly similar to real life as well.
An established, well-rooted but also horrobly compromised superpower is made to act as an aggressor in order to advance an elite minority lest they either kill or scandalise said superpowers leadership.
No rhyme nor reason, just pure machination and suffering.
Yes. These are all true facts that I have come to realize over several rewatches. I am not so sure it was that apparent in the first watch. And that's where I take issue with the writing. Granted I still love the franchise. Great world building. Lots of fond memories. But I think the story could take a few things out and tweak some presentation and it would have been epic.
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Footage of Vance during the negotiations:
Star Wars Kid deserves better than to be compared to the VP
Star Wars Kid was so ahead of his time. Nowadays, that video would just be the first in a series called "can I train to be a Jedi in 30 days using only household objects?"
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The problems leading to Episode 1 were good, just it was handled poorly.
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I totally think Star Wars could've pulled off a more political plot – I actually even think it could've been just as good for a popcorn flick as the OT and far better for the people who want deep, complex, meaningful lore while enhancing the OT. Palpatine's plan to instigate a war and play both sides, to me, is the actually perfect Palpatine backstory. Anakin's backstory in the (very) broad strokes is extremely compelling too, and Obi-Wan was overall fantastic. Problem is that George completely fucked up the writing, Anakin's character development and his relationship with Padmé, a lot of the acting, etc., and squandered so much of the potential the premise had.
This new wave of prequel apologia, that, imo, was catalyzed by the influx of memes, is pointing at criticisms of the prequels from like 15 years ago while totally ignoring the more nuanced, well-argued, and – I think – damning criticisms of the modern day. It's basically strawmanning when the criticisms are so old and so dead.
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Fair enough. Don’t ask me to forgive him for his dialogue, though
As if lines like "Open the fucking straight you crazy bastards!" are so much better.
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"I wish I could wish away my feelings"
Most egregious line of the prequels imo. So dumb lol. He couldn't just Google "other words for wish" or something?
"I wish I didn't have these feelings" "I wish that these feelings could be taken from me"
Idk George just let someone polish your scripts
Desert boy not having a great vocabulary tho
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Also, the theme of unforeseen consequences of individualism and elitism have on a person is spot on for Lucas. Yeah, individualism can be good, especially as someone who came from a collectivist culture where conformity is upheld and loathed it, but I have to admit individualism killed community. It's one reason for the male loneliness epidemic, which is the low key theme of Star War prequels and how Anakin became Darth Vader. This is alongside with toxic masculinity on keeping a stiff upper lip, and not being attached to emotions including love. The blind worshipping of rationality of elites dismisses emotion, even though the latter is just as real as facts. Corruption also drives populism and the yearning for dictators.
George Lucas presented these interesting ideas and themes, but have done so in such an awkward way on the prequels. I think the amazing action scenes are what lifted and saved the prequel series rather than the heavy themes.
Edit: clarity and formatting
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