Frosting, Cake, and a Silly Star Wars Ramble

Last time I wrote about Star Wars for my annual May the Fourth film review, I mentioned that my passion for Star Wars had become increasingly… lukewarm, as it were, and while I had a hunch on the tip of my tongue, I could never definitively say why that Star Wars “itch” in my soul wasn’t as strong as it used to be.

For the most part, I blamed it on the fact that the franchise was shifting gears towards streaming shows, trading the tradition of annual theatrical releases for a wide variety of smaller episodic stories. Now, I don’t have any scathing words or ill will for this decision—it’s just that I’ve always been an odd one out among Star Wars fans for never really being into them.

I’ll agree that the Clone Wars, particularly in the wake of its later seasons, is a really well done show. I also enjoyed Rebels a fair bit and even liked Resistance. If I had to pick a favorite Star Wars show, it’d probably be Season 1 of The Mandalorian, as well as episodes 2 and 4 of Season 2. The rest of that season, however, wasn’t my cup of tea, and anything else I have yet to mention are shows that I have simply yet to watch because I just don’t really groove with something about them (However, I’ve heard too many good things about Andor at this point for it to not have my attention; I definitely plan on giving it a watch over Christmas break and hope that this might be an exception that breaks the trend).

I’ve speculated over why this could possibly be the case before during my an earlier Star Wars-themed blog posted almost a year from the release of this one, saying that I simply prefer Star Wars content in generally more theatrical formats. Going to the theater to watch the annual Star Wars release was pretty much a family holiday. Meanwhile, the shows, like the books and other media, felt at home being supplementary to the films, as it was content that historically existed for the sake of if not simply because of the Skywalker films. To analogize, Star Wars shows always felt like the frosting on top of the greater Star Wars movie cake.

As we haven’t had a Star Wars movie since Episode IX in 2019, though, it’s felt to me like there’s been nothing but frosting. I know the majority of Star Wars fans (or at least the vocal ones) laud the switch from a movie-focused philosophy to a show-focused one as a positive change, but I can’t say I feel the same. We were getting new Star Wars content like never before, and yet it felt like a pyrrhic victory as I found myself wishing for something that I still struggle to put into words.

I was resigned to feel this way for a good while longer, hopeful that I’d either adapt, wait until something with my flavor of “oomph” came along, or simply enjoy the oldies for what they are/were.

But then I glimpsed the most recent trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and realized exactly what I was missing.

For all intents and purposes, Star Wars games fulfill all the same roles as a show would. They showcase different characters, be they an entirely new addition to the Star Wars galaxy or an old favorite, around different settings for different stories, fleshing out the universe while staying true to the Star Wars brand. However, while shows have more room for traditional narrative storytelling techniques, the games have the distinct advantage of putting you in control of the X-Wing, lightsaber, etc. and in charge of ensuring the main character fulfills their ultimate destiny.

And watching Cal Kestis riding beasts, facing off in thrilling battles against dangerous foes and showcasing techniques that the players themselves will have to master… it was an Anton Ego moment as I finally felt that nostalgic “itch” for Star Wars I was so desperate to rediscover, bringing me back to the same emotions I felt playing the likes of Rogue Squadron, KOTOR, Republic Commando, and so many other classics before.

...Was that really all it was? Just a doldrum over a drought of good Star Wars games? Was just one trailer for a game three months actually enough to reignite my fickle fan furnace? It feels embarrassing to admit, but looking at everything I’ve said already would make saying no a fat lie.

Ah, well. May as well just consider it a reminder that everyone has their own tastes and what works for some folks doesn’t necessarily work for others.