Order to Watch the Films In?

Xander Vos · Order to Watch the Films In?

It seems a thread like this already exists, but I've looked for about five minutes and couldn't find it.

I've recently thought about which order is the best to watch the films in - sadly I have yet to watch them all in any order besides 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 - but I think the best would be 1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 6.

Why?

1 - This starts off the saga with the Galaxy at peace, you learn about Obi-Wan and his master, and then about young Anakin Skywalker, who is a slave boy on Tatooine, strong in the Force, and an extraordinary pilot. You then learn that the Sith, whoever they are, have returned, and could spell trouble for the Jedi.

4 - You see just how much the Sith could cause trouble, learn about Anakin's son, and what?! Anakin's dead? You see Obi-Wan, a familiar face, but learn he isn't telling Luke everything, pretending not to recognise R2, who Obi-Wan knew on Naboo. You learn about Darth Vader, the new Sith, probably having replaced Maul.

2 - You watch as Anakin grows up, under Obi-Wan's tutelage, feeling a bit sad that you know he's going to die. You begin to wonder where Yoda's got to if he's so old, and yet not around in the future. You get to see the start of the Clone Wars that Obi-Wan mentioned, but get a bit uneasy about how Anakin is slipping towards the Dark Side.

5 - Ahh, it all makes sense! Suddenly you find out that Yoda's been living on Dagobah after some sort of incident, and that Darth Vader is really Anakin! You get to see Palpatine, and see how much he has been corrupted by his power since the prequels. Perhaps you don't fully believe Vader is Luke's father, maybe he's just lying?

3 - Nope, it's all there, the transformation and everything. Kenobi is looking like he did in 4, and everything falls into place. In the deleted scene you watch as Yoda sets down on Dagobah, but hang on, Luke and Leia are brother and sister?! That can't be right.

6 - Looks like Kenobi's been hiding a lot. After watching Anakin confront Dooku on the Invisible Hand, things don't look good for Luke doing the same thing with Vader... You're left in suspense as to whether he will walk the same path as his father did, but he doesn't, and it's all over.

I think 1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 builds the mosts suspense. Whilst watching 3 before 6 does ruin the Luke, Leia connection, it builds suspense about the final duel between Luke and Vader; additionaly, watching 1 first there is not the slightests suspicion that Vader and Anakin are one and the same, though doubts begin to form after 2, which are confirmed in 5.

What's your desired order for someone watching for the first time?

Jaden Nightsaber

Rive's blog on it
Rive's Second blog on it
Rive's Third blog on it

Lord Embeion

Rive's part3 imo

Rive Caedo

Well... my job's apparently already been done.

It's been nearly three years since I wrote that - I'm not sure if I ever actually tried it. I think it is rather clever Very Happy

We're both in agreement that you should end with the final scenes of VI.

Starting with I or IV is an interesting question. I'm still in favor of starting with IV before I - Obi-Wan's talk about the Force isn't nearly as interesting if you've already seen Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon lightsaber up a trade federation ship.

I hadn't really considered that if you see 4 and 5 before 3 - you still do get a form of surprise when Leia pops out as the other twin... but I still think that Yoda revealing it to Luke and the audience at the same time is more interesting.

Lord Invictus

I like 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 in that order. I feel it's less confusing, more classic-story-theme... -like, and 4,5,6 are difficult to understand without the background. Imagine this:

Then, Knight number 1 stabs KNight number 2 screaming,

"I TRUSTED YOU WITH THE THRONE OF THE NECKLACE OF POWER!"

Then the movie ends randomly, leaving the audience to wonder what they just watched.... oh yeah, after the credits some dude pops up saying, "Red-six launching the magical missile of llamas into the Dwarf Star, over and out."

Yeah... it'd be nice to know what the llama and necklace this is about... or rather, I'd like to not find out. Very Happy

But in other cases backgrounds are good.

Scion

The movies were made 4,5,6 then 1,2,3

A. People would stop watching the SW films because the 2nd movie was terrible by most films standards.
B. Revenge of the Sith is one of the best ones when seeing how everything comes feel.

THat's how I would show them to someone, as that's how the majority of people have seen them and they don't seem confused by the storyline.

Xander Vos

Dakoth

Ok, I'lll settle this once and for all.

6 1 2 3 4 5

Think about it, like a romeo and juliet thing.

Not really, that'd be retarded.

Rive Caedo

6 1 2 3 4 5 would be pretty awesome.

"Who are these robots?"

"Who's Han Solo?"

"Okay, they're trying to save Han Solo. Why do I care about Han Solo?"

"Ooo, a guy in a black cloak choking people. He's the bid bad guy, right?"

"Wait, he's trying to save Han Solo too. I don't understand."

Io Lee

I think that 4,5,6,1,2,3 like George did because at the end of the first three it leaves people wondering how Anakin (aka Darth Vader) turned to the path of the Dark Side.

Rive Caedo

I've also heard IV, V, VI, III, STOP as a suggested order Wink

Xander Vos

That's actually an interesting one, because I and II aren't integral if you've watched the OT, some characters would be unknown, and Palpatine's rise would be unknown, but besides that you could catch along quite quickly.

Lord Embeion

Nowai, I would never want to miss out on Darth Maul and Master Qui-gon Jinn. I hate to say it but missing out on the big Clone Wars Geonosia(sp?) battle were Mace kicksbutt would be unacceptable also.

Lord Vexen

Rive Caedo

Ah. Here's one I like.

IV: I doubt I will ever suggest watching anything before IV.
V: Logical continuation.
VI: Conclusion of original trilogy.

IV.5: Star Wars: The Holiday Special

I: In the aftershock of The Holiday Special, immediately show them Episode I - Jar Jar is nothing compared to the Holiday Special.
II: Consider airing The Holiday Special again before this.
III: Conclusion of the saga.

Lord Vexen

I never actually saw the Holiday Special...but there is no way it is worse than Jar Jar...

Rive Caedo

Xander Vos

Vexen, it is truly horrible.

Dakoth

Sounds like something I want to see.

Tom

Xander Vos

Lucas never released it on DVD and never will.