Star Wars Force Awakens Spoiler Filled discussion thread (no spoiler tags, you've been warned)

[WolfThomas]

Coruscant wasn't destroyed, it was Hosnian Prime.

Yeah I thought the New Republic had a rotating captial. But aside from ontold civil death it presumably crippled the New Republic's fleet.

 

[Zontar]

But aside from ontold civil death it presumably crippled the New Republic's fleet.

There's also the economic depression that destroying such a planet would have on the galactic economy (though if we're going with realism like that then the galaxy still shouldn't have recovered from the events of the Original trilogy) and the fact when it was destroyed we could see a fleet in orbit going along with the planet.

 

[WolfThomas]

But aside from ontold civil death it presumably crippled the New Republic's fleet.

There's also the economic depression that destroying such a planet would have on the galactic economy (though if we're going with realism like that then the galaxy still shouldn't have recovered from the events of the Original trilogy) and the fact when it was destroyed we could see a fleet in orbit going along with the planet.

Yeah. In many ways it's been the most effective giant evil superweapon so far in the series. I mean Death Star I destroyed an already subjugated planet as a show of force. Death Star II, a number of Rebel Ships. Starkiller Base? The capital of their biggest opposition and most of the leadership, their entire fleet, 4 more planets and the subsequent economical, social and politcal ramifications of the attack.

Even with Starkiller destroyed, First Order fleets and Stormtroopers will be able to hit the Republic hard.

 

[Zontar]

Even with Starkiller destroyed, First Order fleets and Stormtroopers will be able to hit the Republic hard.

That's assuming the Remnant doesn't elect to form a united front against the First Order for the attack (since they know they'd be next once the Republic is finished). Something to remember is that while the Republic was stronger then any one Imperial splinter faction, the Imperials collectively are still more powerful. It would be interesting to see different model second generation Death Stars blasting away at each other while all sides fight a three way war between the First Order, New Republic and the Remnant as all three try to take advantage of each other's weakened state.

 

[WolfThomas]

Even with Starkiller destroyed, First Order fleets and Stormtroopers will be able to hit the Republic hard.

That's assuming the Remnant doesn't elect to form a united front against the First Order for the attack (since they know they'd be next once the Republic is finished). Something to remember is that while the Republic was stronger then any one Imperial splinter faction, the Imperials collectively are still more powerful. It would be interesting to see different model second generation Death Stars blasting away at each other while all sides fight a three way war between the First Order, New Republic and the Remnant as all three try to take advantage of each other's weakened state.

Fair points. I imagine a number of other splinter factions would be keen to join the First Order (and even some appeasement type Republic groups) after their success.

But I agree something more complex than rehashing Imperial versus Rebels would be interesting. Even just seeing some moral grayness if the Resistance has to work with another fascist imperial splinter group who opposes the First Order.

 

[Politrukk]

*reads the spoilers* Eh? This looks like comic book caliber writing. I don't say that as a compliment. I was hoping this movie wasn't going to be flashy flashy boom boom over bombastic plot points that are more akin to daytime soap opera writing...who am I kidding, it's J.J. Abrams and a Star Wars movie. I'll just go in and enjoy it for what it is: sweet empty calories.

it's become more "cliche wars" but for some reason it is hard to hate the movie.

 

[Politrukk]

No it's not even the movie itself states that in thirty years he's sort of become a myth.

Aside from that the resistance is wasting a god awful lot of resources simply to get back 1 guy.

Somehow I doubt Leia forgot her brother and now considers him to be some sort of myth. And since she's the leader of the Resistance lots of people likely believe her when she tells them about how he was a powerful Jedi Master who defeated Darth Vader.

As for resources, they sent out one pilot (admittedly their best pilot) and a droid to pick up a flash drive from an old man in a desert, and then sent a few fighters to pick it up once it went missing with the information. All for the sake of finding a space wizard war hero who's probably their best chance of fighting the other space wizards. If you don't think that's a proper allocation of resources, that's up to you, but finding the guy who was really important to bringing down the Empire seems like a good thing to look for when fighting the new, poser Empire.

I'm not talking about Leia -.-

I'm talking about everyone else, both Rey and Finn discuss this situation.

Imagine the year is 1975 and you hear kids talking about how they think Hitler and Churchill were a myth.

That's sort of the vibe I got from this.

The assault on the Starkiller base (nice reference to the force unleashed btw) is only enacted after like 7 planets have been shot out of space and even then it's done reluctantly and only because Finn agrees.

Miss Organa even speaks about how they've dedicated such resources to the actual search for Luke and this just came on their path.

 

[DoPo]

The assault on the Starkiller base (nice reference to the force unleashed btw)

It's not Force Unleashed. Not directly: Force Unleashed was referencing the earlier scripts of the original Star Wars movies, where Luke's surname was Starkiller.

 

[Simone of Epica]

Do you guys believe Kylo can be redeemed? Or will we later view the murder of his father as confirmation that he couldn't be?

 

[DoPo]

Do you guys believe Kylo can be redeemed? Or will we later view the murder of his father as confirmation that he couldn't be?

Darth Vader was redeemed. Characters talked about some goodness being left in him and he's also trying to follow Darth Vader's steps. So, I dunno - it's up in the air whether he would be or not but I think he could.

 

[Simone of Epica]

True, and I agree. One thing that strikes me is he's specifically training himself to resist the Light. That's kind of a new concept in Star Wars, isn't it? Usually when someone turns to the Dark Side they're assumed to be deeply entrenched at all times until something powerful breaks through to them (like Vader watching the Emperor torturing Luke).

 

[DoPo]

One thing that strikes me is he's specifically training himself to resist the Light. That's kind of a new concept in Star Wars, isn't it?

I guess. But then again, I don't really know - I've watched the movies and played the two KOTOR games and Jedi Academy. And a bit of Jedi Outcast as well as Star Wars Racer, but I wouldn't really count them into my "knowledge of Star Wars" pool. I'm not that into the universe, so I don't really know if something else out there set up a precedent.

What Kylo Ren's words and actions struck me as, however, was him not really "training" himself to resist the light but just having a conscience. And being really over dramatic with that. I don't really think we can say for sure if he was indeed "training" himself in some fashion or not. It might have even been a placebo.