20 good things that happened in 2017

5. Star Wars came out, adding to a rich franchise

Star Wars is often the subject of some pretty strident pop culture discussions. Some fans want to hold onto it like a beloved teddy bear from their childhood. Its familiarity is its feature, they argue. Why change anything about it?

However, for something to stay compelling and relevant, it has to change. That said, there’s no shame in going back to enjoy the now classic original trilogy (though we strongly urge you to reconsider if you really want to watch more than a few clips of the prequel films). Still, for something to evolve with culture in a meaningful way, it cannot reasonably stay the same.

That’s why the latest entry in the Star Wars trilogy was a bit of a relief. Sure, The Last Jedi picks up more or less exactly where The Force Awakens left off. But, without dropping in too many spoilers, it makes some dramatic changes from the hoary old tropes of its predecessors.

Those changes, naturally enough, led to some substantial fan controversy. Some fairly despised the changes, leading to dramatically low audience ratings on popular rating site Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics, however, have given the film a very high aggregate score of over 90%. Some fans have subsequently called for Rotten Tomatoes to revamp its scoring system, or to even shut down altogether (albeit temporarily).

What to think of Star Wars now

So, is The Last Jedi any good? Honestly, with all the controversy over ratings and plot points, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself. It could be that you love the new direction, or that you take it as an affront to the original vision for this fictional universe. Hey, maybe you’re even a Star Trek fan and would prefer to abstain entirely.

Still, in a broader sense, it’s refreshing to see the Star Wars universe with a renewed sense of vigor. All too often, beloved science fiction and fantasy franchises become mired in their own mythology. So, too, do the fans.

Creators then have to tread carefully and make difficult decisions. After all, how are you supposed to create something new within that mythology without inciting the anger of big-time name critics or the bedrock of fans?

Moreover, how do you manage all of that and retain a sense of artistic integrity? It’s a tough job, to say the least. If nothing else, that should help you appreciate the latest entry in the Star Wars canon.