#V: You underestimate my power (Revenge of the Sith)

[corruptedforce]

     It had been a hard few weeks, and that was putting it mildly.  Everything had gotten so out of hand.  When they had been allowed to leave the Outer Rim and rescued the Chancellor, he truly thought things would be easier. He was a Jedi, so of course, he would always be going somewhere.  But, he wouldn’t have to be gone so much. Then, Padme had told him she was pregnant, and he just, he wanted out, even more than he already did. But, the night that his nightmares started, things changed. He had become a desperate man, who was desperate for a cure for her, and ultimately, he had fallen from the Jedi and participated in Order 66.  Anakin Skywalker was now Lord Vader, Sith Apprentice.  To make it worse, he was injured, by his former master.  He’d kept himself from getting dismembered, but he’d lost his other arm, in the process, was covered in more burns and scars. To make it worse, his new master had told him that Padme didn’t survive. 

He needed something from her penthouse, and he needed to get it.  He let himself in and he could still feel her force signature here, which was odd. He had so many regrets, but he couldn’t go back, not after everything.  He felt someone was there and he drew his lightsaber. “Who’s there?” 

@desireandduty​

[crowsandmurder]

 [ Continued  // @multistoty​ ]

Padme felt slightly uneasy by the sentiment. Of course, she belonged to him as the cold metal pressed against her chest hidden by the cloak and larger dress the covered the child growing in her womb. Anakin had pulled her by the arm into a secluded corner after ensuring that no one would see them. Her doe eyes widened as they took in his face. Head tilting slightly in confusion as her chest heaved. There was so much going on his liquid blue orbs. For once, they were mirrors instead of windows open to her. He could be easily jealous, but there had been so much going on and she had no translation to the poetry of his features. A shaky hand reached to cup his cheek. “Anakin, your scaring me. What is going on? Of course, I belong to you.”

War changed people. That’s what some people didn’t seem to get.  Things had been easier, but Anakin and Padme’s entire marriage had been, during the war. Sometimes, when he came back, he wasn’t in the best mood. But this time, finding out about the baby, everything that was happening, he was more protective than usual.  It didn’t help that Chancellor Palpatine was whispering things in his ear, that unbeknownst to him, fed into that jealousy, even more. He was becoming more jealous, every time he heard that Padme had seen Obi-Wan.  Obi-Wan was his closest friend. He would die for him, but that didn’t mean that he trusted whatever secret conversations, that they’d been having about him, of late.  He had pulled her into a corner, harsher than he meant to be. He’d been so gentle with her, since finding out about their baby, since his nightmares started.  He wasn’t sleeping, but he was trying to help her.  “I’m fine. It’s just..I’m your husband, not Obi-Wan. If he’s concerned about me, maybe he should talk to me about it, instead of you. It’s not like he knows that we’re married, unless you’ve told him.”  He’d almost told him many times, but he hadn’t.  Granted, they weren’t that good at hiding it. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of him, but he seems only available to you. It’s just curious..and I don’t share my wife.” 

[mrpink-things]

Judy *walks in to tent*

V: *standing on the bed and holding a lightsaber* it's over Judy, I have the high ground

Judy: What are you doing??

V: your suppose to say "you underestimate my power"

Judy: Why??

V: because then I'll say "don't try it" and then you will try to do a double side flip over me

Judy: aaaaaand??

V: aaaand I'll cut of you arm and legs

Judy: you've been watching Star Wars again, haven't you??

V: yeeeeaaaah

Judy: aren't those movies like a million years old

V: okay episode 3 "revenge of the sith" came out 72 years ago, that's not that old

Judy: not that old??

V: yeah

Judy: THAT'S SUPER OLD, THATS OLDER THAN MY ABUELA

[arabian-bloodstream]

Star Wars: The Flashback Cut

If you’re stuck at home and feel like giving Star Wars a binge-watch, here’s a potential new way to watch it. This is my preferred way of watching The Star Wars Saga. It keeps the vast majority of big surprises intact, while preserving the story integrity. It also links narratives and character arcs, and strengthens those narratives and arcs overall, in my opinion. I also feel that in doing so it makes the Prequel Trilogy and Rise of the Skywalker (some of the weaker films in the saga) feel more seamless and part of the greater whole, thus stronger.

*Note if you prefer The Skywalker Saga you can cut out Solo.

STAR WARS: THE FLASHBACK CUT

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Episode IV: A New Hope

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Episode VII: The Last Jedi

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Episode IX: Rise of the Skywalker

AND WHY THIS WORKS (FOR ME) ... 

Rogue One

- R1 makes perfect sense having no scrawl because the A New Hope scrawl recaps the events of R1 whereas R1 started the story.

- Everything with the single reactor blast destroying the Death Star explains that "plot hole" in ANH now.

- Knowing all of these people and all they’ve done and their sacrifice adds so much resonance and power to the Rebellion and what they’re doing/fighting for before we hear Luke talk about them in ANH.

- Bail shows up and has focus and it’s like why? But then towards the end, his final scene explains that he has to get back to his people on Alderaan but he has someone he trusts with his life to help, leading to the Leia scene at the end. This not only sets up and leads to ANH, it also means that when Alderaan in ANH is blown up, we actually know someone on that planet now. That gives it some more emotional heft too.

A New Hope

The Empire Strikes Back

- The explanation of the Dark Side of the Force, how it works, how it brings people in, and how Obi-Wan lost Anakin… I know that is set up for the reveal of who Luke is and the redemption of Anakin in the third act of Return of the Jedi, but watching this before the Prequel Trilogy as if they are a Flashback set of films telling the story of what happened really strengthens that narrative. And it does so beautifully.

- It’s very, very obvious from TESB that a love triangle was VERY much in play between Luke, Leia and Han. The beginning sets up Han/Leia with a bit of Luke thrown in with that kiss, and then the bulk of the film is with Han and Leia. However the final bit has Luke and Leia with their connection, her kissing him (again) on the lips, and the two together while Lando and Chewie are off to find Han.

They could have easily set it up so that by the time the third film had rolled around, Leia and Luke were involved–and the “other one” was to be introduced fresh in the third film. (As was originally intended.) Now, I still think that if they had done that, it would have been Han and Leia in the end as the bulk of the love story we saw was Han and Leia, but they did still definitely set up the triangle (that was hinted at in the first film) to go full throttle in the third movie.

Going with The Flashback Cut actually helps eliminate any sense of that once we return to the trio because of the reveal of Luke and Leia being twins at the end of Revenge of the Sith before you go into Return of the Jedi.

- Having Luke asking Ben “Why?” a couple of times regarding the Anakin/Darth Vader lie at the end of TESB before going right into the Prequel Trilogy makes so much sense. It sets it up that we are going to be told--in a very long flashback--why.

The Phantom Menace

- In about a minute into the film, young Obi-Wan is introduced. He is the first character’s whose name is given and coming into this from TESB and that final minute which literally had Luke asking “Why, Ben?" twice, viewers get that question answered. Here’s the story; here is what happened. This is why.

- Just a quick note, but I wanted to point out why I feel the Machete Cut (which completely excises TPM) doesn’t work. The entire Trade Federation story is not only the entire backbone  to how Palpatine rises to power, but it’s also why Amidala (and thus Anakin) has the relationship with him that she does. These are two huge reasons as to why the Machete Cut doesn’t work.

Another is the scene where young Anakin is being questioned by the Jedi Council. That scene right there, in a nutshell, tells us what will be the main turning point that starts Anakin on the Dark path. He’s asked about missing his mother. Young Anakin questions what that has to do with anything and he’s told it has everything to do with it. He fears what will happen to her, and fear leads to anger and aggression and aggression leads to the Dark Side. And we all know that is *exactly* what happens.

Attack of the Clones

- Another reason that the Machete cut doesn't work is that it's several minutes into the film before before we meet any character we know from the Original Trilogy (in the elevator scene with Obi-Wan and Anakin). Also, it isn't a bit longer before Anakin himself is referenced by name. Amidala calls him "Ani" instead. So as a starting point into the Prequel Trilogy (and definitely as a Flashback between ANH/TESB and RotJ) the Machete Cut is very confusing. (And, again, this doesn't take into account the issues mentioned under TPM.)

Revenge of the Sith

- Bringing baby Luke to Tatooine at the end of the film signifies that Anakin’s story is over and settles us right back in for the return to Luke’s story. It segues beautifully into the title of the next one: "Return of the Jedi" in a couple of different ways. We’re done with the Sith story and now we’re going back to the Jedi. Also, Luke is the Jedi and we’re returning to his story: Return of the Jedi (aka Luke).

Return of the Jedi

- Watching Yoda’s death scene really is enhanced by having just watched the Prequel Trilogy, especially the last third of RotS, before it. Him talking to Luke about not underestimating the power of the Dark Side as they are talking about Anakin/Vader adds so much depth and emotion for the viewer to that conversation.

- Leia being revealed as his twin was just not this big OOH! moment; it just seemed kinda, throwaway? So being revealed in the PT is an OK loss in my books for all we get in return.

- Finally, the biggie... we just watched Anakin's entire story play out from a young, innocent enslaved boy to becoming a slave to the Dark Side and Palpatine's power and control. And here we see him break free, once more the emotional pull between a parent and a child being the catalyst, but this time it's the reverse. Anakin is the parent, and it's love that is the motivator not hate.

The Force Awakens

The Last Jedi

- There is the dice that we saw on the Falcon and that dice comes into play in the closing scenes with Luke and Leia, and then especially Kylo/Ben as he's kneeling before the Falcon that disappears in his hand.

It's OK that we don't see Solo before TLJ, because we don't need to know where the dice come from because they’re just symbols at this point–they were important to Han and that was their only needed key point in this film. Also, since TFA ended on a cliffhanger, having a flashback film between them would completely throw the balance off. TLJ *has* to come immediately after TFA for that reason.

Solo

- On the other hand, it is cool to find out why the dice we’re important to Han and we do in Solo.

- As well, the talk of the stuff that's happening with the Empire/the Emperor in Solo sets up the horror of what could happen with the Emperor coming back in The Rise of Skywalker.

- Also, seeing Kylo/Ben’s father going from a good kid who loses his way, lost and trying to find himself just as Kylo was at the end of TLJ (and like Han, he didn't get the girl) works well.

- Plus, it also gives a breather that helps fill the stretch of time between TLJ and TRoS.

- There’s no traditional scrawl here which lets us know right away that something different is going on and we meet a young Han in the first scene.

* As I stated atop, if you just want to do The Skywalker Saga binge, Solo can easily be dropped from the watch-list.

The Rise of Skywalker

- With the horrors that the Emperor and his Empire made of the galaxy fresh in our mind, viewers really will not want to see a return of the Emperor. (OK, not that they would anyway.)

- We just saw a young Lando come out of the shadows deciding to fight the good fight... and here he is forty years later, doing it all over again.

- Just having watched Ben's father's idealistic self turned into a cynic by what the Empire/the Dark Side had created of the Galaxy visited upon his son--and turned him even worse--and then flipped on his side is a beautiful thing as Ben helps to keep that from happening all over again.

So there you go, my Star Wars: Flashback Cut (and why):

The Star Wars Saga - All released SW films: R1, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, Solo, 9

The Skywalker Saga - All SW films w/Skywalker characters: R1, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

[corruptedforce]

@collectionofvoices​ liked for a Starter

Anakin hadn’t been in the best mood, this morning. Ever since he’d had his nightmare, that Padme was going to die in childbirth, he just was not in the best mood. He was fairly certain that she knew that he didn’t fall back, asleep. He had lain there all night, and basically just watched her sleep. When he did nod off, he kept seeing it, and he felt like something was pulling him away from her. That was the last thing he wanted.  He needed to finally get made a Jedi Master. He needed more access to the archives, but he doubted the Council would see it, his way. They never saw it, his way.  

He moved to sit with her, when he walked out of the bedroom, though.  He knew that she was quite far, in her pregnancy, and he placed his hand on her stomach.  “Are you feeling okay today? I am sorry that I slept so fitfully last night.” He didn’t want to talk about his nightmare. He wanted to talk about them and what they created.

[corruptedforce]

And another thing about Revenge of the Sith, what kind of wife, when their Jedi War Hero Husband says, “I don’t care if people know we are married,” tells him not to talk like that.  She honestly bugs me so much, in that movie, in so many ways. 

[corruptedforce]

Not only does Anakin get dismembered by Obi-Wan, he then has to listen to another one of Obi-Wan’s lectures, while catching on fire.

[crowsandmurder]

“Ani, I think the baby just kicked. He must be excited to meet his daddy.” (Padme is adamant it’s a boy lol, I needed some fluff, sorry if I’m annoying, @multistoty I’ve missed all of our threads)

Anakin brought his hand to hers. They hadn’t been home very long, to her penthouse.  Was it his, too? Sometimes, they called it theirs, when it was just the two of them.  There was so much secrecy, and he was tired.  He was tired of the war, the Jedi Order, of hiding. He honestly, just wanted to be in the open, to raise his child with her, and them to finally be able to admit, that they were married. Being a Jedi Knight meant a lot to him.  But, his family meant more to him, and now, they were a family. That was more important.  

“Why do you insist the baby is a boy? What if I think the baby is a girl? I’m the one with the force in me? You don’t have the force in you, well not yet. We’ve not been home long enough for that,” he nudged her slightly, with an amused tone.

He smiled at her. “Well, if the baby is force sensitive, you have the force in you, anyway. I think the baby is a girl. What makes you think boy?” She’d had so long to get used to this. Had he really not noticed, even over holos?

@multistoty

[corruptedforce]

“Anakin, I know your in there, but- if you want to kill obi-wan, now that my children are out and free- you’ll have to kill me too. In fact, take my blade. I’d rather die a hero for my beliefs than at my own hand but- chain him. Do anything, but I need him. You need him and so do our children. “ (a different au if you are feeling extreme angst, @multistoty )

Her Children. "They are not just your children, Padme. Don't get involved in something you could not begin to understand. What happens between the remaining Jedi and the Empire, is none of your concern." She was making him angry. Making him angry was not the smartest move. His emotions were still all over the place. He was still somewhere between Anakin Skywalker, and Darth Vader. His children were his anchor. But, she was taking Obi-Wan's side.

"You are my wife, or have you forgotten? Maybe you have been hiding something all along? Chancellor Palpatine believes there is something that you are not telling me, so why don't you tell me what it is?"

He paced a bit, not taking his eyes off of her. "Your words are stupid. I would never kill you. I did all this, for you. Don't think you can save, Obi-Wan. I don't need him. I never needed him. All he's ever done is hold me back. You either love me and believe in me and the new galaxy, but don't try to say those aren't my children, too. Obi-Wan doesn't need your protecting. How about you listen for once, when someone tells you to stay out of something?"

@multistoty

[crowsandmurder]

"How long have you been having these nightmares?" ( from padmé, for anakin ! )

Nightmare Starters // @mactabilis // Accepting!

He'd tried to go back to sleep. He really had. But sleep was not something that came easy to him, most of the time.  He slept better with Padme, than without her.  But, she had convinced him to go back to bed earlier after he told her about his dream about him being worried about her dying during childbirth.  Curling up with her had lulled him back to sleep finally, it had just taken some time.  

But, the moment he had fallen back asleep, the nightmare was back and he was having the same one, only her screaming for him was getting louder, and he sighed, as he sat up, burying his head in his hands.  He took a deep breath. 

He was done with sleep, possibly for a while.  He leaned back though, and stayed in bed with her.  He could at least do that.  He never knew, when he would be called away. He wasn’t going to waste time that he was in bed, with her.

He heard her voice and he ran his fingers through her hair.

“This one? Tonight. But, you remember the ones about my mother. I had those for a while. I’ve had nightmares that have come true most of my life.” 

[corruptedforce]

Verse Tags

General Verses

Character Specific Verse Tags

WIP

[crowsandmurder]

[ Continued // @multistoty​ ]

“I’m the mother and currently the size of a whale carrying our child so my intuition is better than any jedi for our youngling,” Padme teased with fond dagger eyes. She would not be swayed until the gender was revealed or the baby joined their family. It was still so surreal to know that a human was growing inside of her that the senator hoped was as cute a skywalker child as their father regardless of gender. Anakin would always argue, but she hoped that the child was nearly identical to perfect father that they had in features. Personality might just send both parents to the fringes. Typho and Obi-wan’s revenge for sure. Their joined hands on the swell of her stomach felt more like coming home than the walk to the penthouse had been. It had been months that she had been alone attempting to keep everything working when pain and nausea wracked her tiny form. Bail Organa had almost rushed her to the med center a couple days ago when she had passed out for a moment after hours of no sleep and standing directly on her heels. More, she begrudged the fact that he hadn’t been there for the experiences any father should like feeling the strong kick that now thundered against his hand. “My son is just as active as his father and has a hard time with sleep and resting just like you, my beacon. The kicks are just as adorably strong as you when we used to play tug of war with the comforter. You promised me you wouldn’t meddle with the force with more than ensuring our baby is safe. I have the force sensitive child growing inside of me though I won’t begrudge your innuendo eventually that is if you are willing to do most of the work especially after the senate today. I haven’t slept in two nights to ensure that I can spend as much time as possible wrapped in your arms and all the things that comes from that. Maybe it’s just a day dream. You know how much I love little chubby cheeked Skywalkers. If it is a girl, she will hopefully not mind me calling her Luke or my little guy. What makes you think it’s a girl? The droid did say that he couldn’t tell if it was just one baby. What if we have an armada of little faces who, hopefully, won’t lift things with their mind before learning to walk? I can’t believe you have gotten more handsome in the time we were seperated. I’ve been thinking about seeing you and running my hands over your new scars and feeling your longer hair between my fingers. I utterly adore all of you, Ani. And so does our baby. Maybe it is the force though I feel them reacting to your presence.”

“Excuse me. Do you know how powerful of a Jedi, I am?”  He had been hearing, since he was nine, how he was the chosen one.  He was better at the physicality of it, than some of the other stuff. But, his force connection was really strong, too. He was really excited about the baby, despite any concerns that he had.  The moment she told him, he knew that the baby was a blessing. He’d always wanted to have a baby with her. Why not? They’d been married several years. He would do anything for her. Things were overwhelming, but this could be, the best thing. 

He couldn’t help but let his hand rest on her stomach, where she was carrying their child. She was heavily pregnant, and she was..breathtaking.  But, he was distracted by the strong kick against his hand.  “I say that the baby is definitely a girl, because that is how hard you kick, in your sleep. So, it’s clear that she has that, from you.”  He was going to honor what he said, about not using the force. He wouldn’t push that. As long as he could feel the baby was okay, he would let her do what Mothers did.  

“Well, you know that I am always willing to do however much work I need to do. I mean, when I came home last time, I was injured and you did most of the work, so I mean, I owe you one..or two..or three.” He smirked at her.  Anakin knew that they’d have to be creative, but he also knew it was safe. He’d checked the holonet earlier.  

Smiling at her, he raised an eyebrow.  “Wait, more than one? I can’t imagine. I mean, could you imagine if there was three of me in there..all girls too?”  

He smiled at her.  “I am glad the baby things about me too.”  He was more focused on how much Padme missed him, at the moment.  I think about you, the whole time I’m away and yes, I think about running my hands through your hair as well..but my hands never stay idle, you know.”  He pressed a kiss to her lips, muttering against them.  “What else do you think about me, while I’m gone?”  

[corruptedforce]

🕯️ (from Obi-Wan)

@mayxthexforce

send me 🕯️to hear my character's inner thoughts about your character // @mayxthexforce // Accepting!

How am I supposed to stay right here like Master Windu said? I don't care what he says or if I gained his trust. Why can't I get in touch with Obi-Wan. If Obi-wan was here, he would know what to do, he would know how to calm me down...keep me from doing something...that I shouldn't. He told me that he was proud of the man I am becoming, but I feel like I am failing him, because I feel weak. I know I am stronger than anyone who sits on this council, but none of them will listen to me. Obi-Wan never listens to me either, but he at least chases me when I am about to do something stupid. I can feel the walls closing in. No matter how much I can feel Padme's love and her trying to calm me down or how much I should be stronger, the only thing that would calm me down remotely is if Obi-Wan was here to tell me I was considering doing something incredibly stupid, to come up with a plan...why couldn't they have just sent me with him? Why can't I get a hold of him? I can't do this. Master Windu doesn't know what he's doing and I'm the only one who can save Padme. I'm leaving.

[corruptedforce]

The way some people sexualize the look on Anakin’s face when he kneels and becomes Darth Vader actually disgusts me.  People in this fandom nitpick the stupidest things to judge people for, but I stick to people who glorify the result of manipulation and grooming, done to a former slave.

There are so many good Anakin gifsets that I won’t touch, because it is a disturbing scene.

The acting in that scene is phenomenal and as a Vader fan, it’s a long time coming.  But, it’s not supposed to be a comfortable moment.  He was in agony, horror, and was manipulated into believing this horrible person was the only one he could trust.  

[arabian-bloodstream]

Star Wars: Flashback Cut (and why)

I know I just posted this, BUT... I also posted it on a Star Wars subreddit I’m a member of and someone had an awesome suggestion in the comments and so I made a change that I think works so much better:

If you’re stuck at home and feel like giving Star Wars a binge-watch, here’s a potential new way to watch it. This is my preferred way of watching The Star Wars Saga. It keeps the vast majority of big surprises intact, while preserving the story integrity. It also links narratives and character arcs, and strengthens those narratives and arcs overall, in my opinion. I also feel that in doing so it makes the Prequel Trilogy and Rise of the Skywalker (some of the weaker films in the saga--again, my opinion) feel more seamless and part of the greater whole, thus making them stronger.

*Note if you prefer The Skywalker Saga you can leave Solo out.

STAR WARS: THE FLASHBACK CUT

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Episode IV: A New Hope

Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Episode VII: The Last Jedi

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Episode IX: Rise of the Skywalker

AND WHY THIS WORKS (FOR ME) …

Rogue One

- R1 makes perfect sense having no scrawl because the A New Hope scrawl recaps the events of R1 whereas R1 started the story.

- Everything with the single reactor blast destroying the Death Star explains that “plot hole” in ANH now.

- Knowing all of these people and all they’ve done and their sacrifice adds so much resonance and power to the Rebellion and what they’re doing/fighting for before we hear Luke talk about them in ANH.

- Bail shows up and has focus and it’s like why? But then towards the end, his final scene explains that he has to get back to his people on Alderaan but he has someone he trusts with his life to help, leading to the Leia scene at the end. This not only sets up and leads to ANH, it   also means that when Alderaan in ANH is blown up, we actually know someone on that planet now. That gives it some more emotional heft too.

A New Hope

The Phantom Menace

- Doing this gives us a much broader history of the Jedi, we find out more about Obi-Wan's history and we feel his loss much greater, and we really mourn the fact that Luke never knew his father.

- In about a minute into the film, young Obi-Wan is introduced. He is the first character’s whose name is given and coming into this from ANH, we know who he is and it's clear that we're going to find out his story.

- Just a quick note, but I wanted to point out why I feel the Machete Cut (which completely excises TPM) doesn’t work. The entire Trade Federation story is not only the entire backbone  to how Palpatine rises to power, but it’s also why Amidala (and thus Anakin) has the relationship with him that she does. These are two huge reasons as to why the Machete Cut doesn’t work.

Another is the scene where young Anakin is being questioned by the Jedi Council. That scene right there, in a nutshell, tells us what will be the main turning point that starts Anakin on the Dark path. He’s asked about missing his mother. Young Anakin questions what that has to do  with anything and he’s told it has everything to do with it. He fears what will happen to her, and fear leads to anger and aggression and aggression leads to the Dark Side. And we all know that is *exactly* what happens.

Attack of the Clones

- Another reason that the Machete cut doesn't work is that it's several minutes into the film before we meet any character we know from the Original Trilogy (in the elevator scene with Obi-Wan and Anakin). Also, it’s a bit longer before Anakin himself is referenced by name. Amidala calls him "Ani" instead. So as a starting point into the Prequel Trilogy (and definitely as a Flashback between ANH/TESB and RotJ) the Machete Cut is very confusing. (And, again, this doesn't take into account the issues mentioned under TPM.)

- Now we see Luke's father, roughly the same age as he was, so similar as the boy we met in ANH and we also know that the girl we met in TPM is his mother. So, we've met both of his parents, we've seen them fall in love. This beautiful tragedy is going to play out soon enough, we just don’t know how. And at this point we (well, new viewers) don't know that Anakin becomes Darth Vader.

The Empire Strikes Back

-  The explanation of the Dark Side of the Force, how it works, how it brings people in, and how Obi-Wan lost Anakin… I know that is set up for the reveal of who Luke is and the redemption of Anakin in the third act of Return of the Jedi, but watching this before the Prequel Trilogy as if they are a Flashback set of films telling the story of what happened really strengthens that   narrative. And it does so beautifully.

-  It’s very, very obvious from TESB that a love triangle was VERY much in play between Luke, Leia and Han. The beginning sets up Han/Leia with a  bit of Luke thrown in with that kiss, and then the bulk of the film is  with Han and Leia. However the final bit has Luke and Leia with their connection, her kissing him (again) on the lips, and the two together while Lando and Chewie are off to find Han.

They could have easily set it up so that by the time the third film had rolled around, Leia and Luke were involved–and the “other one” was to be introduced fresh in the third film. (As was originally intended.) Now, I still think that if they had done that, it would have been Han and Leia in the end as the bulk of the love story we saw was Han and Leia, but they did still definitely set up the triangle (that was hinted at in the first film) to go full throttle in the third movie.

Going with The Flashback Cut actually helps eliminate any sense of that once we return to the trio because of the reveal of Luke and Leia being twins at the end of Revenge of the Sith before you go into Return of the Jedi.

- Aha! By having TPM and AotC before this one, we've only met Anakin, but we really know him now. So to find out that *he* becomes Darth Vader will truly, deeply have an impact like HOLY SHIT!

-  Having Luke asking Ben “Why?” a couple of times regarding the Anakin/Darth Vader lie at the end of TESB before going into Revenge of the Sith to find out how it happens makes so much sense. It sets it up that we are going to be told why.

Revenge of the Sith

- With TESB ending on Luke asking Ben “why?” we follow up immediately with the answer in full detail.

- Bringing baby Luke to Tatooine at the end of the film signifies that Anakin’s story is over and settles us right back in for the return to Luke’s story. It segues beautifully into the title of the next one: "Return of the Jedi”  in a couple of different ways. We’re done with the Sith story and now we’re going back to the Jedi. Also, Luke is the Jedi and we’re returning to his story: Return of the Jedi (aka Luke).

Return of the Jedi

-  Watching Yoda’s death scene really is enhanced by having just watched the Prequel Trilogy, especially the last third of RotS, before it. Him talking to Luke about not underestimating the power of the Dark Side as they are talking about Anakin/Vader adds so much depth and emotion for the viewer to that conversation.

-  Leia being revealed as his twin was just not this big OOH! moment; it just seemed kinda, throwaway? So being revealed in the PT is an OK loss  in my books for all we get in return.

- Finally, the biggie... we just watched Anakin's entire story play out from a young, innocent enslaved boy to becoming a slave to the Dark Side and Palpatine's power and control. And here we see him break free, once more the emotional pull between a parent and a child being the catalyst, but this time it's the reverse. Anakin is the parent, and it's love that is the motivator not hate.

The Force Awakens

The Last Jedi

-  There is the dice that we saw on the Falcon and that dice comes into play in the closing scenes with Luke and Leia, and then especially Kylo/Ben as he’s kneeling before the Falcon that  disappears in his hand.

It's OK that we don't see Solo before TLJ, because we don't need to know where the dice come from because they’re just symbols at this point–they were important to Han and that was their only needed key point in this film. Also, since TFA ended on a cliffhanger, having a flashback film between them would completely throw the balance off. TLJ *has* to come immediately after TFA for that reason.

Solo

- On the other hand, it is cool to find out why the dice we’re important to Han and we do in Solo.

- As well, the talk of the stuff that’s happening with the Empire/the Emperor in Solo sets up the horror of what could happen with the Emperor coming back in The Rise of Skywalker.

- Also, seeing Kylo/Ben’s father going from a good kid who loses his way, lost and trying to find himself just as Kylo was at the end of TLJ (and like Han, he didn't get the girl) works well.

- Plus, it also gives a breather that helps fill the stretch of time between TLJ and TRoS.

- Even though, the opening crawl is written differently than the other films, unlike the R1 story, Solo still at least has the crawl, and by not being the traditional crawl, it lets us know right away that  something different is going on. Then, boom! We meet a young Han in the first scene and we're on our way, but it was that untraditional crawl that already set us up to expect a swerve away from the continuation of TLJ.

* As I stated atop, if you just want to do The Skywalker Saga binge, Solo can easily be dropped from the watch-list.

The Rise of Skywalker

-  With the horrors that the Emperor and his Empire made of the galaxy fresh in our mind, viewers really will not want to see a return of the Emperor. (OK, not that they would anyway.)

-  We just saw a young Lando come out of the shadows deciding to fight the good fight… and here he is forty years later, doing it all over again.

- Just having watched Ben’s father’s idealistic self turned into a cynic by what the Empire/the Dark Side had created of the Galaxy visited upon his son–and turned him even worse–and then flipped on his side is a beautiful thing as Ben helps to keep that from happening all over again.

So there you go, my Star Wars: Flashback Cut (and why):

The Star Wars Saga - All released SW films: R1, 4, 1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 7, 8, Solo, 9

The Skywalker Saga - All SW films w/Skywalker characters: R1, 4, 1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9