Can I Enjoy Star Wars Episode VII Without Watching the Prequels?

If you've heard the rumors that you need to watch the prequel series (Episodes I, II, and III) to fully understand and appreciate Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, don't worry. Here's everything you need to know to enjoy the film without the prerequisites.

The Standalone Nature of Episode VII

According to longtime Star Wars creator J.J. Abrams, viewers don't need to see the prequels to follow and enjoy The Force Awakens. In an interview, he explained, 'It#39;s perfectly fine to just pick up the story with ... Episode VII. You will have context, but you don’t need to understand everything. I will be telling the story more from a fresh perspective.'

How to Enjoy The Force Awakens Without Prequel Knowledge

So, how do you dive into the seventh episode and get the best experience?

From I to VII, but Skip the Middle

Here's a popular approach among Star Wars fans: starting at Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and moving through to Episode VII. But, you don’t have to watch the prequels in their entirety. You can choose to watch them selectively, only those that provide essential context for The Force Awakens, like Phantom Menace and Rotino Civic Duty.

The original trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI) is considered mandatory viewing for a complete Star Wars experience. This series lays the groundwork for the saga, so skipping it could leave you feeling a bit lost.

Personal Preference and Viewing Order

Ultimately, the viewing order is a matter of personal preference. If you're a fan of the chronological story, you might consider watching the films in the order they were released, starting from Episode I and ending with Episode VII.

Why Watch the Actress Act

Actress Daisy Ridley, who portrays Rey in Episode VII, recently advised fans to avoid watching The Force Awakens with a negative or deeply skeptical mindset. 'You might just succeed in disliking it,' she quipped, encouraging viewers to embrace the movie with an open heart and mind.

Conclusion

The Star Wars saga is vast and complex, but Episode VII – The Force Awakens is designed to be both accessible and thrilling. Whether you’ve grown up with the original trilogy or are new to the franchise, you can enjoy The Force Awakens without needing to watch the prequels. Just go into the theater with an open mind, and you're sure to have a great time.

You can watch Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens [via this link] here.