I wrote the following about Star Wars Fandom in 2018 about how we need to have healthy discussions about Star Wars.
If you’re a Star Wars fan who isn’t active on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube, you’re probably living the good life. But if you’re following Star Wars discussions on social media, you’ve likely noticed how strange and divisive it can be.
Star Wars is one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history, yet discussions about it often veer far away from celebrating the story itself. For example, Kelly Marie Tran and Daisy Ridley faced so much online harassment that they left social media entirely. Meanwhile, Rian Johnson, the director of The Last Jedi, consistently endures more verbal abuse on Twitter than a sports fan at a rival team’s stadium on game day.
Let’s make one thing clear: constructive criticism is welcome. It’s how art and storytelling grow. But personal attacks and non-constructive criticism? That’s a different story.
Harassing creators because of fear of “social justice warriors” or telling a director they “ruined your childhood” is absurd. Your childhood memories remain intact, and statements like that trivialize the people who were actually there for you as a child.
My Thoughts on The Last Jedi
Before diving into the comment section, let me say this: I was disappointed by The Last Jedi. While I think it’s one of the most visually stunning Star Wars films, it has significant flaws. The pacing felt off, some scenes were awkwardly blocked, and some moments—like the infamous “milk scene”—were showy and unnecessary.
Kelly Marie Tran’s character, Rose Tico, was a missed opportunity. While Tran delivered a stellar performance, her character’s arc felt mishandled. Initially, Rose was introduced as a fascinating, science-savvy hero, but her storyline devolved into an overlong action subplot. Similarly, Poe Dameron’s actions made him hard to root for as a “hero.”
Despite my criticisms, I never felt the need to attack Rian Johnson or anyone involved in the film’s creation. Instead, I expressed my disappointment by only seeing the movie once in theaters and writing this blog. Criticism should foster dialogue, not hostility.
Let’s Talk About Luke Skywalker
Initially, I wasn’t happy with Luke Skywalker’s portrayal in The Last Jedi. But over time, I came to appreciate his “lapsed-Catholic Jedi” arc—a story about failure, redemption, and self-discovery. It’s a brilliant interpretation of his character.
What I won’t do is criticize someone for their personal take on Star Wars, regardless of their background or when they first joined the fandom. My wife, for example, didn’t see the original trilogy in theaters, yet she knows more about Star Wars than I ever will.
Why Star Wars Matters
One of the things I love most about Star Wars is how it continues to inspire passion among its fans, even after more than 40 years. From movies to books, podcasts, and blogs (including this one), Star Wars brings people together. But here’s the thing: no one owns Star Wars.
The franchise should continue to evolve, embracing bold new directions, diverse characters, and innovative storytelling. Some projects will fail, and not everything will resonate with every fan, but that’s the cost of striving for greatness.
Star Wars: The Dining Analogy
Think of Star Wars as a restaurant. Chain restaurants are reliable—you know what to expect, and you’ll leave satisfied.
But independent restaurants? They’re unpredictable. You might experience a disaster, but you also might find something truly unique and unforgettable.
That’s what I want Star Wars to be: a franchise willing to take risks, even if it doesn’t always succeed. If we want the same stories told every time, we will no longer want it.
Embracing New Voices
To keep Star Wars fresh and exciting, we need new voices and perspectives. While respecting the lore is important, the franchise shouldn’t be shackled to it. For example, complaints about Luke’s “new powers” in The Last Jedi ignore the fact that many iconic Force abilities—like the Jedi Mind Trick or Force Choke—were introduced without prior explanation in the original trilogy.
Star Wars is a fantasy saga, not a rigid rulebook. Limiting its creativity defeats the purpose of storytelling in a galaxy far, far away.
Deep down, I think all Star Wars fans want it to become the myths of our age. But for that to happen it needs to grow and be retold.
Let’s Have Healthy Discussions about Star Wars
As fans, we need to accept that no new Star Wars story will perfectly match the version we’ve created in our heads. And honestly, that’s a good thing.
The Star Wars I imagine would probably bore most people—it’d be a nine-part documentary on Jocasta Nu’s Jedi archive methods!
Instead, let’s appreciate the new material we get. Debate it, analyze it, love it, or even hate it—but without harassing creators or other fans. Trust me, the creators are well aware of fan reactions; they read hashtags and comments just like the rest of us.
May the Force Be With You
At its core, Star Wars is about hope, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Let’s honor that by fostering a fandom that celebrates creativity and diversity, rather than tearing it down.
So, whether you loved The Last Jedi, hated it, or fell somewhere in between, let’s channel our passion into something positive. After all, the galaxy is big enough for all of us.
May the Force be with you, friends!
Fast Forward Seven Years
I have no idea what the real state of Star Wars dialogue amongst fans is in 2025. I still follow many people, but not as closely or intensely as I used to.
I would love to say it is because I knew better to step away, but it has way more to do with raising my padawan.
However, I did recently look up what fans on Reddit thought of a well-known content-creating group that gets screeners for Star Wars. Surprisingly, it was almost all positive or honest. The consensus was that they were great about certain things, but many people didn’t go to them for reviews because they felt that receiving screeners made it harder for them to criticize beyond simply saying, “it’s not for me.”
That is a fair criticism. If we had screeners, I would be hesitant as well. I’m not a journalist. I’m just a teacher who runs a blog as a passion project. I would want to continue receiving screeners.
There were no ad hominem attacks. No “Disney shill” attacks.
It was everything I wanted when I wrote about having healthy discussions about Star Wars in 2018.
Kurt Hargis, also known as Mr. Nola Nerd, is an award‑winning Louisiana educator, writer, and the co‑creator of NolaNerdCouple.com, a family‑run blog focused on Disney travel, fan conventions, and everyday nerdy life.
With more than a decade of experience in education and storytelling, Kurt brings a thoughtful, experience‑driven approach to topics like Disney parks, Disney Vacation Club, and family travel, as well as firsthand coverage of major fan conventions including Star Wars Celebration, Fan Expo, GalaxyCon, and Pensacon.
A proud Disney Dad and Disney Vacation Club member, Kurt writes from direct, real‑world experience—whether navigating theme parks with a child, attending conventions with media credentials, or exploring how fandom, food, music, and pop culture intersect in everyday family life.
His work emphasizes accessibility, curiosity, and helping families feel confident exploring nerd culture, travel, and learning together.
Kurt lives in the Greater New Orleans area with his family and can be reached at kurt.nolanerdcouple@gmail.com.
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