The last decade has seen theStar Warsfranchise more active and ubiquitous in media than ever before. In addition to the Disney-produced sequel trilogy, numerous TV shows, includingThe Mandalorian,Obi-Wan Kenobi,The Acolyte, andAndor, have been released on streaming platforms — not to mention all the video games. But, despite this proliferation ofStar Warsmedia, none of them have managed to come even remotely close to the 45-year-old masterpiece whose success made all this newStar Warscontent possible in the first place:The Empire Strikes Back(1980).
The Empire Strikes Backremains arguably the greatest movie sequel ever made. Like any good follow-up, it didn’t just repeat the same story beats as the original. Instead, it took a different and more mature direction, placing greater focus on the characters themselves than on the spectacle of intergalactic warfare. Furthermore, it featured a darker story in which the bad guys ultimately win (at least in the short term), leaving the heroes with seemingly little hope by the closing credits. And, of course, it features arguably the most famous twist in cinema history, which radically alters how we view the series' main villain,Darth Vader(played by David Prowse,voiced by James Earl Jones).
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Was Subversive and Dark
Perhaps the biggest reasonThe Empire Strikes Backis still considered the bestStar Warsfilm is its daring approach to story and tone. In contrast to the uplifting David-versus-Goliath narrative of the originalStar Wars(which was retitledA New Hopefollowing the release ofEmpire),Empirereminded viewers that defeating Goliath would only make him angrier — and, thus, far more dangerous. Indeed, just about every major plot point ofEmpireis a setback of some kind for the heroes, opening with the Rebellion’s discovery and subsequent loss in battle at their base on the ice planet Hoth, and ending with the betrayal of Rebel hero Han Solo’s (Harrison Ford) close friend, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), resulting in Han being frozen in carbonite on Vader’s orders.
Most memorably, Vader chops off series protagonist Luke Skywalker’s hand after the latter hastily confronts him, and reveals the horrifying truth that he is Luke’s father. By the end of the film, it seems nearly impossible for the Rebellion to save the galaxy from Vader and the Empire.
Why Sequels in Trilogies Are Usually the Darkest Installments
From Star Wars to The Dark Knight, sequels in trilogies tend to be considered the darkest entries. Take a look at why that happens.
Although these twists initially divided fans and critics whenEmpirepremiered in 1980, the passage of time has allowed both groups to recognize its artistic merits and thematic depth, with people positing thatit surpasses the original in both respects. For example, whereas the original clearly delineates which characters are good and evil,Empirefeatures a more morally gray character in Lando, who makes a deal with the Empire not because he shares their ideology, but because he (wrongly) believes that doing so will guarantee his people’s safety. As reprehensible as Lando’s choice seems, it might be the most realistic choice made by a character in the film. After all, standing up to a powerful authoritarian regime means risking the loss of one’s life and loved ones, and not everyone is prepared to take such a risk.
Moreover, the iconic and, at the time of the film’s release, earth-shaking revelation that Vader is Luke’s father makes the young Jedi’s journey more complex, yet also more compelling. Having been initially told that Vader had murdered his father, the shock of learning that Vaderishis father forces Luke to change his previously vengeful attitude towards him. This sets up Luke’s arc in the second sequel,The Return of the Jedi,in which he tries to convince his father that there is still good in him, while Vader simultaneously tries to convince Luke that there is evil inhim— an assertion that is implied to be equally true as Luke’s.This tension between the two genetically related men across both films makes for a far more emotionally involving conflictthan the more generic battle-strategy-and-firepower-based conflict between the Rebels and the Empire in the first film.
Why Have More Recent ‘Star Wars’ Media Fallen Short of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’?
While it is easy to tell that all subsequentStar Warsfilms have failed to meet or exceed the high bar set byEmpire, the reasons why are surprisingly diverse and vary from film to film. The prequels, for instance, have been heavily criticized and ridiculed for their acting and writing, which many fans and critics felt were too campy and melodramatic (although they have undergone a certainre-evaluation in recent years). Meanwhile, the first entry in the Disney-produced sequel trilogy,The Force Awakens(2015), was little more than a rehash of the basic plot structure ofA New Hope(albeit with fresh faces and more modern special effects and set design), which effectively deprived it of any suspense or originality.
But the most fascinating case study is the second film,The Last Jedi(2017), which, in many ways, came the closest of all the newStar Warsfilms (including the prequels) to emulatingEmpire.LikeEmpire, it contains several unexpected twists that drastically alter our perceptions of the characters, particularly of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Luke, and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), while also featuring a bleaker narrative where the heroes are on the run, rather than on the offensive. However, it suffered from awkward pacing caused by several overlapping storylines, which probably would have been better spread across multiple movies or a TV show.
Here’s Why The Last Jedi is the Best Movie in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
The Last Jedi was arguably the most divisive movie of Star Wars' Sequel Trilogy. Here’s why it was, in fact, the best movie of the three.
And then, of course, there’sThe Rise of Skywalker(2019), which was effectively an attempt by the filmmakers to retcon the aspects ofThe Last Jedithat infuriated a small but loud contingent ofStar Warsfans, particularly pertaining to Rey’s ancestry. However, this resulted in the film being even more jumbled and awkwardly paced thanThe Last Jedi, leaving both fans ofThe Last Jediand its detractorsdissatisfied.
In closing, perhaps it’s impossible forStar Warsto reach the same heights asEmpire, having become a franchise more intent oncreating fan-service content, rather than pushing its own boundaries. So maybe our only option is to be grateful that we will haveTheEmpire Strikes Backto return to.The Empire Strikes Backis available for streaming onDisney+.
