Thomas Tom

The Phantom Menace marked an important development in the Star Wars universe. The film celebrated 26 years last week and set the stage for adaptations that strayed away from the familiar story of Anakin Skywalker and his mentor, Obi-wan Kenobi. This was a new feat for George Lucas at that time, creating stories that preceded the cultural staple that was the Original Trilogy.

As Bix walks through the fields of Mina-Rau with Andor’s child, there is that sense of poignancy, something that is rare in anything related to Star Wars. From the films of the original trilogy, to the prequels and sequels, there was always a sense of adventure. But here, behind all that, the things that made the above happen, those stories were more inspiring, yet grittier, than them.

The dust cleared after the bombs fell. Somewhere, the vaults are buried, only to open after the world outside is safer to walk. Randall Clark watches from the canyon caves above. Rob Co, headed by the mysterious Mr House, isolates itself in Las Vegas. The world that we know, diverged from a point after World War II.