Star Wars Made Easy

Christian Blauvelt is the deputy editor at BBC Culture. He has written extensively about Star Wars for Entertainment Weekly magazine and has discussed the saga on BBC World News TV and on CBS New York, where he is a frequent pop culture commentator and film awards season expert. He is based in New York City.

1: Introduction
2: Star Wars The Basics


1: What is Star Wars?
2: Who created Star Wars?
3: Why is Star Wars so popular?
4: When and where is Star Wars Set?
5: So just how much Star Wars is there?
6: Who lives in the galaxy?
7: Good guys and bad guys
8: Skywalker family tree
9: How does everyone get around?
10: Vehicles of the galaxy
11: Who rules the galaxy?
12: What is the force?
13: The light side
14: The dark side
15: What is a jedi?
16: Walk the jedi path
17: What is a lightsaber?
18: Who are the Sith?
19: Do you know your troopers?
20: Which film should I watch first?


3: Episode IV


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: Why does Star Wars start with Episode IV?
4: Why is Obi-Wan Leia’s only hope?
5: What is the Death Star?
6: Who shot first?
7: Who is Darth Vader?
8: Why does Obi-Wan sacrifice himself?
9: Battle of Yavin made simple


4: Episode V


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: Planet Hoth: rebel base
4: What does Luke’s vision mean?
5: Who is Lando Calrissian?
6: Battle of Hoth made simple
7: Darth Vader’s big reveal


5: Episode VI


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: The great Ewok debate
4: Is Luke a jedi now?
5: Who is Jabba the Hutt?
6: Battle of Endor made simple
7: There’s another Death Star?
8: Could Leia be a jedi?
9: Why does Darth Vader turn good?


6: Episode I


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: The great Jar Jar Binks divide
4: What’s with all the politics?
5: What’s the deal with podracing?
5: Who is Padmé?
6: Who is Darth Maul?
7: Battle of Naboo made simple


7: Episode II


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: Who are the Separatists?
4: Does the republic need an army?
5: Battle of Geonosis made simple


8: Episode III


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: Why does General Grievous cough?
4: Palpatine is the emperor
5: Why does Anakin join the dark side?
6: Why do the clones kill all the jedi?
7: Battle of Coruscant made simple
8: Star Wars on TV
9: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
10: Star Wars rebels


9: Episode VII


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: What actually is the First Order?
4: Who is Kylo Ren?
5: Who is Rey?
6: Also introducing in Episode VII…
7: Assault on Starkiller Base made simple


10: Rogue One


1: At a glance
2: A closer look
3: Why isn’t this Episode VIII?
4: The rebels of Rogue One
5: Who is director Orson Krennic?
6: Battle of Scarif made simple


11: Episode VIII


1: What do I need to know?
2: What should I look out for?


12: Glossary
13: Star Wars quotes everyone should know
14: Pronunciation guide
15: Index