5 Things The Star Wars Prequels Did Better Than The Force Awakens

The prequel trilogy is often lambasted for having included far too many classic characters and for using them badly. This is a fair criticism. The choice in The Force Awakens to focus on building new characters and only truly utilising one classic character, Han Solo, was definitely a good one. Nonetheless, the prequel films did utilise some of its classic characters well, using the movies to expand upon who they are and what they stand for.

There is no better example of this than Obi-Wan Kenobi, largely due to Ewan McGregor’s performance. McGregor acts through the stilted dialogue to show how the man we meet in A New Hope came to be, and how he developed from his youth to his eventual adulthood.

The films actually benefit Obi-Wan’s character, revealing the truth behind a man who had previously been mysterious and secretive. Another good example is The Emperor, a character who was a cliché of evil in Return of the Jedi. The prequels reveal his methodical nature, his patience, and his ability to manipulate. They give the character a further layer which can be appreciated when rewatching Return of the Jedi.

Han Solo is utilised brilliantly in The Force Awakens, but Leia, C-3PO and other well-loved classic characters are placed in largely supporting roles. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact, it probably contributed to a better film, but it does highlight how, although overstuffed, some of the classic characters were also fantastically utilised in the prequel trilogy.