Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - 8 Reasons It Will Be The Best Yet
6. Lucas Is Observant
If theres one thing the fifteen year drought of Star Wars showed, its that Lucas can be quick to capitalise. The late eighties brought us both the Ewok and Droids TV series that while cute, were a massive change in tone for the series.
But that was counteracted by a glut of mature material in the form of novels and games. Lucas is a smart person who knows how to deal with the brand. He takes on criticism and acts on it well. So all the complaints about The Holiday Special back in 1978 were dealt with; we havent had an out of Universe film since. Expect the same with the Special Editions; while fun their changes are likely to be the last after the backlash.
But what does this say for Episode 1? Well whereas Episode VI went too cutesy with Ewoks saving the day, Lucas has now twenty years of experience under his belt to steer towards what is best for the audience.