To those wondering what they've just clicked on and all the readers who have returned for another entry in my weekly Star Wars series, welcome to my fifth installment of Star Wars Speculation! This week's post is essentially all about Ewoks and the other divisive Star Wars species! If you love these cuddly creatures, then this post is totally for you! Since I don't yet have a topic chosen for next week's Star Wars Speculation, I plan on taking a break from this and will instead upload some DC-related content to correlate with Justice League's release.
Why the Anti-Ewok Sentiment is Hypocritical
To kick things off, some may be wondering "What the heck is he talking about?" Well, I'm very glad you asked. There have been a few creatures within the Star Wars galaxy that have managed to bitterly divide fans through their inclusion in the Star Wars films. The chief culprits are the Ewoks, but the list has since grown to include Gungans and Porgs, a species we've yet to even see onscreen... Essentially, it boils down to the fact some people find these creatures cute and adorable, simply don't have a problem with them, are mildly annoyed by them, or think they are an abomination to the franchise. The opinion varies from person-to-person, and I respect that some fans may completely disagree with everything I'm about to unpack, but this post largely pertains to any vehemently opposed to the Ewoks' existence and these are my thoughts on the matter.
Common Complaints Against Ewoks:
1. "They're too kid-friendly"
2. "They're just around to sell toys"
3. "How the heck was a legion of Imperial troops beaten by teddy bears with sticks?"
Rebutting these points
"They're too kid-friendly"
For starters, the complaint against Ewoks for being too family-friendly is really ridiculous. Just remember that Star Wars is for everyone of all ages. Sure, there are occasionally some darker themes mixed in for older audience members, but for the most part the franchise has always incorporated elements to appease the younger viewers. It simply seems silly to me that anyone would complain that a film franchise made efforts to appeal to all ages when they themselves likely became Star Wars fans when they were children. Are they against the idea of expanding the fanbase or something?
On top of that, it's not like Ewoks were the first cute characters to be introduced to Star Wars. Are people actually forgetting R2D2, Jawas, or even Yoda? Every franchise makes a point to include some characters or creatures with nearly universal broad appeal at some point, and Ewoks were hardly the first of those in Star Wars. Also, what's even wrong with that? These characters have all played some role in the Star Wars narrative at some point or other. They aren't simply there BECAUSE they look cute. That's just an added bonus! Even the Ewoks have a purpose, believe it or not. George Lucas created them because he wanted an indigenous tribe of primitive creatures to help bring down the technologically advanced Empire, and I'll touch more on that in a second.
"They're just around to sell toys"
In conjunction with the entire "family-friendly, cute" belief, there's the idea that Ewoks were created purely for the purpose of selling toys. However, it's easy to forget that Star Wars revolutionized movie merchandising and revealed the massive market potential. There are literally toys that exist for every onscreen character, vehicle, and location, so by that logic, wouldn't everything in Star Wars have been made with the intention of merchandising it? Even then, I'm sure those complaining only fueled the retail boom by purchasing their own fair share of Star Wars merchandise.
"How the heck was a legion of Imperial troops beaten by teddy bears with sticks?"
People tend to forget that these small space bears were able to capture a Wookie, a Jedi, a Rebellion General, and two droids with a simplistic trap. Oh, and there's always the fact they planned on roasting our favorite characters over a campfire and devouring their flesh once they were properly cooked. Just remember the words of the wise Jedi Master Yoda, "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?... And well you should not."
A central theme present in Star Wars is not to ever underestimate someone's strength on account of their appearance. I believe the same logic should apply to the Ewoks. Just because the Ewoks are primitive creatures doesn't mean they're not savage and resourceful. Plus, I'm pretty sure the Stormtrooper armor may be relatively resistant to being hit by rocks and sticks, but I bet the troopers still felt the vibrations and I'm sure that didn't feel too great.
Even then, it's not like the Battle of Endor went entirely in the Ewok's favor... Ewoks died and many of their contraptions were destroyed in the Battle. The Ewoks also were aiding the Rebellion, they weren't acting independently. They had the great fortune of working alongside some of the greatest Rebellion heroes, and capturing an AT-ST proved critical in their victory. They didn't just beat the Empire with primitive weaponry. They emerged victorious thanks to their resourcefulness and teamwork alongside the Rebellion squadron present on Endor. It all ties into the Star Wars well of worthwhile themes about overcoming tyranny and doing the unthinkable through faith. Doesn't it seem silly to complain about something indicative of the entire franchise these people claim to be fans of?
Conclusion
I could talk about the other aforementioned creatures, but I honestly don't have enough information on Porgs to write anything too in-depth and I figured defending the Gungans would prove to be more controversial than the Ewoks. Regardless, many of the same rebuttals seem to carry over to all these space species as well. Ultimately, I feel a lot of the grievances can be silenced with basic Star Wars knowledge, and these complaints are largely hypocritical.
Also, one last thing... #PORGLIFE4EVER
-May the force be with you, always!
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