After finishing our deep dive into the prequels, we jump ahead to the sequel era with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. And right away, the roles reverse.

One of us is a big fan of the Disney sequels. The other… not so much. So this episode kicks off a spirited debate about the movie that reintroduced Star Wars to a new generation and reignited the franchise after a decade away.

In Part 1, we talk about the expectations going into the film, the emotional return of the opening crawl and John Williams’ score, and the big question that hangs over the entire sequel trilogy: did Disney actually have a plan?

We also begin breaking down the opening of the movie itself, from the mysterious disappearance of Luke Skywalker to the introduction of Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron, Finn, and BB-8. Along the way we ask some tough questions. Is The Force Awakens a loving tribute to classic Star Wars, or is it too similar to the original trilogy?

This is the start of a multi-part conversation, and if you thought the debates over the prequels were intense… just wait.