Star Wars: Attack of the Trolls

Ah, December. The beautiful time of year for numerous holidays, the mad dash for gifts, and terrible driving conditions in some areas. It wouldn’t be December without the next upcoming Star Wars movie and the red-hot rage of the internet.

Let me make a confession: ever since Disney added Star Wars to its growing Infinity Gauntlet of Entertainment, I haven’t seen a movie I didn’t like. I adored The Force Awakens, Rogue One made my jaw drop, Solo was a fun ride, and yes—even The Last Jedi was enjoyable and interesting. You know what has not been a fun time? The Star Wars fanbase.

It’s not news to say that “geek fandoms are toxic,” and I get it. Star Wars may not win for worst fandom (I still argue that American Football gets that award). However, I will confess that when I hear someone describe themselves as “having many opinions about Star Wars” or “obsessed with EU (Extended Universe) lore,” I immediately start walking in the other direction.

There is some sympathy in my heart for those who lived and breathed the EU lore, and find it currently being either completely thrown out or picked apart for writers’ liking. I loved the story behind Darth Revan, and we all know Ben Solo is pieced together from several of the original trio’s children. But if your vehement hate for the new stories has to do with “This isn’t how the EU did it!”, then no, I’m not exactly curious about your hardened opinions on these new movies and I’m not stupid for not agreeing with you.

Source: Bioware, Electronic Arts

Although I cannot pretend that Star Wars fanbase toxicity is new. We all may want to forget the prequel movies, but they are what they are. However, actors from those movies have actually been reported to be so overwhelmed with the negative reaction and death threats that it ruined their lives like the actors for Kid Anakin and Jar Jar Binks to name a couple. Ever wonder why Ewan McGregor is willing to come back for an Obi-Wan Kenobi series, but Hayden Christiansen is nowhere to be seen? I guarantee it’s not because the writers are scratching their heads.

And don’t get me started on the part that makes my feminist heart beat in anger: the ones who seriously still cannot shut up about the inclusion of more female characters with power. I had hoped that these opinions would have died down after Episode 7 starred Rey, but It. Just. Doesn’t. Stop. Rey is a Mary Sue, Jyn Erso is emotionless, Rose is useless, Leia shouldn’t be able to do that, Iden Versio is just another shoehorned woman… And on and so forth. The ire against female protagonists is nothing new to us female nerds and geeks, but it is still frustrating that these opinions continue to be so overwhelming to the fanbase. I am tired of having to justify why these female characters are not ruining Star Wars, so for the love of the Force: deal with it, fanboys.

Source: Lucasfilm Ltd, Disney

But there is one caveat I would be remiss to leave out. To risk completely undermining my entire argument, I do have to mention how we are potentially being tricked by Russian bots and trolls. Research by Morten Bay, Ph.D estimated that about 50% of the negative tweets about The Last Jedi were likely produced by robot accounts. So, it is easy to imagine how this amount has only served to create more ire among the community. People may say that they don’t want politics in their interests, but ironically, it’s not the left-wing identity politics that are tricking you. Definitely take a look at the article; unlike most, it is free to download and read.

I’m not so naïve as to say that we all should just get together, give Star Wars all praise and no negativity, and smile when we leave the theaters. Art always invites criticism, and it always should. But this notion that writers should only write “our” ideas, that criticism means threatening actors doing their job, and that adding diversity is ruining the experience has done nothing but cause people to walk away. And that is the biggest shame of all.

Oh well. I firmly believe that Baby Yoda will finally bring about world peace, so maybe there’s hope, after all.

Source: Lucasfilm Ltd, Disney