In this edition of the Fandom Focus, Mike does dark until the premiere but still loves Battlefront!
BLACKOUT.
By Mike Audette // For most of us, we are now less than one week out from The Force Awakens and it’s starting to feel very real. This past week a lot of sites have been featuring spoilers and speculation and the like, and that means my self-imposed blackout is starting even earlier than I had expected. As of the posting of this article, I will be exiling myself from Twitter until after I have seen my first showing of the film, the 7 pm showing on December 17th.
A lot of conversation was happening about spoilerphobes being “babies” and hurting their enjoyment of experience. In my case I disagree, because I want to go into seeing the film with a blank slate. I don’t want to form any further preconceived notions of this event or this character, etc, than I already have. I want to revel in it in the moment. I don’t harbor any ill will towards those who are on the other side of the coin. That’s the great thing about being a part of this fandom; while we may disagree at times, we are all still Star Wars fans at the end of the day, and that’s more important, and awesome!
I’m not sure how I will react the first time I see the movie. I don’t get emotional about things the majority of the time. I’ve not yet been moved to tears by any of the trailers or other releases so far like others have. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (Seinfeld), it’s just a “flaw” in my circuitry; my cynical, cold, black heart. But this, I think, will be different. What kind of things will pull at the heartstrings for this film? We’ve seen a lot of emotional images and sequences featuring Rey, Han and Leia and I do hope they move me.
So what else have you been using to occupy your time until the release? Trying to focus on Rebels or Battlefront, or even trying to get away from Star Wars all together? I know a lot of people like me have been getting knee-deep in Battlefront. Man, I really can’t gush about this game enough. It is so authentic Star Wars, which makes it playable for hours on end. No single match happens twice and there is enough variety to make you want more.
So friends, Romans, countrymen (and women), we are on the precipice of something magical. A brand new Star Wars movie. Drink it in, cause this feeling won’t be the same again.