While I'm sure this series will set a new standard for TV CGI (mixing space battles with exotic creatures, and digital sets) I still would have preferred a series set maybe 10-20 years after the fall of the empire in ep VI where we'd get to see the rebuilding of a Republic, political intrigue, a new generation of Skywalkers, Solos and even Calrissians, training of new jedis, new species, new threats, splinter armies of clone troopers, another Fett clone, a hidden emperor clone, new characters, new technologies, (like color holograms
), jedi spirits, force wielders, etc -- which I guess is probably more or less covered in the comics.
Instead, I'm dreadiing it'll be the adventures of Young Luke Skywalker (whining about being on a moisture farm and shooting the occassional swamp rats or whatever those things were he killed flying his T-16), as well as Young Han Solo and Young Princess Leia (all played by WB-type actors). And maybe an occassional cameo featuring 800-year-young Yoda and Ewan McGreggor. Then will you also have the emperor secretly sending out bounty hunters to track down the missing Skywalker ('cuz Vader doesn't know he exists, right) and looking everywhere except Anakin's friggin' home planet. And you won't have that many jedi, because Vader will occassional root one out and snuff 'em. And basically the series will be about runing the Republic into the ground, and basically all the characters and design we already know. I'm sure the series will get out to a bolstering start, but my guess is they won't look beyond the first 10 episodes in really trying to craft their story, unless they bring on someone like J.M. Strasinski. And even then, will it really bridge Ep III to IV or just be a bunch of revisionist history trying to shoehorn in.
I would imagine that Lucas is somewhat smart and will go into this with a pretty good plan. Although his TV track record ain't that great -- Young Indiana Jones anyone. Or maybe he's not concerned about the mythos and is just doing a money grab by just announcing the project and figuring it will go to the highest bidder, because I could easily see rights for this series going for half a billion.
Nonetheless, I'll hope for the best, check out the first few episodes. Worst case another collection to pick up on DVD.
