He needs his art to be successful, because he feels a responsibility for his employees.

One could also argue that he needs his art to be successful because he's human.

When I post a pretty good photo to Reddit and it gets downvoted into oblivion for no good reason other than The Internet, that kind of hurts. So I imagine that when Lucas gets completely and brutally savaged for Episode 1/Jar Jar/"I Hate Sand"/"NOOOOOOO"/whatever, that really has to sting. Being that he's had to deal with fans all his life, he's probably gotten better at compartmentalizing that savage beating (plus 4 billion dollars soothes many wounds), but as an artist, it's gotta still be a blow to the ego/pride/emotions.

***EDIT***

That's also why I cut George some slack on his comments of how he wished they had asked for his input and how that wasnt the movie he would have made. Sure he has had other projects in his career, but really, for the last 45 years, Star Wars has been his life, his baby. Its one thing to walk away, logically thinking "Yeah, I'm done with that", and another to actually do that.

But as an artist I know there will always be this little spark, an emotional attachment to a project - any project. Four billion dollars or not, I can easily see him second guessing himself and regretting putting that part of his life on a shelf. It can be tough to walk away from something and see it in someone else's hands.

From what I gather from his last interview, Lucas eventually was just done being a businessman and felt boxed in by the fan expectations that come with a major property like Star Wars. Nonetheless, the last big thing he did with it, "Destiny", will remain one of my favourites for a long while to come.

Here's a hypothesis about thing inside the movie itself, one that's horrifying and terrible.

They've absorbed one of the worst elements of the post-RotJ EU... and Snoke is somehow Palpatine, via cloning or some other deus ex arsepull.

Pop over to the Rebels thread...maybe he's Maul...

Hrm... we never do find out what happened to Maul after the last aired season of TCW, do we?

Ugh.

That's also why I cut George some slack on his comments of how he wished they had asked for his input and how that wasnt the movie he would have made.

Though he is probably legally not allowed to do so, I would absolutely love to see Lucas's vision of Episode 7 in some form, whether a low-budget movie, book, whatever.

Honestly, that may be as simple as I could put my reaction to TFA: It's Star Wars without Lucas. For all of the good and the bad effects that come with it.

I mean...the OT is like if you had a favorite local Mexican restaurant that had the *best* chips and salsa. Heavy on the tomato, plenty of onions, garlic, cilantro, and lime...and their secret ingredient: cinnamon. It may not make any sense, but that's what they put in and it's awesome. Your friends from out of town always buy a bunch before they head back for home and it's something that, no matter where else you get salsa when you're away, it might be good, but it's not as good as that place.

Eventually, the restaurant is wildly successful, and they decide to move to a new location that's actually closer to home for you. Their award winning salsa is the main attraction, so they really try to play it up at this new place. You're excited to try it out, but when you do, the salsa tastes like a cinnamon roll. Way, way too much...it's still good...but it's not nearly as good as at the old place, and really, it's not any better than anywhere else that has good, fresh salsa either. Eventually, you just quit going because without the salsa being excellent, it's just a slightly-overpriced average Mexican restaurant, though it's still wildly popular because of name recognition, and you were spoiled by the excellent salsa at the old place.

Years later, still trading on the name, the original owners decide to sell the business. Some big name restauranteur buys it up, seeing all the money from that huge loyal following. The old couple that started it gets a fat paycheck and goes off to enjoy, while the new owners come in. They *know* the kind of salsa that people worldwide like, but they also know that the cinnamon is what brought people in here and put it on the map. They've done mexican food long enough to know, however, that the name is going to bring in just as many people as the actual recipe, and that there's way too much cinnamon in there now. They decide to tweak the recipe, bringing in a new chef.

Months later, there's a grand reopening, and you decide to go check it out. You order some chips and salsa, not sure what to expect, and you find out...that it's good. Really good. The tomatoes are fresh, the onions are crisp...everything is on point. Except...there's no cinnamon. None. It's remarkably good salsa, but you've been enjoying this stuff for a long, long time and it's not the salsa you remember. The restaurant is packed and the line's around the door, and everyone is raving about how good the salsa is...and it really is that good. It's just not the flavor that made it special from years ago. You're glad that the restaurant will live on...and it's drawing in more people than ever...but for you personally, regardless of the name...it's just another restaurant now.

They did a 4 part comic book, the last thing Dark Horse did before the swap to Disney, but yeah - Maul is pretty open ended.

And if Snoke turns out to be Palpatine, I'm ripping up my theater seat, throwing it through the screen and storming out to burn all my Star Wars stuff in the middle of the street.

My money is on Maul or Ezra, but it's all speculation at the moment. I'm holding out my hopes that Snoke will be someone who is false flagging in TFA and actually hates the Empire along with Palpatine.

Ezra?

Edit -- I take that back, now that I've actually tracked down the trailer and watched it. If they take the show in the direction that trailer makes it look like they might, I'm officially done with Rebels . Ugh. Blah.

Ugh Blah? That is your reaction after THAT trailer?

Boy, is my finger not on that pulse....

Ugh Blah? That is your reaction after THAT trailer?

Boy, is my finger not on that pulse....

Dark side Ezra!?

Does Vader kill Ahsoka?!

Knights of Ren?!

Rule of Kewl crossguard saber!

Movie tie in!

Yet more Yoda!

All the hype!

...

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

Rule of Kewl crossguard saber!

Admittedly not a fan of that. In TFA they didn't really need the cross guard to show this was a different kind of lightsaber...the chaotic crackling alone revealed that. But it will probably have some internal symbolism not currently apparent that isn't simply "Rule of Kewl". So far I've had no reason to distrust Filoni's storytelling.

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

This part I agree with.

Snoke is Plagueis.

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

This part I agree with.

So not liking what you like is a "sad fail"?

Snoke is Plagueis.

At this point, I have to say...

Snoke is Spartacus.

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

This part I agree with.

So not liking what you like is a "sad fail"?

In this case? Definitely.

Snoke is Plagueis.

At this point, I have to say...

Snoke is Spartacus.

I'm Snoke!

Rule of Kewl crossguard saber!

Admittedly not a fan of that. In TFA they didn't really need the cross guard to show this was a different kind of lightsaber...the chaotic crackling alone revealed that. But it will probably have some internal symbolism not currently apparent that isn't simply "Rule of Kewl". So far I've had no reason to distrust Filoni's storytelling.

Going by the visual guide, the fact that the crossguard hilt is an archaic design does have an element of symbolism for Kylo already, as does the rest of the design elements of both hilt and blade.

In the case of the crossguard hilt, it's that he's still anchored in the past in spite of his claims and attempts otherwise, as well as his lack of self-control and the venting his excess anger on his surroundings, much as the quillions vent the excess energy of the flawed kyber crystal, which itself crackles with barely restrained energy. It makes quite a stark contrast to the smooth and polished hilt and refined energy blade of the lightsaber that Anakin built as a Jedi Knight.

I like the crossguard design per se. From a swordsman PoV, it's long overdue

The implications of the Jedi decline being a real thing is something I hope the new story group as a whole will touch upon, not just Rebels a bit.

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

This part I agree with.

So not liking what you like is a "sad fail"?

In this case? Definitely.

*plonk*

Go troll someone else, or whatever it is you're doing.

I am going to wait and see the context of the broadsword saber first before getting excited or condemning Rebels. A strange policy to have on the internet - but there you have it.

Also I'll point out the precedence. When Phantom Menace came out, suddenly two ended sabers were everywhere. Why would you expect this to change with the new movie?

I am going to wait and see the context of the broadsword saber first before getting excited or condemning Rebels. A strange policy to have on the internet - but there you have it.

Also I'll point out the precedence. When Phantom Menace came out, suddenly two ended sabers were everywhere. Why would you expect this to change with the new movie?

Two-ended saber? You mean the suicide-staff?

*insert sad trombone fail sound here*

This part I agree with.

So not liking what you like is a "sad fail"?

In this case? Definitely.

*plonk*

Go troll someone else, or whatever it is you're doing.

But let's not make it a bigger thing than it should be. I was genuinely surprised by your dislike and did not appreciate you raining on the parade of what I really enjoyed by labeling it a 'sad fail'.

No need to get up in each other's face about it. Different strokes I guess.

I like the crossguard design per se. From a swordsman PoV, it's long overdue

Personally I call the sword the "hand-emancipator".

Yes, crossguards are cool, but since most people focus on the fightins style of the prequels - which storywise makes sense since the clone wars are arguably the time in canon where swordmanship was at its peak since there was a big shift to warfare (and subsequently lightsaber combat) in the curriculum - with all the flurrying and grip-changes the sword is not nearly as practical as it seems at first.

Also, the crossguard is useless if a blade slide down your blade (what crossguards are primarily designed for) and touches the point of the handly where the crossguard emitters sit, unless those parts of the handle are saberproof at which point you don't need the laser crossguard part.

I'm sorry, but somebody defending the crossguard...I can't let that go by uncommented True, the saberstaff is also very suicidal (but that fits maul) but the advantages carry over into offense as well as defense.

And to take wind of my own argument, I think the reason for the blade form is that the crystal is cracked, the split part as well as the instableness. I just have to wait for more information to be released, but in my head it will be a stupid marketing idea for some time more...especially if you've seen this, which are actual "suggestions" from the backside of the package of an official saber builder kit (or whatsitcalled):