THE GOOD:

Born into slavery on the planet Tatooine, the 9-year-old’s ability to see things before they happen and his prowess as a podracer pilot help Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and his friends escape the planet after their ship crashed there. Freed from slavery, Anakin joins Qui-Gon, who promises to train him to become a Jedi knight. Eventually, his forbidden love for Padme Amidala and the machinations of the evil Emperor Palpatine turn Skywalker to the Dark Side of The Force, where he is transformed into the menacing Darth Vader.

The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, Luke is taken to the planet Tatooine by Obi-Wan Kenobi shortly after his birth to be hidden from Darth Vader and the evil Emperor. Raised there by his aunt and uncle, Luke eventually becomes a Jedi Knight like his father. His belief that there is still good left in Darth Vader is put to the ultimate test during their final confrontation.

After the death of her mother and the loss of her father to The Dark Side, the twin sister of Luke Skywalker is adopted by Bail Organa, senator from the planet Alderaan, and raised there as a diplomat. Her work for the Rebellion against Emperor Palpatine’s Imperial forces leads to her capture. She is rescued by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca.

A swaggering, cocky smuggler, Solo is hired by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to fly them from Tatooine to Alderaan aboard his ship, the Millennium Falcon. When his ship is captured by the Death Star, he reluctantly joins their attempt to rescue Princess Leia. Pursued by bounty hunters sent by the evil gangster Jabba the Hutt, Solo is frozen in carbonite and officially joins the Rebellion after being rescued by his friends.

A towering, fur-covered Wookie from the planet Kashyyyk, Chewbacca is the co-pilot and erstwhile companion of Han Solo. Known as much for his temper as he is for his ability to repair the constantly malfunctioning Millennium Falcon on the fly, Chewbacca becomes a fierce protector of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and the rest of his Rebel friends.

After serving as an apprentice under Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi fulfills his master’s wishes and takes on Anakin Skywalker to train him in the ways of the Jedi knights. Kenobi fails, as his student turns to the Dark Side and becomes the fearsome Sith Lord Darth Vader. When the Jedi knights fall, Kenobi goes into exile on Tatooine with Vader’s son, Luke. He is eventually called back into service by Princess Leia and faces a final confrontation with his former pupil.

The most powerful member of the Jedi, Yoda spends centuries training members of his order to become Jedi Knights. After the Emperor succeeds in destroying most of the Jedi, Yoda goes into exile on the planet Dagobah. There he trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of The Force.

These two inseparable droids could not be more different, yet remain erstwhile companions. R2D2 is designed to be a repair droid and communicates entirely in beeps and whistles. C3PO is a protocol droid and translator (originally built by the young Anakin Skywalker), whose prissy demeanor sometimes annoys his friends, particularly Han Solo.

A scavenger of mysterious origins who lives in the harsh deserts of the planet Jakku, Rey is a strong-willed fighter forced to make a stand against the forces of the First Order when they arrive on her home planet.

A former member of the First Order’s Stormtroopers, Finn leaves his post for reasons unknown. Forced to flee to the planet Jakku, he encounters Rey and begins his journey on the path to joining the Resistance.

A member of the Resistance against the First Order, Dameron is a talented X-Wing fighter pilot and leader of Black Squadron, an elite group of fighters.

An astromech droid, similar to the R2 series, which also fits into a T-70 X-wing fighter’s droid socket and has an allegiance to Rebel Alliance pilot Poe Dameron.