Rogue One After Rogue One, what's the best viewing order?

For me it would be: 4,5,6,1,2,3,R1,7. I hate to say it but after Rogue One I just can't watch the prequels anymore, especially 1. However, for the uninitiated, the importance given to Bail's entrance in R1 would lose its meaning without 2 and 3 to tell us who he is and his place in the scheme of things.

I think R1 is a good way to close out the pre-7 saga films and then move forward with the saga continuation with 7.

 

If I were showing someone the series for the first time: release order for the Saga films, and then show them the standalone movies after.

For my own personal marathons, I think Rogue One has convinced me to forgo release order and adopt linear chronological order. It'll make things simpler while also maximizing the amount of Star Wars I watch in a limited window of time.

 

RO-ANH-ESB-ROTJ-TFA

If you have never seen any of the films Darth Vader's introduction to the series is more powerful this way IMO. You also get a weird religious introduction to the force via Chirrut.

Think about it, you get an entire film that makes it seems like Jyn is going to be the hero of the franchise only to have the Empire kill all the heroes with a menacing Darth Vader doing epic stuff in a single scene at the end of the movie..

 

I'll just ignore the (overall) mediocre Prequel Trilogy and here is my suggested Star Wars viewing order then... Rogue One MUST always be watched before A New Hope because of the way the ending of the latter blends into the opening scenes of the former, so seamlessly!

Rogue One -> A New Hope -> Empire Strikes Back -> Return of The Jedi -> TFA

 

I, II, III, R1, ANH, ESB, ROTJ

 

For a first timer? Order in which they are made. Always.

For a repeat viewing? A bit tougher, but I'll go with the easy chronological answer.

 

Last twenty minutes of TPM
Battle of Geonosis
The clone wars
ROTS but skip anakin padme scenes
Read last padawan and a new dawn
Rebels
Rogue one
A new hope
Comics
Empire strikes back
Return of the Jedi
Aftermath
TFA
Books are dictated by what I have available

 

1
2
TCW movie and TV
3
Rebels
4
5
7
8
9

 

After Rogue One, the best viewing order is this:

A New Hope

 

RO, ANH, ESB, ROTJ, TFA

 

At this point in time I have RO, ANH, ESB, ROTJ then TFA.

 

ROTS, RO, ANH, TESB, ROTJ, TFA.

 

Rogue One is OK to watch, even first. After that:

1. Star Wars
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi

The end.

 

TPM, AOTC, ROTS, RO.

Skip the rest, life is too short to sped it on bad movies.

 

Even with Rogue One feeling like the first half of the story I still think ANH is the best entry point for new viewers. I'll definitely include RO in chronological order for my own marathons, but to me nothing can beat ANH as the introduction to Star Wars. That opening, Obi-Wan's explanation of the Force and the Jedi, following Luke from farm boy to Rebel hero. Those are the first steps into a larger world.

 

I like all of those elements as the new hope though following the tragedies of Rogue One. I think somebody new would see Rogue One and it would give them an idea of the struggle people are facing on the ground because of this oppressive regime and what they're willing to go through to fight back. You'd be happy with the Rogue One mission's success but absolutely terrified by the power of this weapon that isn't even yet at full power. The villains also have a dark wizard of some kind who seems incredibly powerful and terrifying. The action then continues right into ANH and we see the stakes raised even higher. By now you absolutely loathe the villains, are truly worried about this captured princess, and wondering who in the Galaxy can possibly stop this man known as Vader. You've seen some cool Force connection work from Chirrut but nothing involving sabers or Jedi training from the start involving protagonists. Enter Luke Skywalker. Enter Obiwan. Suddenly, as a viewer, you have a little more hope. You already want to see the Empire fall but as an added bonus you beleive this Vader character also betrayed and murdered the innocent farm boy's father. Luke and Obi-Wan's lack of grey and inheritent desire to do good would seem even more hopefulf following all the shades of grey in Rogue One and the bleak black of the Empire. Obi-Wan and Luke would feel like beacons unique in the world. Destined for the Jedi arts. You'd sense what's different about them in comparison to regular humans more. You would also know of this weakness in the Death Star but would begin wondering how and when Luke and this new crew will become aware and play a part in its eventual destruction.

Honestly, I think Rogue One enriches A New Hope and compliments it and respects it. I think Rogue One first and A New Hope next is very logical now and the jump in hope, optimism and perfect execution of the hero's journey folllowing Rogue One would make all aspects of A New Hope even more special and enjoyable following all the shades of grey and the loss of life in Rogue One.

 

What about Rogue One as a prelude, before flashing all the way back to Ep1-7. Could be cool to meet fully developed Vader and Death Star as well as an introduction to the force, before seeing the origin story and then the events that follow R1.

 

1-2
TCW
3
Rebels
Rogue One
4-7

 

I was originally going to leave RO out of a saga viewing, but after seeing it I feel like it has to be included. So, I'll be doing a linear chronological viewing. I, II, III, RO, IV, V, VI, VII.

 

I'm thinking something like:
ANH
R1
ESB
Prequels (optional or possibly just ROTS)
ROTJ
TFA

but that could get pretty convoluted with the time jumping....

I like the idea of ANH-R1-ESB though as ANH feels better as a 'first film' then watch R1 for backstory while increasing the fear of Vader before the ESB showdown

 

I think that it just has to be accepted that the Vader father revelation is just not going to be preserved for future viewers.

If I were showing Star Wars to my children (if I have them and when they're old enough) I think I would probably do this:

TPM
AOTC
Selected Clone Wars arcs
ROTS
Selected Rebels episodes
Rogue One
ANH
ESB
ROTJ
TFA

 

For a new to Stars Wars person in 2016.. I think the best chance to hook them would be 7... Then 4,5,6... Then Rogue One... And if they are then hooked, and only then, 1,2,3....

 

WHAT ABOUT THIS ORDER? WATCH 1,2,3,LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK OF ROGUE ONE CATALYST,WATCH ROGUE ONE,4,5,6,7

 

I am now definitely going to be putting Rogue One before my viewing of ANH from now on. Rogue One puts ANH in a whole new perspective for me.

 

For any first-time viewer I think they all still need to be watched in the order they were released. This way all surprises and nods to the other movies work the best. 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, R1

Then then upon second viewing they should be watched in chronological order. 1, 2, 3, R, 4, 5, 6, 7