Alright, I’ll say it- If after watching the first two trailers for The Force Awakens you don’t find yourself at least a little bit inexplicably aroused, maybe you are doing something wrong. Abrams and the operation as a whole totally killed it in the first two trailers. (If you haven’t seen them or wisely want to see them again they are here and here.)

What makes the trailers so great is the new look the series has already taken over, looking like a classic gritty reboot, mixed with the strongest kind of nostalgia.

Trailer 1

Trailer one starts with a strong voice over as the screen pans across a barren desert. “There’s been an awakening, have you felt it?” Asks the voice and BOOM! Our rumored protagonist jumps into the shot in stormtrooper-looking armor. The familiar desert is contrasted in the scene just seconds later where the new and futuristic stormtroopers are seen in a transport vehicle of sorts, giving off a gritty and real war feel.

“The Dark Side….”

Holy crap look at that thing! The knight-style saber is easily the most polarizing thing in the Star Wars universe since the prequels, some hating it and some loving it. I find myself in the “love it” camp. When the saber activated I squirmed with delight like a small child upon seeing the trailer for the first time. The people in class around me probably thought something much more grand than a movie trailer had happened.

“And the light”

Oh Shit! The falcon bursts into view and a wave of happiness and familiarity spreads across the viewers heart and soul.

All of this in one measly minute. Much hype,

Trailer 2

We again start panning across the desert, This time with a downed Star Cruiser in the background and the familiar orchestra playing. Now Luke narrates.

The force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power too.

Interesting part I found in this line was that Luke states his father has it, rather than had it. This may suggest that Luke can see his father as a figment of the force, like with Ben and Yoda I think. Either way, strong line. This strong line is accompanied by the orchestra and various (again gritty) war scenes with many an explosion, Michael Bay style.

Then it hits.

“Chewie we’re home”

Right in the damn nostalgia bone. That’ll leave a bruise for a few days. For those like myself that have a possibly unhealthy love for Star Wars (It dominated my childhood) this scene in yet another one minute teaser was enough to generate real excitement and a reason to believe they can extend the series and maintain what fans loved from the original series.

Overall, I am insanely excited to see JJ and Disney attempt to thread the needle between gritty reboot and cheesy space-western that gives this new trilogy so much potential. Most importantly- 193 more days, friends.

-TB