I'm also not as well versed.* I am a commoner with most Fandom and, indeed, most things.** I am a taster, skimming the surface of things, diving in as far as I go, but always tethered to a rock on the surface and I never fully cut the rope to try and swim* in the depths. [even Doctor Who, my companion since I was 8 years old, Dad, Uncle, Grandpa, and now Brother and Nephew and always friend - I always limited myself from the fullness of fandom with any of it] So in short, my perspective is a shallow one. I believe that, for the very young (and the young of mind), there will always be a need for some sort of Hero's Journey mythology for at least some point in development.* At this period of time, I believe children could begin to leave it around age 4 and shouldn't be overly encouraged beyond that. Once a child's social life begins away from home, Kindergarten and 1st Grade, the simple model begins to lessen in importance and more complicated models are required... as life begins to get more complicated.* I see that reflected when I would watch TV with my nephew and he was 6 and 7; the epic hero who ended up being the villain, evil-is-hysterically-funny trope became more and more interesting to him. And now, by age 9, he's fully versed in far more complicated presentations of reality, just as full of subterfuge, don't-know-who-to-believe stories... even very balanced tales where there is no villain or hero, characters equally likeable and unlikeable, pleasant and unpleasant. One of his favorite tropes since he was 7 has been the misunderstood villain; at first portrayed as horrible but then chinks in the armor of the hero appear and without the hero going full-tilt into "Oh wow he was really the evil one all along"" trop - nevertheless, the villain loses his flat identity entirely and becomes entirely likeable, while still remaining just as wicked and might even warrant destruction... yet with a slight bit of sadness at the end. [the hero turns out evil and evil turns out good trope, I think is the stage one gets just after the campbell style and before the nuances] All that being said, as a lover of but merely a taster-of Star Wars in movie form (never delving into the books, or the games) - I still see all that follows the 1st movie as variations on a theme.* 2nd triology is the flip of the 1st trilogy and I expect 7 8 9 to incorporate elements of both to provide a more balanced perspective of Good and Evil, now that we have seen both sides, as it were... where Evil isn't entirely Evil yet Good isn't entirely Good. I'm not knocking it at all; the 4 year old in me still loves the Kernel story best, even knowing that is the most fable-like of the bunch.* It doesn't take away from my appreciation of the complexities that follow; the kid, teen and adult in my appreciate all of those things for what they are as well. And part of me will always envy those who dive completely in, for that is something I never do.* I also count on you and friends who swim deeply within the nuances and subcultures of various genres to educate people like me who are standing on the surface... I suspect I act as a "Hey what's down there?" guy; vastly simplifying complicated things, perhaps to the point of foolishness.* Wow, maybe I am a politician at heart.* Shoot me please if that's the case! [wait don't; make it one of those painless deaths that takes a whole bunch of decades]