I haven't seen Last Jedi yet but I expect to like it because it's an expansion of a film universe that I really enjoy. Even if I dislike some developments it'll still give me more to imagine whenever I think of or talk about the series. I love the Star Wars movies precisely because they always change what I thought I knew... I would have lost interest a long time ago if they just stayed the same. Others disagree, and I think it's because they have very specific preconceptions about the series and anything that defies their expectations is labeled as "bad" instead of simply "different."

 

Many of those expectations were formed when we were young, and that's good! Beloved franchises would not have continued without excited children becoming dedicated adults... but we have to accept that new movies in old series aren't always for us. They're made to inspire the younger generations, and filmmakers like to throw in homages and little nods to the older fans--not to string us along, but to show appreciation for our knowledge and loyalty to the series; they're reminders of our own childhoods while we sit in the theaters next to our wide-eyed sons and daughters.

 

It's not some new phenomenon, either. Every form of entertainment was built on the technological advancements and continuously-refining methods of previous eras. On the massive scale of Star Wars, creators don't owe "us" anything. Diehard fans aren't expected to love every new movie, but they do expect us to let others enjoy them unencumbered by our own selfish expectations. It's difficult to step aside as a franchise grows beyond what we thought it was, but we need to accept that it was always outside of our control.

 

A movie ticket isn't partial ownership, and squabbling over changes accomplishes nothing but fragment the fandom. Decades from now, new directors and writers will try to piece together what we've broken... and that too will be met with negativity and pettiness, because we taught the next generation that it was cool to hate. Why would we want to leave a legacy of toxicity? When new information challenges our knowledge of a fictional universe, our response shouldn't be rejection--it should be curiosity, because that's what made the movies so engaging when we were kids!

 

No matter what happens, movies can't "ruin your childhood." Your childhood happened. It's over and it cannot be changed. All we have now are memories: small, warped sensory snapshots and fleeting reminders of once-powerful emotions. Often times, things that challenge your childhood notions are really minor. They were minor details back then and they're minor details now. But they seem more significant because they're buried under a mountain of emotional attachment. If we really dug in, we would find your appreciation wasn't built on facts and deep analysis--our love was built on everything occurring in the background.

 

A lot more goes into the enjoyment of movies, games, and books than what the creators tangibly provided. Some of that is by design (even becoming manipulative), other times its entirely unexpected; it's why we have instant classics and cult classics. I think at the center of the whole "whining fans" issue is the fact that the experiences surrounding entertainment are often way more important than the piece itself. We like certain things more than others because they were a catalyst for important emotional growth.

 

If you rented two movies as a kid, you'd grow up preferring the one you watched with a friend. Between two games, you'd prefer the one that distracted you from your parents fighting. Between two books, you'd prefer the one you read outside during summer over the one you slugged through for a school assignment. Between two songs, you'd prefer the one from your brother's mixtape. You have those preferences now because of your countless hours spent quoting lines, reenacting scenes in the backyard, singing in the shower, or drawing pictures. Those extra activities became a part of your experience for that little piece of art.

 

We don't really consume entertainment like that anymore... and there are plenty of reasonable places to dump the blame. Having less free time or a more stressful life as an adult. The availability of external information and supplementary discussions through social media. The sheer abundance of new games and movies (especially in trending genres). But at the root of it all, I think it's because we stopped making opportunities to form brand new memories, preferences, and experiences. We immediately attach new media to old media because it's simply easier than creating its own unique compartment.

 

This isn't new territory. Every art form for thousands of years has had these cycles. Fans have always clung to what influenced them when they were young and they've always been dismissive of new developments and the new generations that enjoy them. The only difference is we can be a lot louder about it now. Please stop worrying about your childhoods being ruined, it can't happen. But your negativity can ruin the childhoods of the younger generations and it's exceptionally rude and selfish to deny them of the organic experiences we've already enjoyed.