Watch the Star Wars Holiday Special!

Why not celebrate Christmas by watching the Star Wars Holiday Special? I guess one good reason is that it’s genuinely awful, but it is something you should experience just once. So, why not do it when you are full of cold meat and half-cut on Xmas booze?

I first saw Star Wars when it came out in the cinema when I was around 5 years old. It blew me away. Now, nearly 45 years later, I write a science fiction website. Obviously, other bits of science fiction have influenced me but Star Wars was pretty much the first. Back then, if my parents put the Star Wars soundtrack on the record player, I would get so excited I would almost hyperventilate. So, when the Star Wars Holiday Special came out you can imagine my anticipation levels.

Unfortunately, the Star Wars Holiday Special is dreadful

I watched the Star Wars Holiday Special with the same breathless air of excitement I felt when listening to the soundtrack or reading the original comic by Marvel (which almost counts as real-life foreshadowing). I tried so hard to like it but… it was bad. I got bored while watching it.

Years later I felt a similar disappointment when watching the Phantom Menace, but it was nothing compared to how I felt after watching the Star Wars Holiday Special. The Phantom Menace had some incredible moments, it just wasn’t quite as good as I hoped. The Holiday Special made me feel almost depressed, and I was one of the happiest kids around.

Years later, I had managed to suppress the memory of the whole thing, when out of nowhere, someone mentioned it. Then it was put on YouTube and the memories returned. I think I am ok now but it was harrowing.

One reviewer at the time wrote: “I’m not convinced the special wasn’t ultimately written and directed by a sentient bag of cocaine.”

George Lucas said: “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would find and destroy every copy of that movie”

So, that we have fully established how bad it is, why not watch it? It’s my gift to you. It is a bit like the gift of an awful Christmas jumper, but weirder and more boring. If you can’t bring yourself to watch it, there is also a Pitch Meeting for it below, which is funny, entertaining and short. Enjoy and happy holidays!

In case you couldn’t manage it, or want something better. Here’s the Star Wars Holiday Special pitch meeting: