When you’re making a puzzle, getting to the end and finding out that there is one piece missing can be extremely aggravating, but finding it is a huge relief. Rogue One is that missing puzzle piece to the “Star Wars” series, filling in a gap between the two trilogies and earning itself a 4.5/5.

For those that know the series, it is common knowledge that the trilogy made in the 70’s is the four, five and six, and the second released trilogy is one, two and three. Rogue One takes place right smack dab in the middle, providing information on how the Rebels got the plans for the Death Star, how they knew the steps to destroy it and how the Death Star had such an intense flaw in it that could make the entire thing explode.

The movie was fantastic. It paid it’s respects to the original trilogy with some amazing guest appearances that will definitely bring joy to fans. Similarly to The Force Awakens, it gave fans an entire new group of characters to fall in love with and make connections to, even if it is only for a short time. It contained all of the elements that it’s predecessors had to make it a great film.

The biggest flaw I noticed was not necessarily in the movie, but in the planning of the release. The Force Awakens started an entire new trilogy, and then to follow it up with a movie that just provides information seemed out of order. Fans were left with a major cliffhanger in The Force Awakens, and now they were left out to dry. It would have been much better to have released Rogue One first, to get everyone pumped up for the new trilogy.

I would not recommend this movie for someone who has not seen any of the previous movies. It would still be possible to make connections to the characters and get excited over the main elements of the movie, but it would not have the exploding effect that it would for fans who have seen the full series.