The newest Star Wars movie has the good sense to know that a mediocre plot can be saved by a fantastic cast of characters and actors.

The Force Awakens glides through a lot of its missteps on the charm of its new protagonists, especially the star-making turns of Rey and Finn played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega respectively. Even though I have trouble believing that the most emotional and animated character in this movie is a Stormtrooper who has been trained since birth to follow the First Order, both Finn and Boyega are likable enough for me to forget my concerns while I’m in the theater.

Oscar Isaac is not in this movie as nearly one would want, especially since the bromance that should’ve belonged to Obi-Wan and Anakin in the prequels belongs to Poe Dameron and Finn. Their friendship is quickly established and, like both of the characters, is incredibly sweet, earnest and believable. Unfortunately, it’s ignored for most of the movie.

Rey is the franchise’s biggest apology for the astounding lack of female characters in the original trilogy, along with all of the other background female characters that are doing everything from piloting X-wings to chilling out in Maz Kanata’s cantina. (I noticed Mr. Abrams, thanks for acknowledging that the female race does exist in that galaxy.) Rey is competent but never “badass” in that stereotypically stoic and dry way we require so many of our action stars to be. She’s smart, optimistic, sensible and brave and Daisy Ridley has the good sense to play her with an even wider range of expression. I know that seems like an obvious instinct but female heroes are usually portrayed as everything but human. Meanwhile, her past is left a mystery. It’s surely one to be revealed in the later episodes but already the speculation has landed on Luke one day telling her, “I am your father”. (I have my own theory but I’ll share that later.)

The one character who gets an adequate amount of screen time and enough revelations about their past and psyche so that we believe this is the writers setting us up to learn more in the next installments as opposed to plot holes or possibly mediocre writing, is Kylo Ren. When you discover that he is actually the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, you immediately understand that he is the eye of this storm, he is the one that is spinning this newest trilogy. Many Star Wars fans have criticized him, especially since he seems to be a bit over his head trying to follow in the steps of his grandfather, completely unaware that Grandpa Anakin actually betrayed the Dark Side in order to save Uncle Luke.

In hindsight, it makes sense that the Empire/First Order/Kylo Ren would regard Darth Vader as a martyr since no one else was there to witness Vader toss the Emperor off a platform like he was in a WWE cage match. After all, I guess it would be the First Order’s word against Luke’s. I hope they give Kylo more motivation than just trying to live up to the family legacy in Episodes 8 and 9 since we as the audience do know the truth.

Kylo Ren’s criticisms don’t stop there, especially since he is now the man who has killed one of the most beloved characters in movie history. Yes, Han Solo is dead and he was stabbed through the heart by his own son. I, on the other hand, am thrilled about it.

Don’t get me wrong, if it were up to me then Han Solo would be an immortal flying around galaxies until the end of time. Since it’s not, the best I could hope for is that his death would mean something and not just used for spectacle or a shallow attempt of “raising the stakes”. The death of Han Solo means that Star Wars is actually going to give us something that so few movies are able to: a proper villain. Kylo Ren is without a doubt in service to the Dark Side. This does not mean that he is without any ounce of humanity but impressively, he is willing to sacrifice, ignore and/or purge all goodness standing in the way of his goals. That’s terrifying; that not even a person’s “pull to the Light” would be enough to stop them from doing terrible things. Well done Episode 7.

I think the other thing we need to address is this film’s marketing. It has been a beautiful example of how to get people excited for a movie without giving away the entire plot. When Rey is revealed to be the newest Jedi, I realized that it took me by such surprise because John Boyega was the one pictured exclusively with a light saber on every single poster, trailer and Burger King cup. Make no mistake, he does get to swing that light saber around but the Force has awakened most strongly in Rey.

The movie is not in any way perfect. My biggest complaints are a competent score (I expect more than just competence from my Star Wars soundtracks) and the Death Star 3.0. However, even my complaints are outweighed by the fun I had in this movie and the geek fun I intend to have wildly speculating on what’s going to happen in Episodes 8 and 9 until they get here. Star Wars has made me happy, once again. Crazy.

Take a look at the video below in order to see me discuss this movie a bit more. Thanks!