Star Wars: The Force Awakens features some of the most dazzling setting in the saga’s film history.

Let’s take a look.

This article contains SPOILERS forStar Wars: The Force Awakens, specifically the different locations in the film.

These stories feature adventurers on strange worlds, which have their own unique species and cultures.

And the stories are always driven as much by the characters as their tweaks.

All of these tweaks work to induce an emotional response from the characters and the audience.

And they all tell their own stories, too.

For a desert planet, Jakku doesnt quite feel as barren as its Original Trilogy counterpart.

Because we see the implications of all of it.

Its mythical, like Egyptian ruins.

But expertly, Abrams shows us that the majesty (and the treasures) have been stripped away.

Rey rips mere trinkets from the guts of these dead titans.

Perhaps the planets only fault is that its population isnt as interesting as the one on Tatooine.

No Sand People ready to pick the characters off in a cavernous valley.

But Jakku more than makes up for that in its surroundings.

InStar Wars: Aftermathby Chuck Wendig, Jakku is described as a dead place in a brief interlude.

Pirates run rampant in the books and comics, of course, stalking the Kessel Run for spice freighters.

But for all its overt seediness, the castle is also a place of secrets.

Were shown an archive full of old chests, forgotten loot from another time hidden within them.

Maz points out that the lightsaber is calling to her and that she must now take the weapon.

Its at the point of finding that lightsaber that Rey becomes the most important character in the film.

The design is a bit more intricate than what you see on the outside.

I have no idea.

Because science isnt all that important toStar Wars.

This development also shows just how dangerous the science of this universe has become.

That means that the First Order is practicing the double-tap inThe Force Awakens.

But thats probably too subtle forStar Wars, which loves its lasers.

All that said, Starkiller Base still manages to maintain an atmosphere and ecosystem for the planet-weapons occupants.

The planets atmosphere should be going batshit crazy every time the First Order turns a star on and off.

Perhaps its some kind of massive force field or artificial atmosphere that keeps the planet in line.

But perhaps thats by design.

So the existence of the Resistance could be even more secretive than we think.

You really have to go looking to find this place.

Its always the oppressors versus the little people, and it works.

It was always the same basic principle of freedom fighting that carried the epic battles of the Original Trilogy.

But behind the make-up, lavishness, and corruption is the same story of the disenfranchised fighting the powerful.

I like the overt allegory of Coruscant, for example.

The humble Resistance Base shows us thatStar Warsis back to its old ways.

People fighting the only battle there ever was, as Maz Kanata eloquently puts it in the movie.

The light versus the dark.

Rey, Chewie, and Artoo might in fact be joining Luke at the epicenter of the Force.

Hes always been curious about the Jedi and the way the Force works.

But Rey seems more bound by adventure and duty than curiosity.

She knows that destiny has led her to Luke, but has not yet considered whats beyond the veil.

Who knows what hes discovered about the nature of the Force on these islands.

It happens to Arthur and Beowulf in their legends.

Yoda falls and chooses exile as his penance.

Yet this nameless planet looks so renewed and lively.

Lonely, sure, but also full of green.

In the end, Rey climbed to the top of the island to join her Force-sensitive predecessor.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek US.

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