future instalments go on to overcorrect on both counts

you're really having fun with this star wars discourse aren't you

Does this count?

Light sabers though!

New Hope was good but the Star Wars franchise didn't really peak until the Christmas Special.

The Phantom Menace had politics, they just weren't intriguing.

Yeah about it not having sandworms

George Lucas circa 1974:

But Dune has 0 jokes

It also bravely told us that sand is boring as shit and should be escaped from as soon as possible.

The sandworm comes in episode 6

Star Wars A New Hope has political intrigue. It's star WARS. Politics is in the title. It's a rebellion against an evil empire with tyrannical rule

I mean I kind of read it as a Vietnam War allegory wherein the audience is supposed to be rooting against America so it's like very blunt and ham-fisted political intrigue but it's there

Transversely, Dune bravely asks the question: what if Star Wars was emo? 🤭

that's right samuel, so bold of mr lucas, god i love that crazy old man

You take that back!

There’s spice! But it doesn’t really do anything and is only mentioned offhand a few times

Star Wars (1977) may be the only good Star Wars film... possibly because of a lack of political intrigue and/or sandworms. I mean, sandworms could have been cool. 😜 Jabba, in the Lucas revisionism version, does not count.

And didn’t suck it’s own dick to the exclusion of all other activities

Or ladies

sarlacc?