Step 1: Rejoice! Star Wars: The Force Awakens is just what the fans have been hoping and dreaming about for a long, long time. It honestly feels like the last 32 years has just been a blink of an eye, as you immediately ease back into that familiar galaxy far, far away and hang with our beloved favorites – and some kickass new faces, too.

Step 2: Keep it a secret. Now having seen the movie, I can truly appreciate the secrecy surrounding The Force Awakens and its plot because you really don’t want too much given away. This wonderful film needs to be experienced as fresh and exciting as it can be in this age of “let’s tell the whole thing online right away!” So, in that vein, the story will be kept brief:

It’s been several years since Return of the Jedi and the defeat of the Empire by the valiant Rebels, but in those ashes has grown a new threat to peace in the galaxy, the First Order. Yep, same deal, just as evil yada, yada. The villains now have names like General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), Captain Phasma (Gwedoline Christie) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a First Order baddie who has an obsession with the late Darth Vader (you remember him, right?) The only person who could disturb their Force is the infamous Jedi, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), so the First Order wants him destroyed. Problem is, he’s gone AWOL, and they can’t find him. No one can, not even the good guys, the Republic; Luke is off the grid. Thus begins The Force Awakens‘ real journey, which introduces our heroes, Finn (John Boyega), a First Order Stormtrooper who decides to defect, and a feisty desert scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley). These two inadvertently get caught up in the race to find Luke and end up teaming up with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), ace Rebel pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and of course, the Resistance fearless leader, General Leia (Carrie Fisher).

Step 3: Have faith. Yeah, pretty much what’s been seen in the trailers but know that the script from Star Wars veteran Lawrence Kasdan and director/co-writer J.J. Abrams is filled with the same kind of Empire Strikes Back humor and charm and plenty of jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching plot twists that will leave you clamoring for more Episodes. All the special effects are spot on, with just the right amount of action sequences. When that Millennium Falcon takes off, cheers will ring round the theater, and the dog fights between the X-Wings and Tye fighters are just as seat clenching.

Step 4: Praise J.J. Abrams. The director is also painstakingly on point with this sequel, the look and feel, how he frames each moment, and how he packs the film with so many glorious Star Wars throwbacks. The film might be criticized for being almost too nostalgic (and honestly, that’s a bad thing?), but Abrams seems to be cleansing the palette with Episode VII. He’s allowing fans to return to a world they’ve missed so very much, while getting rid of the bad taste those prequels left. J.J. succeeds – I, II and III are now a faint memory. And make no mistake, Force Awakens also propels the story forward. Those who’ve never seen a Star Wars movie before should be immediately hooked, especially the young Padwans being introduced to this world. The next two films will most likely be a whole new experience.

Step 5: Remember the vets. The other aspect that sells Force Awakens is the amazing cast. I don’t think I can remember a big ensemble film of this nature hitting all the right notes in its casting choices. Veterans Ford and Fisher are a given. It’s sort of unbelievable how easy it is to see Ford play Han Solo again. Sure, he’s older but it’s like the actor never stopped playing him. Of course, through the years, Ford has stated again and again he’d be just fine never flying the Millennium Falcon again, but something in Abrams and Kasdan’s script spoke to him – and now we can see why.

Fisher, too, brings an incredible gravitas to Leia. She’s calmer but still has that fierce determination. And seeing Han and Leia together again will melt you. They’ve always been the heart and soul of this franchise, and a return to this galaxy would not be complete if there was no reunion between our favorite nerf herder and his princess. What about Mark Hamill as Luke since he’s not featured on the poster and Hamill didn’t do any of the press? Again, this review won’t spoil anything, but Luke is still integral to the story. Period. Oh, and of course, Chewie is just as furry and wonderful as ever, while C-3PO and R2-D2 make the appropriate cameos. The droid to love, love, however, is BB-8. Those toys are gonna fly off the shelves.

Step 6: Be impressed with the new faces. As for the newbies, they simply all excel. Ridley inspires as the young heroine Rey, full of curiosity and spunk, but with an underlying sadness stemming from being alone. And she also very convincingly kicks ass. Boyega, too, nails his conflicted character and his want to escape the madness he’s been born and raised in, and when these two meet and are forced to go on an adventure, it’s immediate chemistry. The real standout is Driver as Kylo Ren. He’s always been the best part of the HBO show Girls, so it made sense to cast him as a villain conflicted by the light and the dark. Those are the best kind of bad guys because at points, they elicit empathy ala Darth Vader himself. Driver handles those chores with aplomb. Kylo has issues and it’ll be fascinating to see how this character may progress in the coming sequels.

Step 7: Look forward to more. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the Star Wars sequel experience we all needed, and now that we have it, we can move on to bigger and better Episodes.