I watched episodes 1 and 2 and don't really care if any of the characters went out in a big fireball.
Couldn't Lucas hire any real writers?
Episode III does a lot to redeem 1 and 2.
Later...
The characters in I and II were almost just cartoon characters - and one-dimensional, irritating cartoon characters at that.
They did a much better job at character development in the old ones. It was PAINFUL when Han got frozen.
I'd have gladly frozen any of the new folks.