Firstly, I really, really like the new characters: Rey (Daisy Ridley), a no nonsense, somewhat lonely but hardened figure on the planet Jakku, who seemed to have been deposited there by unknown people and abandoned. I'm glad J. J. Abrams chose to have a female lead. She embodies much of the 1977 film's Luke Skywalker and I'm sure she will continue to grow as a character despite an already excellent performance by Ridley.
The second lead, Finn (John Boyega) was also a joy to watch. Bred for the First Order's Stormtrooper Corps as FN2127 (or something like that), he becomes horrified after his comrades are ordered to slaughter and burn an entire village on Jakku. He eventually escapes and attempts and hopes to get away from the First Order whilst masquerading as a Resistance fighter. He embodies a reluctant, sometimes cowardly spirit but grows through the film to become brave and courageous and a character we come to care about.
The third new major character is Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) who is a cocky, heroic and daring X-Wing pilot. He had been despatched personally by General Organa to retrieve a special map piece which hoped to reveal the location of the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker.
The other new characters, Kylo Ren, General Hux, Captain Phasma, BB-8 and Maz Kanata were all fine additions to the Star Wars universe. I enjoyed the character of Maz, a small, wise, orange, publican who harboured a strange underground hallucinatory chamber where Luke Skywalker's and subsequently the lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker was residing.
A small note on the lightsaber. Star Wars fans and viewers first saw this item in 1977 and was used by Anakin throughout the prequel trilogy. It was handed to Luke by Alec Guinness's Obi-Wan Kenobi and when Luke lost his hand to Darth Vader on Cloud City, the lightsaber went with it. How Kanata in Episode VII came to be in possession of this is something I hope is covered in the next film!
BB-8 was also a fun and instantly loveable character whilst I felt the character of Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) was majorly underplayed and hugely over marketed which I think was a missed opportunity as she could have been a good female villain possibly as a Boba Fett-esque character, although Christie has confirmed Phasma will play a bigger part in VIII.
Kylo Ren, son of Leia and Han, was a careful mix of butchery, conflict, sorrow and naivety. His character is on some course to become the redeemable villain whilst Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke replaces the founder of the Galactic Empire, Palpatine.
Another thing to mention is the political situation. Not much has been explained in the film after the events of Return of the Jedi but after the destruction of the Second Death Star, the Rebellion (officially known as the Alliance to Restore the Republic) carried on fighting until there was a massive standoff on Jakku whereafter what was now the New Republic, formed from the Rebels and the Empire, signed a truce. This truce was distrusted by some on both sides which led to the creation of the Resistance who opposed a now regrouping force of Imperial sympathisers, officers and ideologues which had become the First Order. The restriction of galactic history in the film may have been down to the negative reception of political dialogue in the prequel trilogy but some explanation would have been helpful.
This brings me to the original cast. Seeing Han Solo and Chewbacca again was an almost magical moment and Han's death was both a shocking moment but also a symbol of the torch being handed over. Chewbacca's breakdown really got me though! Leia, no longer referred to as a 'princess' looks slightly worn down as a character who has devoted herself to the cause of galactic freedom and briefly led the New Republic. Her ability to sense Han's death was a clear nod to Obi-Wan sensing the destruction of Alderaan- both tragic moments in galactic history. C-3PO and R2-D2 were less present but Threepio provided for some awkward comic relief.
Interestingly, a question I have was when the Starkiller Base, the Death Star influenced star system annihilator commanded by Hux destroyed the several planets, one of the planets looked extremely similar to Coruscant (an important planet in the prequels and often the galactic capital). Was this a euphemism for the destruction of the prequels, a trilogy shunned and even hated by some fans? Even if Coruscant wasn't destroyed, I think the look-a-like planet is symbolic enough of the demise of the prequels.
The film was of course an epic win for Star Wars and its appeal to a broad range of future generations. Abrams is a truly excellent sci-fi director. I'm not sure if I need to say this but may the force be with us all.
