I’m curious, can anyone report any viewing experiences they have had with Star Wars newbies, specifically on the question of Padme and Leia living on Alderaan.
I think what’s in LOE gives the viewer enough information to infer what’s taken place when they get to the OT. (However, even if this isn’t the case, I would argue that the PT rarely considers the saga from a first-time chronological viewer anyway.) It’s not made explicit in dialogue that Padme and Leia are going to Bail’s planet to live, though the design is different from Naboo and his ship takes them there, with Leia being aboard ‘her’ very similar ship at the start of ANH.
The ending has less exposition than ROTS does, but given how the PT assumes familiarity with what came before, I feel it does enough of what is needed. However, I’m just wondering if anyone has any data about first-time viewers. I’m glad I did the alternate ending version while I had all the footage laid out so that it’ll always be there as an option.