It was a brutally emotional development, especially for Dana’s best friend and (sometimes) girlfriend Alice. And then she dies." And I’m like, “What?!” JENNIFER BEALS:We were all devastated. KATHERINE MOENNIG:That was dreadful. LEISHA HAILEY:It was horrible. We cried a lot. Just knowing that day was coming was horrible. ILENE CHAIKEN:I’ve often said in retrospect that it’s the one thing that I regret. I mean, it was a good story. I believe in the story....

I just had this urge to write my story, to tell the gay story. It just hadnt really been done, explains Chaiken. Recalls Chaiken, I said, Well, what about now? Peggy Sirota for EW The L Wordquickly established itself with bold story lines, including televisions first regular transgender character, Max. It meant a lot to a lot of people, not just gay women, says Chaiken. I meet people still who say, The L Wordhelped me to come out....

The L Wordnever shied away from nudity or sex. As it turns out, the cast and crew took these very seriously. When EW reunited the cast, they talked love scenes with other women and doing sex scene research. Mia Kirshner:These girls said that my breasts were the ninth character. Jennifer Beals:Well, the ninth and the 10th. Kirshner:Of lesbians having sex. Beals:We had to watch a sex video because we had to do all these sex scenes....

Heres the full rundown of our eight-part series previewingThe Last Jedi. Part I: Can Rey save Luke Skywalker from his own darkness? This isnt the Luke shes heard about. Credit: Jonathan Olley/ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd.; ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. Its not the one we know either. This is a broken man one who would have preferred to stay lost. And he feels the same way about this strange young woman and that familiar lightsaber....

You expect one thing, but get another. And in a way, so has Luke. You’ve got to learn how to fall, before you learn to fly. Lucasfilm Or, in this case, float. This looks like it’s the same flat, cracked surface where Rey had her hard landing. She stands facing the ocean, a calm figure facing a raging sea. Lucasfilm Rey now looks out and sees turmoil and danger. But inThe Last Jedi, we see Ren’s own shattered helmet....

If Luke Skywalker has his way, at least. After debuting a teaser poster for the film, Johnson joked with the crowd of excited fans. Is there a trailer? Credit: Lucasfilm OF THERES A TRAILER! What are you talking about? Its time for the Jedi to end, intones a somber Luke Skywalker at the trailers conclusion. Gerardo Mora/Getty Images Below, a rundown of the panel as it happened live. Josh Gad is hosting the panel....

Live fearlessly, live boldly, and even after youre gone that strength and inspiration burn on. She remains a light that will never go out in the galaxy. Anyone who expected the Resistance to fill that void and maintain order would be mistaken. Lucasfilm No, no, no. Not at all, Johnson says. When the First Order did that hit, the Resistance is isolated, and theyre very, very vulnerable. Lucasfilm Thats where we pick them up....

But there was no victory for Kylo Ren as he sank into the abyss. Instead, he was humiliated. By a scavenger girl, of all things. Credit: ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd.; David James/© Lucasfilm 2015; Lucasfilm (2) Hes definitely been knocked off base, saysThe Last Jediwriter-director Rian Johnson says. How has he dealt with that in his head? Where is he at in terms of that act and what does that mean for him?...

Part 7 of EW’s ‘Star Wars’ cover story. Reys family has become the Rosebud ofStar Wars: Who are they? How will that revelation shape her destiny? ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. Now,The Last Jediwill finally address the question that fans have been debating for two years. This article, obviously, wont spoil anything. The theory Im holding onto isstill this one. ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. To me, its important insofar as its important to her, Johnson says....

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation. Here’s a selection of candid moments captured along the way. Peters guidance and kindness have been invaluable gifts which warmed my spirit and prepared me for this journey. David James/Lucasfilm Johnson says the loss of his longtime smuggler pal has been tough for the Wookiee. Hes resilient, Johnson says. Hes got broad Wookiee shoulders, and he also has a new mission....

Weve already seen John Boyegas conscience-stricken Stormtrooper take a stab at escape from a life of wrongdoing. InThe Last Jedi, Finn finds himself ready to abandon the good guys, too. You cant blame him. David James/ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. He has been critically wounded by a lightsaber attack that still burns and has never quite healed. He watched Han Solo, another reluctant hero, die horribly at the hands of his own son....

Perhaps the only thing more unsettling than meeting your enemy is coming face-to-face with your hero. This isnt the Luke shes heard about. Its not the one we know either. Jonathan Olley/ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. This is a broken man. One who would have preferred to stay lost. And he feels the same way about that lightsaber. Ed Miller/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. The fact that Luke says, I only know one truth....

Part 6 of EW’s ‘Star Wars’ cover story. Its hard to know where Benicio Del Toros new character stands inThe Last Jedi even when he tells us. People are saying that, but its like they read a different script than I read. ILM/© 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. Seems like the Oscar-winner is an unreliable narrator here, but maybe hes just staying true to his character. All we know for sure is that Del Toro plays a man who goes by the name DJ....