So hopefully TFA has set the ground-work for a good series of films to build upon and let us learn who Snoke is (Plagueis?), where Rey comes from, what the First Order actually is (because they haven't really told us much about it), how Ren develops further into a Sith-wannabe...
Star Wars has a history of not going all Basil Exposition on things, the Clone Wars was mentioned in IV but not explained any further, likewise the Senate. I kinda like it that way, keeps people's interactions a little more believable, not like in real life folk behave like "Oh yes, I've heard of WW2, remind me what happened again?"
Bloody loved VII for what it's worth, the lass who plays Rey was a little wooden at first but seemed to settle into a bit more. Laughed way more than I have at several big 'comedies' of recent years, a genuine 'oh!' moment when
Kylo Ren's parentage was revealed and as said above, as soon as Han walked out onto that bridge I knew he was a gonner, but really had hoped I was wrong.
The Star Killer planet's end was a little too much Deathstar 3.0, but I think Abhrams and co can be forgiven a little bit for the way they're reinvigorated the series...
Oh, and Simon Pegg was the scrap dealer alien fella who tried to buy BB-8, and Daniel Craig was the Trooper that Rey mind-controlled.