Back in March, which feels like a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away, as the world started to collapse, I, like almost everyone else, decided that it was time for a distraction. Instead of learning how to bake bread, speak a foreign language, or anything else useful, I decided to fall back on one of my favorite franchises of all-time, Star Wars. I started giving myself a little dose of George Lucas’s universe every single day. Just enough to keep my head up high. I made my way through all twelve movies (for probably about the millionth time) and then fell back into the tv shows (some for the first time). Then, with the announcement of The Mandalorian Season 2, I rushed through the final chunk I had left. And, I do mean rushed. I choked down Resistance in about a week, which I do not recommend for a couple different reasons, and The Mandalorian Season 1 in about two days, which was a glorious experience. Overall, it was a fantastic distraction, as I’m someone that at least likes 85% of what Lucasfilm’s Star Wars branch has presented us. I’ve still got A LOT of Star Wars books, comics, and video games to get through. But, at the same time, this seems like a perfect spot to take a break and reflect on some of my favorite characters. Plus, The Mandalorian Season 2 comes out today! So, in honor of that and the seven month journey I just took through the timeline, here’s my list of favorite characters from the Star Wars galaxy.
But, first, as always, a couple of notes. These are my personal favorite characters. They aren’t necessarily the most badass or even the best written. They’re just the characters I’ve had the most fun with in my Star Wars experiences thus far. Also, for the most part, this is going to be just based on the movies and tv shows, as my expertise in the other fields isn’t as high as I want it to be right now. Speaking of, I have not seen any of The Mandalorian Season 2 yet. So, if Ahsoka went on a killing rampage in the first episode slaughtering The Child and Mando and it’s not mentioned here, that’s why. And, lastly, this list is for fun. It’s not that serious. The Star Wars fandom is already split enough. I’m not looking for anyone to shit all over my opinions. If I wanted that, I’d log onto Reddit. Like I said, this is my fun, very biased list. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m looking to block all opinions either. If you want to talk Star Wars civilly, I’m always down. I just don’t want to talk to those Star Wars fans. We all know who they are.
Anyways, without further ado, here it is my favorite characters from a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away.
*Cue super powerful John Williams score*
25. Kanan Jarrus
I know this one isn’t going to be my most popular pick. Since it premiered on Disney XD in 2014, I know a lot of people in my age group or older straight up skipped Star Wars Rebels. It’s really a shame too because Rebels is one of my favorite pieces of Star Wars media. I think it perfectly balanced tying into the original trilogy and Clone Wars, while also existing as its own independent tv show. Plus, the members of the Ghost crew are all wonderful characters who need more love within the fandom. I almost expanded the list to include more of them on here. But, my favorite member has to be Kanan Jarrus. To me, he perfectly encapsulates the sacrifice most of our galactic heroes undertook. During the Clone Wars, his training was cut short after his master was killed during Order 66. Like many others, he went into hiding. No one knew that he had trained to be a Jedi knight and that’s the way he liked it. But, as they say, with great power comes great responsibility and he started to make things difficult for the Empire. It wasn’t long after that before he met Ezra Bridger, another Force sensitive kid looking for a mentor. Throwing his relative safety out the window, he, of course, started training Ezra. This led to many clashes with the Empire, up to and including Darth Vader himself. And, thus, the Ghost crew joined the rebellion. Kanan didn’t necessarily want to do it, but he was committed to his friends and it was the right thing to do. I’m not going to go into the rest, because I really don’t want to spoil this show for people. However, those that have seen it know that the amount he sacrifices for his friends and the galaxy doesn’t stop there. He really is the definition of putting aside your personal interests and beliefs for the greater good. He could’ve lived a nice, quiet life dodging the Empire but instead decided to put it all on the line for a spark of hope. And that’s just super cool. He’s definitely one of my favorites.
24. Darth Sidious (AKA Sheev Palpatine)
I swear I can feel you questioning my decision to rank Papa Palpatine this low. I really can. After all, he’s the ultimate villain, right? He’s the main boss. The guy that shows up at the end of all three trilogies to mess shit up. But, here’s the thing: I was never really excited to see him show up. I remember watching Return of the Jedi for the first time and being disappointed that THIS was the guy in charge of Vader. And his standing never really got much better for a long time. He was the guy who sparked something evil in Anakin. That’s the interesting thing he did. He creates exciting characters. He’s not one himself. Of course, all of that changed when I watched Clone Wars. That was the first time I really grew to appreciate Sheev Palpatine, not as a Sith Lord but as a politician. Holy crap is this guy terrifying. The degree to which he was playing both sides is brilliant. He really was going to come out on top either way. Every single droid, clone, Jedi, Sith. They were all pawns in his game of chess. It’s absolutely insane to think of how much pain and suffering one man inflicted on a galaxy of people. And that’s BEFORE he became its ultimate dictator. This guy is a genius in the worst possible way. So, by the time he showed back up in IX, I didn’t even question it. Of course he’s back. You can’t kill this asshole. He’s 12 steps ahead of everyone at all times. As I get older and more into politics, Palpatine just becomes scarier and scarier.
Also, you’ve got to appreciate the dude’s uncanny ability to become a meme.
23. Babu Frik
Listen, don’t judge me. I’ll admit it. I don’t really have a lot to say about Babu Frik. But, to be fair, Star Wars hasn’t had a lot to say on the topic yet either. All I know is that The Rise of Skywalker introduced me to an adorable 9 inch tall dude that spoke with a heavy accent and tons of attitude and I fell in love instantly. I mean… just look at him. There’s a minute long clip on YouTube that literally features all of his screen time and it’s glorious. Every time this dude goes “Hey Hey” I laugh. Lucasfilm, if you’re listening and I know you are, we need more Babu Frik in our lives. Like a whole Disney+ series. Please.
22. Thrawn
As I’ve said before, I have not read many of the Star Wars books, but I have checked out a couple of them. One in particular I really enjoyed was Heir to the Empire, the first book in Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn series. Thrawn instantly grabbed my attention as a badass, no nonsense Imperial commander. Of course, that story is no longer canon. However, the good news is that Disney isn’t completely just ignoring the Extended Universe. They are picking and choosing some of the best parts and bringing them over to a more streamlined (at least for now) timeline. So, Thrawn was brought back into canon in Rebels. And, damn, did he deliver. Instantly, he was again the calm, cool and collected badass villain who constantly outwits our heroes. But, he’s also a sadistic bastard who takes no shit from anyone. I love everything about him. His look. His voice. His demeanor. I’m always a fan of the overly suave villain and he definitely fits that mold. Luckily, I still have a lot of Thrawn to catch up on, so his story is far from over for me. Plus, his ending was pretty open-ended on Rebels, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him again. With Benedict Cumberbatch in live action maybe? Again, please, Lucasfilm.
21. Ahsoka Tano
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a character, in the history of pop culture, grow on me like Ahsoka Tano. Honestly, I hated her at first. She was so freaking annoying. I remember watching the Clone Wars movie for the first time and groaning almost every time she was on screen. There was almost nothing redeeming about her character to me. I hated that she called everyone by a lame nickname. I hated that she questioned every single decision her elders made. She was just the worst. But, as the show went on, she grew up. She became progressively less whiny (as people tend to do). And, she started becoming a real badass. By the end of the first run of Clone Wars, I was completely invested in her story. I couldn’t believe they left it on the cliffhanger they did. Luckily, she’s since made a comeback in several forms. And, she’s grown into what I would consider one of the best Jedi Knights we’ve seen on screen. I feel like we’ve been through a lot with Ahsoka. I love the journey Dave Filoni has taken us on with her. And, I absolutely can’t wait to see how her story progresses in The Mandalorian.
20. Din Djarin (AKA The Mandalorian)
First of all, Din Djarin is, hands down, the best father in the Star Wars universe. The care he shows The Child, who he was originally his bounty, is unparalleled. Not only does he sacrifice literally almost everything to keep the little dude alive, he’s also shown to have very soft, tender moments with him. Like, when he unscrewed the top of his gear to give The Child as a toy! So freaking cute. They’re the best. And, it’s not just the adorableness of “Baby Yoda” that won him over either. He’s a genuinely good guy, as we can see by him saving that village from the raiders. But, it’s not all lovey dovey with Mando either. He’s quite the badass. The way he fights instantly put Boba, Jango, and every other Mandalorian we’ve seen to shame. His combination of stealth, long distance, and close range combat might just make him one of the best warriors we’ve seen in Star Wars. And, it’s not like he just impresses for a moment at a time either. This dude brings it every. single. episode. An extreme badass with a heart of gold? Yeah. Din’s definitely making my list.
19. Lando Calrissian
Not gonna lie: I did not appreciate Lando Calrissian enough as a child. Who the heck was this guy? Coming into the trilogy halfway through. Flirting with the girl Han is clearly into. Then, turning our heroes over to the Empire? Are you kidding me? But, he’s since grown on me a lot as an adult. I understand that Lando was put in a really tough spot in Cloud City. He was tasked to protect these people and the Empire came in to threaten that peace. So, he made the difficult choice to turn in his friend. Unfortunately, the Empire did what they do and, well, the deal got worse all the time. Betrayed, Lando did everything he could to make up for that error. And, honestly, I think he more than repaid his debt. He became one of the greatest heroes of the rebellion and one of the more relatable Star Wars characters. And, that’s just in the original trilogy. We haven’t even talked about Donald Glover’s completely brilliant performance in Solo, which basically solidified Lando’s spot as the universe’s supreme sex god. Yeah. Lando’s definitely one of the coolest dude’s in the galaxy.
18. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hello there! It’s General Obi-Wan Kenobi coming in at #18. First of all, he’s got maybe the coolest vibe of all the prequel Jedi. Like, if I could only hangout with one, it’d probably be this guy. Second, he’s probably got the most consistent portrayal throughout his multiple series. From the original trilogy, the prequels, Clone Wars, and Rebels, he’s very much the same by-the-book, exhausted, yet still light hearted Brit. But, despite his continuing sense of humor, he’s got probably the most tragic story in the franchise. Of course, he lost his mentor at a young age. During the Clone Wars, he lost the love of his life, who he’s said he would’ve dropped out of the Jedi order for had she asked, to the same Sith Lord. Then, the ultimate betrayal, as his apprentice, a man he considered to be like a brother to him, turned to the dark side and helped wipe out the Jedi. The deeper you dive into Star Wars lore, the more that fight on Mustafar hurts. Obi-Wan had already lost so much and basically saw everything he had left disappear before his very eyes. Yet, he still didn’t give up, traveling to Tatooine to protect who he believed to be the fulfiller of the Chosen One prophecy. Obi-Wan’s is definitely one of my favorite stories to follow across the different movies and tv shows. I love learning more about his story. The Star Wars galaxy owes this dude so much and they probably don’t even realize it.
17. Chirrut Imwe
I know that it’s not an original thought, but I’ve always seen The Force as a religion. The Jedi are, after all, essentially badass monks. And, there’s something about The Force as a religion that actually works for me. I’m not a religious person, but the idea that there is an energy that binds the universe together and can be tapped into with enough training is a beautiful one. And, other than Master Yoda, I don’t think anyone has quite demonstrated that beauty quite like Chirrut Imwe. He is not a Jedi. He’s had no official training. Yet, his connection to The Force is very real. He uses it to kick all kinds of ass despite his blindness. And, his faith in it is strong enough that he knows it’ll protect him on even the most chaotic of battlefields. He’s the embodiment of what The Force stands for. Proof that you don’t need to be born a Skywalker or even a Force wielder to tap into it. It lives within all of us. I don’t know. There’s something about that message that always will stick with me. Plus, like I said, Chirrut is quite the asskicker.
16. Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn is truly one of the most underrated characters in the franchise. Like all Jedi, he’s a very zin, monk-like person. However, unlike the others, he has a bit of a rebellious streak hidden under the surface. He does what he considers to be the right thing, even if it means going against the Jedi way. For example, he believed that Anakin was the chosen one, set to bring balance to The Force. And, when he was denied, Qui-Gon set out to train him regardless. Better yet, as this is happening, Obi-Wan urges him not to disobey the council again. So, this has happened before. Probably quite a bit. I love that he was willing to do the right thing, even if it’d ultimately hurt his standing with his friends and colleagues. I think that’s the coolest, most heroic thing you can do. Also, Qui-Gon is the one who discovered how to become a Force ghost, which turned out to be maybe the most helpful thing in the series. So, yeah, Qui-Gon is very cool, very underutilized, and super underrated.
15. Jyn Erso
Jyn Erso is one of the more compelling single movie arcs I’ve seen in a movie, let alone the Star Wars franchise. She starts off Rogue One as such a biter character. One who doesn’t trust anyone and is only there to look out for themselves after being abandoned by both her father and the rebellion cell she joined after his disappearance. However, that all changes when she gets a heartfelt message from her father, along with details about the Death Star and the failsafe he’d installed. (Shoutout to Galen Erso btw. What an absolute beast.) She then commits herself to the rebellion. Even though she knows that stealing the Death Star plans would be a suicide mission, she goes through with it because it’s the only chance of survival the Rebels have. Honestly, if it wasn’t for her, there would be no rebellion. They probably would’ve been wiped out by the Death Star. Luke, Leia, Han: They all owe everything to Jyn. She may just be the most important figure of that era.
14. BB-8
As the rest of this list will attest, I am a massive fans of the Star Wars droids. I tend to fall in love with each and every one of them. BB-8 is definitely one of the best though. He just has so much personality without ever saying a word. There’s just something about the way he beeps and moves his head around that portrays every thought wonderfully. You can tell when he’s happy or sad . Heck, you can even tell when he’s accusing Finn of lying to Rey. It’s honestly amazing. Plus, he’s just a good friend. Whether it’s to Poe or Rey or even Kaz from Resistance, he’s always there to lend a hand. There’s a reason he’s become probably the most profitable character from the sequel trilogy. He’s just someone people would like to be around. Honestly, I know I can’t get enough of the little guy.
13. Rey Skywalker
Remember when I said that I wasn’t looking to argue about this list with THOSE Star Wars fans? Yeah. This is why. I freaking love Rey. I think she’s one of the most interesting characters in all of Star Wars. She’s someone that’s just looking for her place in the universe. Abandoned as a child but told someone would come and retrieve her, she never really had a grasp on her identity. But, she eventually finds one on her own. She joins the Resistance, works with the Skywalkers, and works to turn Kylo back to the light. And, she’s doing this, not because it’s prophecy. She’s not the Chosen One. She’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do. But, still, no matter how much good she does, she still has that doubt of not quite knowing about her past. Still not knowing what her purpose in all of this is. Then, when she finally learns the dark history of her past, she doesn’t embrace it. She doesn’t let it define her. Finally a complete character, she turns to her new adopted family. Not just in the Skywalkers but in the Resistance overall. It’s a beautiful arc. One showing that your past and your family lineage doesn’t define who you are. I really don’t understand the hate that’s thrown in her direction. I think she’s a wonderful character and I think Daisy Ridley does a terrific job of brining her to life.
12. K-2SO
For my money, K-2SO is the funniest character in Star Wars. As a reprogramed imperial droid, he no longer has a filter. He says whatever comes to his mind. That, of course, leads him to be incredibly rude and quite blunt. And it’s freaking hilarious. But, also, there’s some charm to K2. Occasionally, he does say something heartfelt and it’s all the more endearing because you know he doesn’t lie. Like all the droids, he’s a good friend and a worthy companion. I really hope he’s in the Cassian series because I’d love to see more of him.
11. Maul
Man, that God for the animated shows. If it weren’t for them, Darth Maul would be a completely wasted throw-away character. Instead, he grew to become one of the most compelling characters in the universe. After surviving his defeat in The Phantom Menace, Clone Wars brought back Maul as a broken figure. One who had spent years being driven mad by rage. All he wanted was revenge on the one who had taken everything from him, Kenobi. Or, at least, that was the case until he once again me up with Darth Sidious to find that he had been replaced and was now hated by his former master. Completely betrayed, he became a figure of rage against the Empire as well. In fact, that’s what came to define Maul. He’s just a very angry guy. He is hatred. He is vengeance. He’s pain. He’s suffering. He is the dark side. And, man, does he look cool pulling it all off.
10. Ben Solo (AKA Kylo Ren)
As I’m sure you’ve pieced together by this point, I’m actually quite the fan of the sequel trilogy. I don’t believe the movies were perfect but I do think they served their purpose pretty decently. And, I think a lot of that has to do with the character of Kylo Ren. His character just feels so relatable and real to me. Like, look the Skywalkers! See how messed up they are? Now, imagine what the third generation in that family would look like. I’m guessing it would be a very conflicted, very angry child who still has that goodness and light within him. Of course he’s messed up. And, then, right as he was starting to tiptoe towards the dark side (something his whole family has done), he witnessed his uncle trying to murder him! Of course, he never really was very good at being a villain either. Snoke, Palpatine, and Hux all mocked him for his obsession with his grandfather, while he also fought with the fact that deep down he was a good person. To cover up for this, I feel he often went overboard in the evil acts. He thought that if he played the ultimate villain for long enough he’d eventually just become that person. And, then, in The Rise of Skywalker, we see that his love for his family and the words of Rey eventually broke him. He helped defeat Palpatine, helping to fulfill the Skywalker prophecy and, seemingly, close out his family’s story forever. I personally think it’s a pretty awesome end to the saga. And it’s all brought to us by the wonderful Adam Driver, who is easily one of the most talented actors working today. So, yeah, Ben’s the best.
9. Luke Skywalker
Speaking of Ben’s crazy uncle and complicated feelings, let’s talk about Luke Skywalker. When we first meet him, he’s a bored teenage farmer who dreams of something better. He just wants adventure and to help bring down the evil Empire. When he meets Obi-Wan and learns that his father used to be a Jedi knight, he devotes his life to brining back the Jedi order. However, it’s not easy for him. In fact, Yoda initially wanted nothing to do with him, sensing the conflict within. He’s far too emotional. He cares too much about those around him. And that emotion is what would haunt him for the rest of his life, even if his heart was almost always in the right place. For example, when he learned that Darth Vader was actually his father, he vowed to turn him back over to the light. But, after Luke rejected his father’s offer to turn to the dark side and Vader brought up the potential of turning Leia over instead, Luke momentarily lost control and almost killed him in anger. But, he eventually relented. The light won out, which gave enough time for his father to also be redeemed by saving Luke’s life.
So, yes, Luke’s the ultimate hero of the rebellion. Thus, I kind of understand where people are coming from when they hate on how he’s portrayed in The Last Jedi. But, I would argue that Luke has struggled with his dark tendencies just as often as Anakin and Kylo have. The only difference is that his resolve has been stronger. He’s more focused on being a good person. He didn’t let Palpatine get into his head in the same way his father and nephew did. But, he did slip up. For a moment, he considered killing Ben when he saw the darkness rising within him. Once again, he saw all that he loved being threatened. Just like he did when Vader mentioned Leia. We, of course, know he wasn’t going to go through with murdering Ben. Unfortunately though, it was too late. Ben saw him, murdered the whole academy, and became one of the ultimate evils in the galaxy. I can’t fault Luke for then banishing himself to the outskirts of the galaxy. He was supposed to be the big hero. He’s the one who saved the galaxy from Sidious, but now he had just created a new monster. But, of course, because he’s the badass that he is, this slump didn’t last forever. He was eventually talked into fixing his mistake. He once again redeemed himself by helping to redeem his family. I don’t care what anyone says. I think that’s a beautiful story. I think it makes Luke so much more interesting. He’s not perfect. But, he’s a hero. He’s conflicted. But, he’s ultimately a good person. He loved his family and always wanted to do what was right by them, even if he may slip up sometimes. And, to me at least, that makes him a very compelling character.
8. Yoda
Yoda is one of the most popular Star Wars characters of all time. He’s also one that we don’t know a whole lot about. He’s just the wise, older leader that everyone looks up to. And, he fits that role perfectly. I absolutely love listening to him talk. Like I mentioned, I equate a lot of Star Wars to a religion. In that regard, Yoda is like the Pope. He’s got the deepest understanding of the The Force and has an absolutely gorgeous way of describing it. If he were to put on a weekly sermon, I would never miss it. Plus, when it comes down to it and he absolutely has to fight, he’s a certified badass. Can the Pope catch Force lightning? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
7. The Child
Come on, guys! You should’ve seen this coming back in the Babu Frik write up! I am an absolute sucker for things of the adorable nature. And, honestly, I don’t think there’s any cuter in all of pop culture history than The Child (or Baby Yoda if you want to go with what we all actually call him). The night Disney+ was released, I stayed up almost all night with anticipation. The first thing I streamed, of course, was The Mandalorian. And, holy crap, when he appears at the end of that first episode, I instantly fell in love. Just look at the guy! And I love Mando and friends’ absolute ability to kick ass, but I’m mostly tuning in every week to see what this guy is up to. Every time I see him it’s like I forget all of my worries. But, every time he’s in danger, it’s the most the most stressful experience of my week. Heck, he’s so adorable that he makes something as evil as Force choking look cute. The Child is simply the best thing to happen to Star Wars in decades. (Spoiler: he’s actually the highest ranked character on this list not to come from the original 1977 movie.)
6. Chewbacca
Chewbacca is the best friend we all wish we had. He’s the ultimate co-pilot for both flying and life. He’s got a rough exterior. Don’t piss him off. He might just tear your arms off. But, under that, he’s got a heart of gold. If you get on his good side, he’s your friend and protector for life. But, just because he’s tough, doesn’t mean he’s not sometimes afraid. He’s just as willing to let you know that what’s happening makes him uncomfortable. In fact, he shows a huge range of emotions. Sometimes he’s scared. Sometimes he’s cocky. He gets angry. He’s been sad. And, he definitely gets a bit sarcastic. All without ever speaking a word of English and having any actor under a thick, hard to emote in mask. It’s really a testament to Peter Mayhew how much we can relate to Chewy. Honestly, it’s not surprising that a lot of people name their dogs after him. Because, like those pups, Chewbacca really is man’s best friend.
5. C-3PO
I will never understand the hatred that is thrown C-3PO’s way. Yes, he’s a bit of a whiner, but I think, most of the time, he’s completely justified. The only time it ever really just on my nerves is when Han is frozen in carbonite. I feel like his constant yelling at Chewy takes a bit away from the emotional stakes of that scene. Other than though, I’ve always thought that Threepio was a fun and integral part of the Star Wars chemistry. I think his comments always break the tension in a very effective, funny way. He’s like a sassier, classier K-2SO. And you can not tell me that him being praised as a God by the Ewoks was not one of the funniest moments in Return of the Jedi. I don’t care what anyone says. C-3PO is an absolute delight. I can’t imagine what the original trilogy would be like without him. But, I guess someone has to be the butt of the joke and it’s a role Threepio fits quite well.
4. R2-D2
Like I’ve said time and time again. I am a big fan of the droids in Star Wars. Each and every one of them holds a special place in my heart. But, no one holds quite as big a spot as my boy, R2-D2. First off, he’s definitely the cutest one. His design is near perfect. He’s got quite the attitude. He’s basically the yin to C-3PO’s yang. While Threepio is prim and proper, always going by protocol, R2 is a bit rebellious. He’ll take a risk if it means saving his friends. Which, by the way, he’s saving everyone’s butts constantly. I bet you’d lose count if you went through the Skywalker saga and Clone Wars and tried to keep track of how many times this droid has been a massive help. He’s like a Swiss army knife of useful tricks and tools. In the Clone Wars, Anakin is criticized for not wiping the memory of his droid or using another. But, how could you when you’ve got a friend like Artoo. He’s super useful. He’s got a great personality. And he’s just so freaking cute. He’s simply the best. R2’s an absolute legend.
3. Leia Organa
Leia Organa is the first character I remember subverting my “damsel in distress” expectation. She didn’t just hang with the boys. She took charge of them. Captured by the Empire, she never showed them an ounce of fear, even as the held her planet hostage. She held her fierce and sarcastic attitude the whole time she was imprisoned. Then, when her rescuers seemed wildly inept, she wasn’t afraid to call them out and help lead the escape efforts. And, that’s all within her first few minutes of screen time in A New Hope. But, luckily, that intensity never really slows down, as she goes from Princess to General. She leads the rebellion, orchestrates the plan to save Han, kills Jabba, and, eventually, trains in The Force herself. Then, when all hope disappears, when even her brother gives up, she leads the Resistance. She continues to fight for what she believes is right. And, ultimately, she sacrifices every thing to bring her son back to the light. She is a true hero. I always say that the Skywalker family is full of whiny men and badass women and that all started with Leia. She really is one of the best characters in fiction and represents the idea that makes Star Wars, well, Star Wars.
2. Han Solo
I absolutely love the character growth we see Han Solo undergo throughout the Skywalker saga. He starts off as an egotistical smuggler who’s only ever really out for himself. He doesn’t think much. He just does whatever is best for him. But, eventually, he gets pulled deeper and deeper into the rebellion. What started as a simple, well-paying job ended up forever changing his life. After escaping the Death Star, he had no financial reason to stick around. But, he was inspired by Luke and Leia to do the right thing. Under all of that “shoot first” mentality, he was always a good person. Even when his life was literally on the line with Jabba, he could never commit the selfish act of pulling himself away from the rebellion. He was just too important to the cause. He’s a big part of why the Rebels were so successful. And then, after his son turned, he tried to retreat back into the smuggling world. He tried to leave the rebellion and the fighting behind. But, it was never meant to be that way now. He was a hero. He had to go back. It’s what he was destined to do. In many ways, Han is just like his son. He’s a good person who is trying to trick everyone, including himself, into thinking he’s not. But, just like Kylo, he’s failed every single time. Han’s a true hero and one of the best the galaxy has to offer.
- Darth Vader (AKA Anakin Skywalker)
Even after five movies and three tv shows in a row where he plays no more than bit parts, Darth Vader is still Star Wars to me. I honestly am not sure there will ever be a point where he’s not. It’s not my fault though. The whole Lucas era revolved around this dude. Episodes I-VI are his story. And in some ways VII-IX are too. But, more than that, his story represents the core values of Star Wars so well. First of all, he was one of the most powerful Jedi in the world. His exploits in Clone Wars are among some of the more entertaining Force wielding moments of the series. Then, of course, he struggled with being pulled into the dark. As you can tell from my entries on Luke and Kylo, this is a very common theme within the universe. Tying to find the balance between the light and the dark IS what Star Wars is about. But, unlike Luke, he fell into the traps of the dark side. He was a full on villain, one of the darkest and deadliest the galaxy had ever seen. Just watch his scene in Rogue One. It’s terrifying! That’s another thing that Star Wars is always super strong in: their villains. Then, he personified another them common in Star Wars: redemption. The light within Anakin won out. He saved the day, helping to crush the Empire. And, lastly, Kylo idolizing him shows the importance of legacy. What you pass down from generation to generation is just as important as the life you lead. So, yeah, to me Darth Vader is Star Wars. He represents everything that makes this series special to me. He’s both one of the best heroes and one of the best villains of the franchise. He personifies the tropes of balance, redemption, and legacy. And, his design is just the coolest, which is wildly important in the Star Wars galaxy. For all of this to be wrapped up into one character, there’s no way Darth Vader could ever be anything but #1.
And that’s it. There’s my 2 favorite Star Wars characters. As you can probably tell, I really love this franchise. It’s one of the ones I’ve spent the most time in. And, unlike a lot of the fandom, I genuinely enjoy most of what’s put out in this universe. I’m always down to learn something new about my favorite characters and/or discover a new favorite.
So, let me know what you think. Am I severely underrating someone? Did I overrate The Child? Who is your favorite? What’s your favorite movie? Show? Book? Video Game? Like I said, I’m down to have a civil conversation about Star Wars. I’m just not looking to argue.
If not, I hope you enjoyed this write-up as much as I did making it. Thanks for giving it a read. You’re the best and may The Force be with you, always.
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