FOURTH THE MAY BE WITH YOU. — Yoda.
Ahem.
So! Hey. Star Wars.
Of all the films, shows, books, and so forth, I gotta know —
Who is your favorite obscure Star Wars character?
(They don’t need to be all that “obscure” — just not one of the “main cast.” No Luke, Leia, etc.)
Me, from the original trilogy, I love me some Nien Nunb.
I don’t know why.
I like that the joy he expresses when they win.
I like his workman’s attitude. He seems like the kinda Sullustan you’d want on your side. Or at your barbecue. He just looks like a good dude. I mean, sure, his face is super gross? It’s like, a bunch of moist folds stacked on top of each other. He’s like several layers of animated mortadella bologna just flapping wetly at you, but hey, whatever. You can’t judge him on that.
If I had to go deeper —
The bounty hunter Sugi, from The Clone Wars.
It’s easy to love the bounty hunters, but she’s even easier because she seems noble, somehow — not just your standard mercenary scum, but Scum With Honor. She’s pretty obscure — I think she only shows up in two episodes? But I like that there’s more going on there than what you see. You get the sense of larger story, somehow.
So, your turn.
Fave third-tier, obscure character? GO.
kylejohnmorgan says:
Momaw Nadon and figrin d’an. I’m just a sucker for the Cantina I guess. I like that Figrin is a musician and Momaw just looks cool.
May 4, 2015 — 1:16 PM
jasonfry says:
Piett. Because once he doesn’t get strangled by Vader, he’s playing with house money and just does his job without worrying that his boss is a psycho. “Yeah, it’s a shuttle. Code checks out. Should I hold them? Or should I just stand here while you brood and wheeze? Whatever, man — I get paid either way.”
May 4, 2015 — 1:17 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
I noticed that too. From overachiever to indifferent clock-watcher. Fun character to wonder “what if…” about
May 4, 2015 — 3:45 PM
Trevin Sandlin (@banjax451) says:
Boshek. The pilot who talks to Obi Wan and introduces Chewbacca at the Cantina. Not only does he have a strange EU history/story, but I love the fact that nobody knows who played him. He was an uncredited extra on-set and to this day, nobody really knows who played him.
May 4, 2015 — 1:21 PM
Ryan V says:
Hahaha, that rules, that no one knows.
May 5, 2015 — 2:43 AM
kelseyjaymills says:
Asaj Ventress. She’s badass, powerful, and I loved her character arc.
May 4, 2015 — 1:29 PM
anonymous says:
I’d say Raven, but honestly what Bioware did to him in “the Old Republic” MMO kinda ruins that for me. I don’t mind the character and I don’t mind the backstory. But man… that storyline just to have a “hook” for fans of the character was awful.
I’d say I’d like to know more about his relationship with HK-47 and their adventures together since Raven had HK-47 wayyyy before the events of KotOR and while lightly explained they do have some story potential there.
May 4, 2015 — 1:32 PM
Kirby Crow (@kirby_crow) says:
Lobot! I love bald men, and Lobot is tech nerd AND baldy. Kind of like Jean Luc Picard. Or Yul Brynner. Vin Diesel. Agent 47. Kratos. Imhotep…
‘kay, I’m leaving now.
May 4, 2015 — 1:33 PM
Rob A. says:
I am also on Team Nien Nunb, hands down.
May 4, 2015 — 1:54 PM
David Jón Fuller says:
Lobot. Dude’s cybernetics and non-nonsense attitude draw you in; his ability to read emails from Lando’s watch WITH HIS FRICKIN’ MIND make him a silent badass.
May 4, 2015 — 1:57 PM
cwsawyer says:
Malakili the Rancor Wrangler. Dude just loved the Rancor like a friend. I feel for him. Poor bastard.
May 4, 2015 — 2:08 PM
mermaidmaddie says:
I always liked Ziro the Hutt as a kid. And Rex from Clone Wars.
May 4, 2015 — 2:28 PM
Mike W. says:
I always liked Greedo…poor bastard…he shoulda shot first.
May 4, 2015 — 2:48 PM
Kaea Branch says:
Does Galin Starkiller count? He’s not really obscure, I guess, but he’s not from the main cast of movies, anyway.
May 4, 2015 — 2:57 PM
Dan says:
Barrack and Mazzic, smugglers from Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy.”
“Brasck and his bodyguards took out an entire squad of the troopers in the first five seconds, with a synchronized fire that showed the Brubb hand’s forgotten his mercenary background.” (From “The Last Command.”)
Always dug that.
May 4, 2015 — 2:58 PM
Kaea Branch says:
Oops. I mean Galen. Galen Marek. aka Starkiller. Whatever is the correct way to refer to the guy.
May 4, 2015 — 3:01 PM
Kat Simons says:
Wedge Antilles. Because he’s the only pilot who wasn’t a main character to survive both Death Star runs and because he’s just cool 🙂
May 4, 2015 — 3:13 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
salacius crumb and Wedge antilles here. I loved Salacius even as a child, something about that sick little fucker’s evil laugh and physical appearance just killed me. Wedge, well…he was instrumental in destroying two death stars and helped destroy a couple of AT-ATs if memory serves me correctly…pretty bad-ass for a supporting role
May 4, 2015 — 3:44 PM
thesteveoftime says:
Porkins. But seriously. I’d probably go with Wedge Antilles.
May 4, 2015 — 3:56 PM
Griffin Barber says:
The Jawas. Any Jawas.
May 4, 2015 — 3:56 PM
rowyn says:
I’d second that.
May 4, 2015 — 9:23 PM
SheWhoLurks says:
I’m not mourning “Legends.” I wrote off “Legends” a long, long time ago in a city remarkably similar to the one where I sit now. I can’t wait for new tales. I’m not thrilled Del Rey still apparently has the Star Wars book license after the mediocre misfires inflicted on readers during “Legends,” but at least Jen Heddle is at Lucas Books now so I have hopes. Plus, y’know, Wendig. I hear his writing is decent.
But you did say books.
So, um, yeah:
Mara Jade.
I know, I know. But you asked.
From the films, has to be Wedge Antilles.
May 4, 2015 — 4:10 PM
Raya Gavril (@Rocket_Raya) says:
R2-Q5
Not exactly sure why. Maybe its because that is the result if you mash-up my two favorite major characters Darth Vader and R2-D2
May 4, 2015 — 4:24 PM
Lara says:
Max Rebo. I have a stuffed version. Han Solo was my first fangirl crush (I was 6?), but I’ve liked that weird blue dude just as long.
May 4, 2015 — 4:41 PM
Alex Kane (@alexjkane) says:
Am I allowed to say Watto? Because I genuinely love Watto.
Of all the nonhuman characters in the prequel trilogy, he’s maybe the only one I bought as a living, sentient creature with joys and fears and (plenty of) flaws. The animation for Watto was often more convincing than even Yoda’s, which seems pretty odd, in retrospect.
May 4, 2015 — 5:17 PM
skink says:
Aurra Sing for me.
or Aayla Secura.
do I have to explain why?
May 4, 2015 — 5:33 PM
caszbrewster says:
I have to hand in my Star Wars fan card I guess. I can’t think of one. My first thought was Wuher. But, I can’t say it fits the parameters of the question you asked. I just always wondered what was more of his story, I guess.
May 4, 2015 — 5:50 PM
Kylo Ren says:
Has to be Cad Bane from The Clone Wars. Bane’s outfit was sinister but his voice was what mad the character incredible. He in my opinion is a classic Star Wars villain who I hope gets a appearance in a television show, novel, or movie soon.
May 4, 2015 — 6:58 PM
Natalie MaddalenaNatalie says:
I don’t know who most of the people you guys have mentioned are… but my favourite is General Grievous. Is that his name? The guy who is mostly droid but with a little bit of human or whatever stuck inside, in the prequels.
May 4, 2015 — 7:13 PM
Morticia says:
Darth Traya who is the only female Sith Lord. She was exiled/withdrew herself from the High Jedi Council due to what she felt was their hubris when one of her padawans defied the council. She eventually became part of the Sith Lord Triumvirate but was overthrown by her peers and again exiled. Having been exiled by both the Jedi and the Sith – “she held an abhorrence of how both Orders were used by the Force to its own ends, and began to consider how she might rid the galaxy of its influence forever.” from http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Traya.
She is morally ambiguous and I love that she has been a part of both sides of the force which allows her objectivity. She taught existentialist ideas when a Jedi Master and posed questions such as this, ” “If a lightsaber loses its power, is it still a lightsaber? And if a Jedi loses her powers, is she still a Jedi?”
She has a strong character arch and great insight into what, in the end, she has become. “What do you wish to hear? That I once believed in the code of the Jedi? That I felt the call of the Sith, that perhaps, once, I held the galaxy by its throat? That for every good work that I did, I brought equal harm upon the galaxy? That perhaps what the greatest of the Sith Lords knew of evil, they learned from me?”
Great example of a female character that exemplifies complexity, defies stereotypes and has agency.
May 4, 2015 — 8:17 PM
Dae says:
I love Darth Traya! For all the reasons you stated.
The character I had in mind when I scrolled down to comment was Tenel Ka. Not entirely sure she counts as obscure, since she’s a major character in the Young Jedi novels, but I don’t get the feeling a lot of people read those.
May 4, 2015 — 10:07 PM
Morticia says:
I looked up Tenel Ka, she seems really interesting. I never read the books but liked the games and The Clone Wars. I was researching female Star Wars characters to see what options I wanted to settle on for when I join the 501st. I even looked into black, full coverage contact lenses and will have to figure out how to make her clothing since there aren’t any patters. Anyway, fell in love with her and thought others might appreciate her. I will have to look into the Young Jedi series for my kids, thanks for the lead!
May 5, 2015 — 5:24 PM
Louisa Mack says:
Salacious Crumb because the name is irresistible and that snicker is so wicked. Boba Fett would be my second choice (though I know you didn’t ask for one). It’s hard to resist a bad guy who doesn’t feel the need to explain himself plus the name rolls off your tongue. And he has a cool helmet. Both are from the original trilogy.
May 4, 2015 — 9:21 PM
Justin Peniston says:
Bollux and Blue Max from the trilogy of Han Solo novels (written by Brian Daley) that came out in the early ’80s, poet-Empire but pre-Return. They were just cool droids. Gallandro from the same series gets honorable mention.
May 4, 2015 — 9:55 PM
dangerdean says:
Another vote for Porkins, but I agree that Boba Fett was a stone badass.
May 4, 2015 — 10:11 PM
Thom Marrion says:
I always like Wedge because he’s basically a redshirt who managed to survive through all three original movies
May 4, 2015 — 10:28 PM
sheltonkeysdunning says:
Am I allowed to say the droid working in on the other droids in the Star Tours cue at Disneyland? The one singing “I’ve been working on the same droid”? Cracks me up every time. If I’m not allowed to say him, then…..R5-D4. Depending on which version of the R5 story you read, he’s either the mightily abused underdog who gets the shaft when R2-D2 blows the motivator or he sacrifices his motivator so that C3PO and R2-D2 won’t get separated.
May 5, 2015 — 1:57 AM
Ryan V says:
All of the characters people have made in any of the Star Wars RPGs I’ve made because Star Wars is more about RPGs than fiction anymore for me. There’s nothing as wonderful as a group of bounty hunters, a Jedi fleeing from the enemy and a droid causing havoc and getting in trouble.
Sadly neither Wedge Antilles, the unsung hero of the whole freaking original trilogy, nor Mara Jade, the ORIGINAL Emperor’s Assassin, are really… obscure. But I love them.
May 5, 2015 — 2:08 AM
Redbelly21 says:
I like Embo from the clone wars, because he’s basically an alien samurai.
May 5, 2015 — 3:03 AM
Mozette says:
I love young Obi Wan… he’s wise and yet still learning.
May 5, 2015 — 8:41 AM
Paul says:
Ashla, a Togruta and Jedi Youngling in Attack of the Clones. She’s adorable. 🙂 (Hey, you asked for obscure…)
May 5, 2015 — 9:43 AM
Joshua says:
I love Bo Katan and I honestly wish we could see more of her story. And Hondo has also always been a favorite of mine.
May 5, 2015 — 9:50 AM
jon chastain says:
Kit fisto he is just a BAM I loved watching every clone wars episode he appeared in.
May 5, 2015 — 9:52 AM
Tyler says:
Jolee Bindo
May 5, 2015 — 9:54 AM
Daniel Piatkowski says:
I’d have to say Onimi from The New Jedi Order; yeah, he’s made more than one or two appearances (Edge of Victory II: Rebirth, Destiny’s Way, Force Heretic II: Refugee, The Final Prophecy, and The Unifying Force), but very few know who this character is. I love just how damaged this character is psychologically; he’s probably endured more mental trauma than anyone who’s survived his puppet leadership of the Yuuzhan Vong.
May 5, 2015 — 10:12 AM
Peyton says:
Rum Sleg from The Phantom Menace. He walks past the camera right before the cut to the podrace stadium. I have his action figure. Look him up, he looks so cool!
May 5, 2015 — 10:18 AM
Jonn says:
Ketch, from the Wraith Squadron books! Now THAT Ewok got around AND flew X-Wings!
May 5, 2015 — 10:45 AM
Carolina Mac says:
Third Ewok from the left that only said ‘nub nub’. Love that guy.
May 5, 2015 — 11:32 AM
Martin Felice Rillon says:
Nom Anor, the Yuuzhan Vong executor
May 5, 2015 — 11:38 AM
Matt Cummings says:
Jagged Fel or Antares Draco. Gotta love those Imperials.
May 5, 2015 — 1:07 PM
Tiglinda says:
TK421
Why aren’t you at your post?
May 5, 2015 — 2:41 PM
Mike Block says:
Grand Moff Tarkin.
May 5, 2015 — 3:26 PM
vilis says:
i would have to say HET NKIK…..the jawa from SWAP MEET in tales from tmec
May 5, 2015 — 4:42 PM
kakubjaya says:
Admiral Piett. For… reasons.
May 5, 2015 — 8:52 PM
myzania3350 says:
So many quirky ones.. i’ll go Mara Jade.
May 6, 2015 — 4:33 AM