Top 5 Star Wars Characters

I’ve been on a bit of a Star Wars spree lately (what else is new? I always seem to come back to this, don’t I?). Well, I got to thinking about who is my favorite character because there are just SO MANY! I remember being asked this several years ago and I had to think about it for a bit before answering. After some pondering, I believe my answer is still the same as it was then, but I have to give credit where credit is due; I have a list of my top five favorite Star Wars characters whom I appreciate quite strongly for various reasons... this is that list.

5) Princess Leia

There are not very many women in Star Wars, but you don’t even need a ton when you got one like Princess Leia. She is just effortlessly kick-butt and a strong leading lady without shoving it down your throat. I love how sassy she is and ALWAYS takes command of whatever situation she’s in. Also, what I appreciate in my leading ladies that modern films have such a hard time with is that she actually has faults. Yes, she’s awesome, beautiful, smart, and can hold her own in a fight, but she’s not good at everything and she has some things she can improve on. A+ woman character! Love her! 

4) Darth Vader

How could one of the most iconic villains of all time not be on the list? And look at him, he’s iconic for a reason! The helmet, the black, the breathing. Ooh! From his very first chilling appearance, emerging from smoke and nonchalantly standing over dead bodies to him mercilessly choking out all his admirals for failing him to the earth-shattering reveal of “I am your father” to the most amazing lightsaber massacre ever put to screen: the “hallway scene” from Rogue One to the mind-blowing twist of fate when he chooses Luke over the Emperor... Vader has had some of the most incredible screen time of any of the Star Wars characters and I am HERE for it! And I haven’t even touched on how actually tragic his whole story is. His character arc is what drives the entire saga forward and the fact that he dies at the end of it like some tragic Shakespearean hero is incredibly sad... and it’s so poetic. I love it! 

3) Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker is everyone’s childhood hero and for good reason. He is often referenced as having one of the greatest character arcs in any modern story. I know that in many of my creative writing classes, Star Wars was often referenced, especially for following the Hero’s Journey. I love Luke so much! And I love his journey so much! He starts off as this naive, impatient young farm boy and goes through all these trials and loses so much before ultimately coming out on top as one of the most powerful Jedi who ever lived. Ever heard of the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? That seems to be Luke’s motto. What a role model! One of my favorite scenes in all of Star Wars is his confrontation with the Emperor in Return of the Jedi where Palpatine is trying so hard to get him to give into his anger and turn him to the dark side. And while Luke wavers a little and gets angry, he finally gains control of himself and chooses right even if it does mean death. Talk about self control and being the bigger person! *applause* 

2) R2-D2

Honestly, the only character that really matters in Star Wars. Seriously, everyone would be dead in the water without him. The ultimate GOAT. I love how he’s just a droid who only speaks through beeps, but he has so much personality. He’s so brave and sassy and he always just plunges right into danger without a second thought. And he’s SO loyal! Golly, everyone needs to be more like R2. He’s always risking his life for his friends. Not to mention how smart and mechanically-minded he is. He can reprogram anything, hack into any computer, fix anything. I mean, seriously, where would any of these characters be without him? 

And finally, my favorite character... 

1) Obi-Wan Kenobi

Whether he’s Ewan McGregor or Alec Guinness, he’s just got this charm and wisdom about him. He’s not the most powerful Jedi or the wisest or anything like that, he’s just sort of an average one who’s out there doing his best... and I think that’s why I appreciate him so much because I kind of relate to that. Also, I love that despite all that he’s gone through and lost, never once was he tempted by the dark side (not seriously at least). I mean, really, I think out of all the characters he’s lost the most: his master, the love of his life, his apprentice/best friend, ALL the Jedi, and then wound up alone as a hermit watching over their last hope on a desert planet before ultimately dying himself while protecting him. And never once did he think of turning. Plus, he’s just so dry and sassy. The Clone Wars tv series dives into that aspect of his personality even deeper and I could never stop laughing at his scenes; such a troll. (As he’s literally getting beaten to death by a revived Darth Maul: “I like your new legs. They make you look taller.” OMG!) 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Darth Maul

One of the prequel’s biggest mistakes was killing off Darth Maul right away and not making him a major villain. This is rectified in the Clone Wars tv series and he is SO awesome! 

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)

It’s one thing to be a total bada**, but one of the most endearing things ever is for a guy to flip the world upside down in order to protect his child.