It's Star Wars season and I'm delivering another top ten list today because I don't have anything better to do (except homework). With this list, I compiled who I think are the ten best characters in the Star Wars saga (excluding standalone films and tv shows). I tried to attack this as objectively as possible, looking at character development and story above all else, so if you're wondering where R2D2 and C3PO are, this is an anti-droid list.
Honorable Mentions:
Chewbacca
Darth Maul
Rey
10. Qui-Gon Jinn
Appears in: Episode I
Portrayed by: Liam Neeson
Qui-Gon Jinn is a character that has the least screen time on this list but still leaves an incredible impact on the story. Without Qui-Gon's discovery of Anakin Skywalker and his faith that Anakin is the prophesied "Chosen One," we don't have a saga. It's as simple as that. Qui-Gon is also a really interesting character who doesn't fall into the typical stereotypes of a Jedi Knight. He refuses a seat on the Jedi Council, and is looked upon by Yoda and others as a maverick Jedi who doesn't fully believe in the Jedi Code.
9. Lando Calrissian
Appears in: Episode V, VI, IX
Portrayed by: Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian is the definition of cool. He's a suave, well-dressed womanizer who makes a living making and breaking deals. His background as a renown smuggler and his somewhat ambiguous history with Han Solo make him an intriguing character whose intentions are never quite clear. The fact that he betrays Han and company in The Empire Strikes Back and is still a beloved character speaks to his charm. I'm looking forward to seeing him back in action in The Rise of Skywalker.
8. Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Appears in: Episode VII, VIII, IX
Portrayed by: Adam Driver
By far the best character introduced in the Disney era, Kylo Ren is everything you'd expect from the grandson of Anakin Skywalker and is a formidable heir to Darth Vader. Despite the many gripes fans may have with the Sequel Trilogy, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't enjoyed what we've seen so far from this character. The conflicted son of Han and Leia, Kylo is an uncaged and emotional villain whose call to the light haunts him throughout his time on screen. With one film to go, Kylo has the potential to shoot even further up this list. We'll find out on December 20th.
7. Leia Organa
Appears in: Episode III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX
Portrayed by: Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia has been the prime example of a strong female character in cinema since she was first introduced in 1977. Beautiful and kind, but also fierce and determined, Leia leads the Rebellion against the tyrannical Empire as well as the Resistance against the First Order. Despite being the daughter of Anakin Skywalker and the brother of Luke, she proves that she doesn't need to use the Force to make an impact. Unfortunately due to the untimely passing of Carrie Fisher, Leia's story won't be completed in the most ideal manner; however, I can't wait to see her on screen one more time.
6. Yoda
Appears in: Episode I, II, III, V, VI, VIII
Portrayed by: Frank Oz
Yoda's impact on the saga can often times be overlooked. In the Prequel Trilogy, he is the wise but blinded leader of the Jedi Council while in the Original and Sequel Trilogy, he is a teacher; the voice of reason and moral compass for Luke Skywalker on his journey. Yoda is iconic for many reasons in and outside the films but it is his memorable quotes and insightful lessons that make him so special. He's also the only puppet/CGI character on this list so props to Frank Oz for his magical performance.
5. Sheev Palpatine/The Emperor
Appears in: I, II, III, V, VI, IX
Portrayed by: Ian McDiarmid
The baddie of all baddies, Palpatine made his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back as the mysterious man behind the curtain pulling all the strings in the Original Trilogy. It wasn't until the Prequel Trilogy, however, that we found out how important a player he really is in the overall narrative. Palpatine single-handedly takes down the fabled Jedi Order from the shadows and creates the greatest Sith Lord in the galaxy, Darth Vader. We thought his story was finished when Vader threw him into a Death Star reactor but it seems that he's not done making moves just yet.
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Appears in: I, II, III, IV, V, VI
Portrayed by: Alec Guinness, Ewan McGregor
One could argue that the story of Star Wars is just as much Obi-Wan's story as it is Luke and Anakin's. Over the course of six films, and two excellent portrayals, Obi-Wan's story is a tragic one that sees a young Jedi burdened with the responsibility of training the "Chosen One" eventually fail, faced with the task of killing the boy is was sworn to teach and protect. Despite all these trials, however, Obi-Wan always keeps going and never loses faith in the Jedi Order. Where he failed with Anakin, he succeeded with Luke.
3. Luke Skywalker
Appears in: III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX
Portrayed by: Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker may be the most recognizable hero in all of modern storytelling. From his humble origins as a farmer on Tatooine to his final sacrifice in the face of the First Order, Luke has always embodied what George Lucas intended a Jedi to be. He is wise and patient but also prone to many of the mistakes all characters are faced with. His selfless dedication to freeing his father from the grip of the Dark Side is what makes Star Wars one of the greatest stories ever told.
2. Han Solo
Appears in: IV, V, VI, VII
Portrayed by: Harrison Ford
So much can be said about the Han Solo character and why he's so iconic to this day but it's impossible to talk about the character without mentioning Harrison Ford. Some say Han Solo is Harrison Ford and maybe that's why it works so well. The swagger, the confidence, the sometimes clumsy nature of Han makes him magnetic and impossible not to love. He's the swindling-smuggler turned rebellion hero. What's most crazy about Han is that in a galaxy full of unique creatures and magic-weilding wizards, it's sometimes the simple man that is the most interesting.
1. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Appears in: I, II, III, IV, V, VI
Portrayed by: Hayden Christensen, James Earl Jones
Perhaps the greatest character in all of storytelling, the story of Star Wars is the story of Anakin Skywalker. Born of a virgin birth into slavery, Anakin grew to become a powerful Jedi and a feared Sith Lord. Not even taking into account his development in The Clone Wars animated series and other supplementary materials, Anakin is by far the most layered character in all of Star Wars and is the foundation upon which the saga is built. Each of the trilogy's are the result of Anakin's story. Whether it's the prequels that chronicles his rise and fall, the original trilogy that tells of his redemption, or the sequels that explores his lasting impact and legacy, you can't tell the story of the Skywalker Saga without the one who started it all. That is why he is the greatest character in the saga.