Fire up your lightsabers and get your porgs in a row. We’re celebrating Star Wars Week here at For The Win with some takes ahead of the premiere of The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth episode of the saga.
Today, we ranked our definitive top 10 characters from the franchise using a process the New Republic might be proud of. Each For The Win staff member ranked their top 10 characters — we decided to include droids and ships in the mix — with a numerical value attached. Characters ranked number 1 were awarded 10 points, No. 2 got nine points and so on down the line. Here are the results.
1. Darth Vader (62 points)
Darth Vader remains the ultimate movie villain, and he also had one of the best character arcs in the series. Although Baby Yoda may yet dethrone him, Darth Vader is the face of Star Wars. – Nick Schwartz
2. Han Solo (53 points)
He’s a swashbuckling hero, but in space. The kind of man who, when you say “I love you,” will only coldly answer back, “I know.” Don’t try to tame Han. He belongs to the wide open void of the stars, where he must be free to take part in shady space deals with his loyal companions on his trusty ship. He moves among the crowds, but belongs only to himself. – Hemal Jhaveri
3. Princess Leia (46 points)
Brave with an unrelenting conviction, Leia contradicts just about every previous notion of what a princess is or should be — and in the best ways. Rather than simply searching for a prince, she fights to save an entire civilization and routinely risks her life for the Rebel cause in which she so deeply believes. She fearlessly stands up to her enemies, and single-handedly strangles Jabba for chaining her up as a half-naked slave. And in between getting shot in the shoulder and taking out two Stormtroopers, when Han says, “I love you,” she Solos him right back. Oh, and our girl starts as a princess and ends as a general. – Michelle Martinelli
4. Yoda (38 points)
There are some uncomfortable truths that we have to face with Yoda. He’s probably the greatest Jedi Master of all time. He became immortal within the force and led Luke’s training that eventually freed the galaxy. Yet, at the same time, his student Count Dooku fell to the dark side and became Darth Sidious’ (Emperor Palpatine) second apprentice. He also let Sidious do the same thing with Anakin Skywalker. All of this happened while Yoda, the leader of the Jedi Order, was following the orders of the Republic which was lead by… Darth Sidious. See what I’m getting at here? Just as he teaches, there must always be balance within the Force. Yoda’s screw ups made sure of that one way or another. – Michael Sykes
5. Baby Yoda (35 points)
Baby Yoda is No. 5 on this list, because apparently I work with heartless fools who all need to be fired. Star Wars is at its best when they’ve got small, cute idiot things running around. Ewoks and Porgs were good, and now Baby Yoda is better. Everything else is whatever. I love Baby Yoda. I don’t care that he’s become an overdone meme. Baby Yoda is perfect, and if the world wants to appreciate him, good by the world. Give me more Baby Yoda. Baby Yoda forever. Baby Yoda. – Nate Scott
6. Chewbacca (34 points)
The wookie with a heart of gold. Chewie is the standard by which all best friends, in space or on Earth, should be measured. Loyal beyond belief, kind, caring and incredibly competent when shooting a blaster. There are few characters that, if they are presented without flaws, are still likable. But Chewie is that exception. He deserved way better than what he got. -Hemal Jhaveri
7. Kylo Ren (19 points)
For the record, I didn’t put Kylo in my top 10. Kylo Ren, while very well acted by Adam Driver, is a whiny, emo fanboy. He’s nowhere nearly as tough and callous as his grandfather – No. 1 on this list and probably rightfully so – and maybe that’s by design. But a top-10 character in a series filled with great ones? C’mon. -Charles Curtis
T-8. Luke Skywalker (16 points)
Young Luke is impatient, stubborn and whiny. He also doesn’t seem to take much seriously until things get really crazy. Old Luke knows patience but … is still stubborn and whiny. He tries to restore the Jedi order, and, in the process, he has a vision of his nephew turning to the dark side and thought about MURDERING him instead of nurturing him, which actually turned him to the dark side. Great job, Unc. Then, after making that mistake, he refuses to teach even with Rey desperately knocking at his door (literally). But at the same time, Luke is the one that redeemed the irredeemable in Vader. He also trained Rey … eventually. He gets credit for that. Also, fam, who else in the Star Wars universe has ever sent an astral projection of themselves TO A DIFFERENT PLANET to fight a Sith Lord. That’s GOAT level stuff. – Michael Sykes
T-8. R2-D2 (16 points)
To paraphrase Beyoncé, who runs the Star Wars world? DROIDS. And it’s R2-D2 who’s responsible for ultimately saving the galaxy from the empire. The little guy carried the Death Star plans, went undercover to help deliver a lightsaber to Luke, was destroyed in the Battle of Yavin, has been messed with by Jawas… he’s the GOAT. And on top of that, I’m pretty sure his dialogue is the best in the series. You don’t need to hear exactly what he says to C-3PO, but judging from the responses, you know it’s foul, sarcastic and hilarious. – Charles Curtis
T-8. Rey (16 points)
Rey’s determination, strength and idealism make her a perfect hero for the next generation of Star Wars fans. She’s alone in an unforgiving universe, searching for her place and her destiny in the face of overwhelming odds. Rey embodies the best of the Star Wars franchise — that despite the terrible vastness of space and the evils that lurk, there’s always a reason for hope. -Hemal Jhaveri
Star Wars characters 11-27
11. Jyn Erso 12 points
Jyn Erso is the best heroine in the series since Princess Leia, and it’s a travesty that she didn’t crack the top 10. If there’s one thing that Star Wars fans can agree on in the modern era, its’s that Rogue One was awesome, and Jyn Erso was spectacular in that movie. – Nick Schwartz
12. Ahsoka Tano 10 points
Ahsoka isn’t in a movie yet, but she’s one of the best force wielders we’ve ever seen. In the Clone Wars as Anakin’s apprentice, she recognized how the Republic tainted the Jedi. In Rebels, she was the leader of a secret rebellion cell that fought against the empire. She’s also one of the few characters in Star Wars lore to give Darth Vader that work in his prime, so there’s that. She is my GOAT. – Michael Sykes
13. Death Star 10 points
14. Ezra Bridger 10 points
15. Lando Calrissian 10 points
16. The Mandalorian 9 points
I will claim to have already put Mando in my top 10, and while you can scream “recency bias!” he’s one of the best fighters the galaxy has ever seen, is a mystery under that helmet and broke a code to save a baby. Other than the fact that he should maybe stop leaving Baby Yoda with strangers, he’s already earned Hall of Fame status. – Charles Curtis
17. Ewoks 8 points
18. Obi-Wan Kenobi 8 points
19. Darth Maul 7 points
20. Chirrut Imwe 6 points
21. Millennium Falcon 6 points
22. Poe Dameron 5 points
23. Boba Fett 3 points
I’m SO happy he didn’t end up in our top 10. Dude met his fate — that is, if he’s still dead, HMMMMM — when a blinded Han Solo accidentally knocked him into a Sarlacc Pit. Lame. — Charles Curtis
24. Jabba 3 points
25. Finn 1 point
26. Mace Windu 1 point
27. Palpatine 1 point
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