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Credit: LucasfilmEven before Star Wars branched off into animated shows, live-action shows, video games, books, and graphic novels, it had dozens of characters at its disposal. Now, there are so many characters occupying the faraway galaxy that it’s almost impossible to keep track of them all!
But while many of them deserve all the attention fans give them, as with any franchise, there are some who are often put on a pedestal for no good reason (in our opinion, of course). So we’ve compiled a list of Star Wars characters we think get far more praise than they should!
Here are seven completely overrated Star Wars characters.
7. Mace Windu
Samuel L Jackson is one of the most well-known actors working today, and has probably done as many movies as there are Star Wars characters! Naturally, cinemagoers and Star Wars fans alike were thrilled when he appeared in 1999’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace as Jedi Master Mace Windu.
While he doesn’t have a great deal to do in that film, he does get in on the action in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, in which he lays waste to Jango Fett in style, and again in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, where he has one of the most memorable scenes in the film.
Mace Windu also went on to become a recurring character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. But while he’s a formidable Jedi, we’re not sure why he’s so popular. Perhaps it’s because Samuel L Jackson plays him in the movies, or maybe it’s because he goes up against the Emperor (Ian McDiarmid). Either way, we just don’t get the love! Although we do dig his purple lightsaber.
6. Mayfeld
With only two seasons under its belt, The Mandalorian has made a huge impression on fans and has even given us a whole bunch of characters to love already, like Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), Grogu, Kuiil (Nick Nolte), Cara Dune (Gina Carano), Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff), Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen).
But there’s one character whose popularity with fans leaves us confused. While Imperial fugitive and wanted criminal Mayfeld (Bill Burr) has only appeared in two episodes so far, that’s still enough time for him to have made a good impression on us – but he hasn’t.
Mayfeld is nowhere near as charming, charismatic, interesting, or funny as the showrunners (or many fans) think. Ultimately, though, we just don’t him all that much, and we sure hope to be seeing a lot less of him in The Mandalorian Season 3!
5. Grand Admiral Thrawn
This is where we start delving into territory that will likely annoy some fans, but Grand Admiral Thrawn, a villain who appears in Star Wars: Rebels and is rumored to also appear in the upcoming live-action Ahsoka series, is easily among the most overrated Star Wars villains.
It’s no mystery that Thrawn is excellent at his job, and his supernatural-like ability to precisely calculate the enemy’s moves is impressive, to say the least. And there’s also no denying that he has quickly become an important character, having disappeared with Ezra Bridger at the end of Rebels.
But we feel that there might be a case of style-over-substance with Thrawn. Sure, he has what is probably already considered an iconic look (character designs are no accident, though), but his somewhat meditative way of speaking isn’t at all intimidating – it just feels like the creators were trying way too hard to give him his own ‘thing’ (but then heavy breathing was already taken).
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Sabine Wren Before You Watch ‘Ahsoka’
4. Kylo Ren
Say what you will about the sequel trilogy, but there are a still number of iconic things that have emerged from it. Rey (Daisy Ridley), BB-8, First Order troopers, and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), are but a few examples. However, while Darth Vader’s grandson might be the most interesting character in all three movies, that’s hardly a compliment.
There are many things to like about Kylo Ren, but it largely boils down to his awesome look – the combination of his mask, voice, and lightsaber are probably the reason he has become so recognizable (although Adam Driver does give a compelling performance). But the truth is that there’s very little else to love about this character – and let’s not forget that he kills Han Solo!
Kylo Ren might be fascinating to watch from time to time, but that’s probably because he’s a welcome break from every other dull character in those films. We also never really get an explanation as to why he’s a mass-murdering maniac, and he definitely doesn’t deserve the redemption he gets in The Rise of Skywalker!
3. Admiral Ackbar
Let us start by saying that we don’t feel good about being mean to Admiral Ackbar (Timothy D Rose), and having him on this list doesn’t for one minute suggest we don’t like him! But the truth is that there’s really not that much going on with the old Mon Calamari – at least not in any of the movies he’s appeared in.
While Ackbar has appeared in other Star Wars media, he doesn’t get half the screen time you might think he does in the movies. Perhaps he became iconic because of his infamous line, “It’s a trap!” in Return of the Jedi, which over the years has become a popular Internet meme.
On the other hand, the filmmakers didn’t really help matters when they unceremoniously killed him in The Last Jedi! Well, at least he has the honor of being our first overrated character from the original trilogy. That’s something, right?
2. Cad Bane
It’s fair to say that some characters don’t always make a good first impression on fans. Even Ahsoka Tano – who is now one of the most iconic and beloved Star Wars characters – was a little annoying in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and the first couple of seasons of the show, but now, fans can’t get enough of her!
The same can’t be said about Cad Bane, though, a bounty hunter who appears in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and more recently Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Designed with a Western gunslinger look, Cad Bane is a sort of futuristic alien cowboy – and for this reason, he stands out like a sore thumb.
But that’s not why we think he’s so overrated – to be honest, we don’t really know why fans seem to love him so much! Not only is he a pretty horrible character who gets away with everything (and there are plenty of characters like this who aren’t so annoying), his voice is like a cheese-grater to the ears!
1. Boba Fett
Okay, now we’re going to get ourselves into trouble! The character of Boba Fett is as iconic as any other Star Wars character from the original trilogy – Luke (Mark Hamill), Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han (Harrison Ford), or Chewie (Peter Mayhew) and all the rest. And we get it – he has a pretty awesome outfit and a stoic personality.
He’s also an incredibly popular cosplay at comic conventions all around the world, and like all the other Star Wars characters, has appeared on mugs, tee-shirts, posters – you name it, most Star Wars fans will have it! But what’s confusing about Boba’s popularity is that he simply isn’t in the original trilogy all that much.
Of course, this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t qualify for being an iconic and beloved character, but even his death in Return of the Jedi is very uninspiring (and a little embarrassing). Fortunately, Boba Fett made an awesome comeback in The Mandalorian, and his own live-action show The Book of Boba Fett is just weeks away. In other words, he’s finally earned the title!
Which Star Wars characters do you think are the most overrated?