13 Beloved Background Characters in the STAR WARS Prequel Trilogy
A GEORGE LUCAS BIRTHDAY SALUTE! By JIM BEARD I’ve said it before but maybe I haven’t said it enough: I always knew there would come a renaissance for the Star Wars prequel trilogy. And now, more than 25 years since the release of The Phantom Menace, I think we’re finally seeing it. There’s a lot to love about the prequels, a lot to like, and, of course, because nothing’s perfect, some things to not like at all (some might even say to hate — no renaissance yet for you, Jar Jar), but overall you have to admit that for one man’s vision, the three films are an amazing accomplishment. We should all, as Star Wars fans, take a moment today, on the Maker’s birthday, and give it up for George Lucas. (He was born May 14, 1944.) Lucas did it his way, and in the end, we should all be so determined and dedicated to our personal projects. My way of celebrating George’s big day is to offer up Part Two of my run-down of favorite Star Wars background/minor characters, those denizens of the Galaxy Far, Far Away that may not get the limelight, but still make an impact. These 13 prequel persons have for me; I hope you might think so, too. And after all, just remember: “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t Aurra Sing…” — Lightsaber Lady (The Phantom Menace, 1999). The original Jedi Council as seen in Episode I is chock full of fascinating figures, but for me, my eye always spies Adi Gallia, she of the regal bearing and wacky headdress. For some reason, she was replaced by a near-lookalike in later films, which for me was a crime. — TLC for TC-14 (The Phantom Menace, 1999). When I first saw this silver protocol droid at the beginning of the movie, I thought it was one of those George things, to have an ersatz Threepio lurking about, but then it opened up its vocoder and a female voice issued forth… and I knew I was in love. — Who’s Your Daddy, Binks? (The Phantom Menace, 1999). Let’s pause a moment and consider the long-suffering Captain Tarpals of the Gungan military. There’s a place for stout Gungans like him in whatever passes for the race’s Heaven — those who serve also stand there and put...
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