My Top 10 Favorite Star Wars Villains

I’ve often considered the Star Wars series to have some of the most memorable characters of all time, and I'm at the half way point in counting down my top 30 favorites. Last time I counted down my 10 favorite Star Wars girls, now it's time to highlight the villains. I'll only be singling out the ones featured in either the movies or the TV shows, and my arrangement of them will be solely based on how their represented through those forms of media. 

My only other conditions are that there wont be any female villains, sense I already disused them on my last countdown. Also, these characters weren't selected out of popularity, or any objective view point, these are just my own personal favorites, and how they each resonate with me. So, with that said, here are my personal top 10 favorite villains from the Star Wars universe.   

#10 Count Dooku 

Kicking off my list is the role that introduced me to one of my all-time favorite villain actors ... Christopher Lee. He has it all, the presence, the mannerism, the intimidation, and always owns every scene he's in. I will admit, it's really the quality of the actor that makes him stand out, as I always found the character a little underutilized in the movies. With that said, other avenues in the "Star Wars" franchise, including the animated shows like "The Clone Wars" and "Tales of the Jedi" have fleshed him out into a well rounded antagonist. In the movies, he was an okay character, who's main appeal came from a great actor in the role ... in the expanded universe outside the movies, Count Dooku earned his mantel as one of the great "Star Wars" villains.  

    

#9 Jango Fett 

While this armored bounty hunter doesn’t reach the same heights as Boba Fett, he at least functioned as more of a character in the plot of the movie, which is definitely a plus, and something that even his predecessor lacked. Plus, he has some of the best action scenes in the series, proving to hold his own against a Jedi master in a heated battle. Debuting in “Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones”, Jango Fett proved once again that the bounty hunters are some of the best villains that Star Wars has to offer, and that extra bit of coolness always goes a long way.

#8 The Grand Inquisitor

Standing tall at number eight on my list is The Grand Inquisitor, who made his debut as a main villain in the TV series “Star Wars Rebels”. With the evil Empire securing its grip on the galaxy, Darth Vader dispatches the Inquisitor as his personal assassin to hunt down, and eliminate all surviving children of the force, and he’s apparently quiet effective at getting his point across. 

This character is awesome right off the bat, especially when voiced by Jason Isaacs, the same talent who played Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter series ... you just can’t go wrong there. As you’d expect, Jason Isaacs supplies the character with a deliciously evil performance, making every one of his actions seem disgustingly wicked. Other appearances of the character in shows like the live-action "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series have admittedly been less impressive, but the animated version of the character has his place among my favorites.   

#7 Grand Admiral Thrawn

After the conclusion of the original Star Wars trilogy, the very first novels of the expanded universe known as “The Thrawn Trilogy” came into play. The titular Grand Admiral Thrawn was the main antagonist of these books, and has sense become one of the most beloved characters in the expanded universe. I was first introduced to him as one of the main threats of the TV series “Star Wars Rebels”, but after words I dug up every comic, novel and video game associated with the character. Even without his expanded material, his presentation in both the animated and live-action TV shows would have Thrawn rank among my favorites. 

Unlike other villains in the Star Wars universe, Thrawn has a certain respect for both his adversaries and peers. He loves art, he isn’t driven by his ego, and while he’s ruthless, his actions are very unique, yet devastating. This isn’t a villain who lashes out and attacks in full force, instead he’s more calculated, strategic, and his greatest weapon is his intelligence. Despite being a more laid back and chill adversary, he still has a commanding presence, and will always be a fan favorite of the expanded universe.  

      

#6 Boba Fett

Good old Boba Fett ... ever sense he first appeared in “The Star Wars Holiday Special”, this mysterious masked bounty hunter has become one of the biggest cult icons of all the Star Wars characters, as well as launched countless video games, comic books and novels. Had I included his expanded media, he would have ranked among my top three without question. 

Still, even when going by the movies and TV shows, he's that fun extra villain who dose little, yet always leaves an impression. His story has also expanded through the different TV spin-offs, and has given him more layers. Not even George Lucas himself could have predicted the cult fandom that would grow with Boba Fett, and now, he's arguably one of the greatest supporting villains of all time. 

#5 Jabba the Hutt

Next on my list is the most disgusting villain in the galaxy. It's the massive space slug who rules his own criminal empire with an iron fist. Jabba the Hutt made his first appearance as a main villain in “Star Wars 6: Return of the Jedi”, and has sense made appearances in other Star Wars movies and TV shows. This is a different kind of villain, as he doesn’t have any fighting capabilities, and doesn’t look like much of a threat on the surface, but he’s always large and in charge when confronted by his enemies. It’s the way he rules, and dominates that makes him a threat to our hero’s. He’s a fun gross-out creature, with the most unique design of any villain, and he’s got one of the greatest evil chuckles I’ve ever heard.

#4 The Emperor 

Emperor Palpatine has been the big threat in just about every Star Wars movie, has appeared countless times in TV shows, and he’s still the greatest threat the galaxy ever faced. I’m not sure how to adequately describe a perfect movie villain, but I certainly know it when I see it. Personally, I think that Ian MacDiarmid’s performance as The Emperor is one of the greatest villain performances of all time ... right up there with Bela Lugosi as Dracula. 

He just has this really evil presence, and everything he says in that quiet voice gives me chills. There’s a lot of mystery to this character, as we don’t know that much about him, and I love it when there’s a mystique to a villain. It just makes them so much more interesting. He’s also very calm and collected, like he’s in complete control of the game, and that just makes him feel all the more threatening. 

#3 Darth Maul

Redeeming himself as one of the greatest villains in the Star Wars cannon is Darth Maul ... a villain with a face that would be fitting for your darkest nightmares. Maul made his first appearance in the 1999 motion picture “Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace”, and while he initially got many people excited, he unfortunately got cut-short before he could leave a real impact. Thankfully, the 2008 TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” brought him back from the dead, and gave him the chance to shine as the menacing villain that he was always meant to be. 

Voice actor Samuel Witwer supplies Maul with a deeply chilling voice, and a lot of class. His design is fantastic, and it was just a real treat to finally see what this bad-boy is made of. This portrayal of the character was so successful that he took on a life of his own, appearing in further animated TV shows, live-action cameo's, he got his own graphic novels, and was given a more fleshed out back story in the expanded universe. He might have been taken from the movies before his time, but his life continues to grow in all the spin-offs, TV shows, Star Wars literature, and he’s found a place among my personal favorite villains that the series has ever created. 

#2 Darth Vader 

Well, here he is ... arguably one of the all time greatest ... if not the all time greatest movie villain ever. Without question, Darth Vader rains supreme, and is absolutely my  favorite character to originate from any of the movies. Right from the first movie, he’s intimidating and a powerful enemy, with one of the sharpest designs I’ve ever seen. 

That awesome helmet, long cape, red light-saber and the voice of James Earl Jones, it’s just perfect. Throw in a complex story of him going from a tragic fallen hero, too evil galactic conqueror and then in the end he becomes a hero again, and you got yourself an A+ bad guy. This was the first time I ever found myself caring for a villain, and with that bit of emotional depth, and back story mixed with his awesome look and design, that’s the perfect ingredients for one of Hollywood’s best villains, and my personal favorite character from the Star Wars film series. So ... why is he not on the number one spot? Well, I also view Vader as a hero in his own right, and every other list probably has him at number one. As such, I'm going against the norm, and awarding the number one spot to my actual favorite "Star Wars" villain ... but first. 

Before I reveal my #1 pick, here are some Honorable Mentions...

Kylo Ren

Governor Tarkin

Hondo 

The Son

General Grievous

                                           
#1 Cad Bane

Let’s make this list a bit more interesting, as I just wouldn’t be honest with myself if i didn't give the top spot the galaxy’s greatest, and coolest bounty hunter. That’s right, Boba Fett is only second rate in comparison to Cad Bane. Premiering in the TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, Cad Bane was the surprise villain that no-one saw coming, and completely stole the show. He has such as awesome design, with those blood red eyes, the cowboy attire, and that big black hat. 

It's all very reminiscent of Lee Van Cleef, A.K.A Angel Eyes from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". Likewise, his voice is downright chilling, and probably the most distinct voice to go with any villain from the show. In general, the villains of the Star Wars universe typically come off as menacing and powerful, but they never seem to be having fun with what they do. In the case of Cade Bane, he loves every second of what he does, as he always has that wicked smirk, and always making remarks with dark sense of hummer. You also wouldn't expect him to be much of a challenge against the Jedi, yet he always takes control of every situation he’s in. 

He fights dirty, and can hold his own against two Jedi masters in hand to hand combat. Even when apprehended, he still acts cool and collected, like he’s got a plan up his sleeve. His greatest weapon is his intellect, as he's proven resourceful, calculating, ruthless, and knows a hero's weakness. Yet, despite all that, Bane even has a reserved sense of honor, as he teaches his superiors  ... "If your going to kill someone, you do it like a man!" From his menacing voice, to his wicked charm, to his awesome look, to his laid back and slimy personality, and his methods of raising the stakes ... Cad Bane may not have been featured in any of the movies ... but he is absolutely my favorite "Star Wars" villain.   

      

Thanks for reading my countdown, and stay tuned ... a count down of my last 10 favorite Star Wars hero's is up next. 

To Be Continued ...

My Top 10 Favorite Star Wars Girls

The Star Wars saga is one of the largest franchises of all time, and with a saga this big, you’re going to have a lot of characters. I’ve often considered the Star Wars series to have some of the most memorable characters of all time, and with its expanded universe in all the different movies and TV shows, there’s lots of great characters to choose from. So, for this special 3 part post, I’ll be counting down my Top 30 favorite Star Wars characters. That’s obviously a lot to cover in one list, so I’ll break the characters down into three categories ... the girls, the villains and the other hero’s. For part 1, I’ll be covering my 10 favorite female characters, weather their hero's or villains. 

#10 Fennec Shand

First on my countdown, we take a walk on the wild side with one of my favorite bounty hunters. Debuting in the live-action series "The Mandalorian", and making further appearances in animated shows like "The Bad Batch", Fennec Shand is that wild-card who adds a little spice to all the action. Sometimes she'll be a close ally, while other times she'll have you locked on sight as a target. She certainly has her own interests at heart, yet displays loyalty to those she feels earned her respect. Actress Ming Na Wen, memorable for her roles in "Agents of Shield", "Street Fighter", "The Batman" animated series, and Disney's "Mulan" carves another iconic role for her filmography, and another welcome addition to the "Star Wars" family.    

 #9 Hera 

Much like the crew of the Millennium Falcon from the original trilogy, the "Ghost Crew" of the TV series "Star Wars Rebels" think of themselves as a tight family. The titular mother of the group comes in the form of a green alien pilot named Hera. She’s the voice of reason, and it’s a real treat to finally have a Twi’lek alien as a main character. 

As a child, Hera had one burning desire, to break free from the shackles of war. Her freedom takes shape as a pilot fighting for a greater cause. When the character transitioned to live-action shows, Hera was played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who brough her to live with equal conviction. As a side note, she is married to Ewan McGregor, the same talent who famously played Obi-Wan Kenobi ... they really keep the franchise in the family (Ewan's uncle Denis Lawson also played Wedge in the original movie trilogy).   

 #8 Jyn Erso 

Jyn Erso is the second female character of the Star Wars universe who's the main star of a movie, that being the 2016 film "Rouge One: A Star Wars Story". She's played by Felicity Jones, who is a welcome newcomer to the cast of noteworthy "Star Wars" performers, and while the character of Jyn isn't the absolute best, she at least stands out as a memorable character in her own right. She has a layered back story, I cheered for her, and she looked cool, despite coming-off like someone who came out of "The Hunger Games" franchise.  

   

#7 Qi’ra 

Supplying all the meaningful seeds of heart in the story of a young Han Solo is love interest Qi’ra, who’s brought to life with an equal amount of charisma by Emilia Clarke. Being completely transparent for a moment, I’ve had a crush on Emilia Clarke ever sense I fell in love with her breakout character from “Game of Thrones”, so I can’t help but feel like I was already conditioned to like her on some level, regardless of what her character in the film was going to be like. As it turned out, Qi’ra has now landed with me as one of my new favorite Star Wars girls. This is a woman who shows affection for those around her, yet still has a shady side. 

Her love for Han is genuine, yet her current place in life is forced to serve an evil crime lord, and in order to keep the ones she loves safe, she has to commit to doing some awful things in his name. When she goes on her journey with Han, you can see her open up, genuinely enjoy herself for who she knows she is, and convey her feelings toward Han, yet you can still see the person behind her eyes who knows that she just can’t fully escape the life she’s trapped in. That’s the kind of character worthy of Shakespeare status, but as of now, the franchise has only given us a taste of what she’s capable of, and I look forward to discovering more.     

#6 Padme Amidala 

Of all the iconic Star Wars girls, Padme took the longest for me to connect with. While I have nothing but love for actress Natalie Portman, the character in of herself always felt “so so” to me. 

Yet, over time, I’ve come to respect her position as … not only an iconic female figure in the Star Wars cannon, but a genuinely strong character in her own right. She really shines in the animated CGI TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, as someone who fights for peace in a different kind of battle arena, and is all around a dignified portrayal of a strong woman who doesn't use weapons. Even her short portrayal in the 2003 micro series “Star Wars: Clone Wars” puts her in the spot-light as someone who’s both resourceful, and quick to think on their feet. Weather live-action, or animated, Padme has her place in the hall of honored Star Wars girls, and earns a spot on my countdown.  

#5 Rey 

This is the first female character of the Star Wars universe to be the main hero of a movie, which is already a nice touch. In "The Force Awakens", we’re introduced to Rey as a lone scavenger on a desert planet. In the film, her character unfolds like a map, as she discovers what kind of life exists outside her small planet but she also struggles with her attachment to the hope that her family will come back again. I liked Rey well enough at first, but as these curve balls kept hitting her left and right, I really got involved in her story, and was excited to see the direction this character was going to take. 

Then the sequels happened ... mmm ... she was unfortunately never quiet as enduring after that first movie. Thankfully, actress Daisy Ridley consistently shined in this role, bringing a lot of passion, and energy to the character. In fact, it’s one of those cases where I don’t even see an actress, I just see that character alive on screen. While the character has developed mixed feelings among fans, I can't help but love Rey ... although, it's really thanks to Daisy Ridley, as she adds more layers and depth to the character then the movie scripts did. 

#4 Sabine 

Now here's a special character that deserves more attention. Just like the previously mentioned Qi'ra, Sabine's life was a journey with complicated twists and turns, but that only made her all the more interesting. Premiering in the "Star Wars Rebels" TV show, Sabine was the feisty weapons technician of the group, and has a talent for turning destruction into an art form. She's brimming with personality, and just enough compelling humanity to balance out. Her armor has a striking resemblance to the bounty hunter Boba Fett, just with a pink makeover, and it really helps give Sabine her own identity. Her journey is also rich with layers, to the point where I fond her more compelling then the shows actual lead.     

#3 Asajj Ventress 

Hand's down, one of the greatest villains of the entire Star Wars universe, and subsequently one of the best female characters. She is one of the first female dark Jedi's, and when Asajj Ventress made her grand appearance as one of the main antagonists in the Clone Wars saga, fans were very satisfied. She has everything you’d want from a cool villain ... a feeling of shadow menace ... check, a sad back story ... check, a menacing design ... check, a sinister voice that will make your skin crawl ... check, a personal journey of her going from evil villain to anti hero that just wants to find her place in the world ... check and double check. I don’t think I need to list any more reasons as to why she belongs on my list, but I will say that she’s one of the few villains from the expanded Star Wars universe who can really hold their own as a memorable character in the saga.   

#2 Princess Leia   

 

Well, here she is, the most classic of all the "Star Wars" girls. I love how despite being a princess character that often needs to be rescued, she can still hold her own very well. She’s never entirely helpless, she thinks fast, helps her friends get out of tight situations, and when it’s time to fight, she gives it her all. 

She’s even one of the first Princesses in a big franchise who proved she can rescue herself before the main hero’s get that privilege. The scene in Return of the Jedi, where she kills Jabba the Hutt is just the perfect example of that. Of cores, she sponsored two of the most famous "Star Wars" costumes ever, the first being the "Cinnamon Bun Hairstyle" from the first film, and the second one being the "Metal Bikini" from Return of the Jedi. Overall, Princess Leia is a classic character that has a sharp edge, good character development, and has insanely good looks to match. However, even though she's the most famous, there is still one more that I like most. 

Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some Honorable Mentions ... 

Duchess Satine 

Katooni

Barriss Offee

Bo Katan 

Aurra Sing 

#1 Ahsoka Tano

Kicking butt at #1 on my list is Anakin’s young apprentice Ahsoka Tano. Love her or hate her, I think that she's earned the status as a classic character in the expanded Star Wars universe, and personally ... she's my girl! Ahsoka is the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, and their relationship of master and Padawan is one of the franchises most enduring. Admittedly, I didn’t get a good first impression of her at all when she debuted in “The Clone Wars” movie, but then I really grew to like her a lot in the TV series of the same title. 

After watching all seven seasons of the show, as well as the "Star Wars Rebels" TV series, she’s become my personal favorite. She was later re-introduced in the live-action series "The Mandalorian", with one of my favorite actresses Rosario Dawson in the role ... and doing an excellent job recapturing the spirit or original voice actress Ashley Eckstein. With her big blue eyes, unique alien design, enthusiasm and personal struggles, she’s every bit as cute as she is enduring. Of all the female characters from this series, I felt that I went on a journey with Ahsoka. It’s honestly been a real joy watching this once shallow character grow and mature over the cores of the series. Not only did Ahsoka grow and change, but her individual arc's, ranging from her departure with the Jedi order, to her climactic confrontation with Darth Vader, are some of the best moments of the whole saga. She’s a skilled fighter, strong, brash and has a really fun, spunky personality. She can also be wise and patient at times too, which helps give her more character depth. All in all, Ahsoka may have started a little rough around the edges, but she grew a respectable place among all the different Star Wars characters, and is personally my favorite of all the Star Wars girls.  

Thanks for reading my countdown, and join me next time as I count down my favorite villains ... 

To Be Continued ...