TOP 10 Star Wars Villains / Tarkin SPEED-ART
Hey Jack! I'm back and with me another Speed-Art. This one is of Grand Moff Tarkin, who appears in the original Star Wars movie and Rogue One. Now this time, I'm going to be ranking my top 10 Star Wars villains, and this is mostly going to be based on the films. I haven't really read the comics, and I haven't quite finished the Clone Wars or Rebels show, but maybe when I do, I'll update this list. Star Wars has had so many villains throughout its 43-year history, so let's go through my Top 10 from worst to first to see where they land!
10. General Grievous
And coming in tenth place is Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith's General Grievous. Now back in the day, I watched the original 2D Clone Wars show, and Grievous appears in the last episode like a total BAMF. So I was pumped to see him in Episode III. Unfortunately, he didn't quite live up to his potential, but his fight with Obi-Wan and the way he was portrayed were fun to watch on screen, plus all the memes of him stealing lightsabers are classic now.
9. Orson Krennic
Coming in at Number ninth is gonna be Orson Krennic, the main villain from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This is mostly due to Ben Mendelsohn's performance as the character. He plays him as a power-hungry rat with a dark, twisted side. What we see of him is pretty interesting, although his scene with Vader really makes him look like a bit of a chump. But it doesn't take away anything from the performance.
8. Boba Fett/Jango Fett
And Number eight is gonna be a twofer, Boba Fett and Jango Fett. I'm lumping them together since they are technically clones, and they're also a father-son pair in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Now, unfortunately, both of them are also taken out quite easily, especially Boba. He's taken out in a Three Stooges sort of sight gag, but their armour and their presence permeate each scene they're in, prior to their lackluster demises. Although, as it turns out, Boba is not actually gone.
7. Moff Gideon
At number seven is The Mandalorian’s Moff Gideon. Not much is known about him yet, but based on the way he's presented and how he acts – largely thanks to Giancarlo Esposito's performance – his character is topnotch. And the mystery behind why he wants the child and why he yields a DarkSaber is tantalizing, to say the least.
6. Jabba The Hutt
Jabba The Hutt comes in number six. He’s one of the first villains to be mentioned in Star Wars, and one of the first ones seen on screen if you watch the Special Editions – although those inserts suck. In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, he's actually intimidating, weird, and amazingly brought to life through ten or so people working with the giant puppet. It's crazy how commanding and real a special effect can feel, and it still holds up to this day.
5. Darth Maul
Fifth place goes to Darth Maul. Yes, I know he only has a few lines of dialogue, but the Duel of Fates action scene and the makeup work on him elevate him to primo status. Also, his reveal in Solo: A Star Wars Story, was pretty exciting. Plus, they put a lot of work into the character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. I've heard it’s quite amazing, although I haven't quite finished either show yet.
4. Grand Moff Tarkin
Number four is going to be the original big bad from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Grand Moff Tarkin. Peter Cushing's commanding screen presence is on display throughout the original Star Wars movies and really showcases why it's so important to have a grounded villain the audience can really hate. And sure Vader is the coolest cat in the room, but Tarkin is in charge of him here. In the end, his hubris results in him blowing up, so he wasn't the most precautionary villain. And say what you want about the uncanny CGI Tarkin in Rogue One, but it still looked pretty good, and I imagine the technology will only get better in the future.
3. Kylo Ren
Okay, so rounding out the top 3 is gonna be a sequel-era villain, Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren is probably my favourite part of the three sequel films. He follows a linear arc and redemption, and seeing him face off against Palpatine and the Knights of Ren was pretty sweet, although, a little short-lived. He's clearly conflicted throughout but doesn't have to use much dialogue to convey it. Adam Driver's facial expressions and acting do all the hard work. The only part that didn't quite work was the kiss between him and Rey. But ol' Kylo is a bit of a dirty dog and likes to get it while he can. ;)
2. Emperor Palpatine
Okay, and number 2 is gonna be the villain of every Star Wars film, even the ones he's not in, Emperor Palpatine. His political dealings and underhanded deals are the most fun parts to watch of the prequels. And his big reveal in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is a sweet release of his hard work. His next substantial performance would be in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, where he tries to lure Luke to the Dark Side. And then after dying, he's brought back for the sequels. Now, there are some complaints to say about the sequels using him, but Ian McDiarmid is amazing to watch on screen and adds gravitas to every line. He completely owns Episode III with his hammy performance, and the same can be said for Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. So the villain, always in the shadows, comes in second place.
1. Darth Vader
And at number one is the OG Darth Vader. He was menacing in the sequels, and watching Anakin's downfall in the prequels is downright tragic. His eventual redemption in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is amazingly done, and I think that's why he's so well-liked. He's a cold, calculated monster, but in VI, he lets his guard down and allows Luke into his life, which led him to destroy the Sith. Plus, the suit, the breathing, and the voice work by James Earl Jones all add up to a complete classic. So could it be any other? Darth Vader is the number one Star Wars villain of all time.
So that is my ranking of the Top 10 Star Wars villains. Feel free to leave your own ranking below, and if you haven't seen it, check out Emperor Palpatine's surprising evolution on Tell It Animated. And until next time, I’ve been Aaron, and I’ll tell you something later!