1983’s Return of the Jedi is generally regarded as the weakest entry in the original Star Wars trilogy. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie; it just didn’t quite manage to live up to the impossible heights of the 1977 original and The Empire Strikes Back. Jedi is still the perfect culmination of Luke Skywalker’s hero’s journey.
While Jedi acts as a conclusive finale to the tragedy of Darth Vader, the threequel introduced a handful of iconic new characters to the Star Wars ensemble (and a couple of not-so-memorable ones).
8 Salacious B. Crumb
The little Kowakian monkey-lizard Salacious B. Crumb is introduced as the jester of Jabba the Hutt’s court. Whenever Jabba needs cheering up, Crumb is there to make him laugh.
The most notable thing about Crumb is his signature shrill, high-pitched cackle, which is irritating enough to prevent viewers from finding him as amusing as Jabba does.
7 Wicket W. Warrick
The Ewoks are one of the most controversial elements of Return of the Jedi. After The Empire Strikes Back took a subversively dark turn with its unsettling Force visions and the “I am your father” twist, some Star Wars fans objected to Jedi going the other way into lighthearted territory with a bunch of spear-wielding teddy bears.
But some fans love the Ewoks. They managed to defeat the Empire with weapons made out of rocks and sticks. The main Ewok character in the movie is Wicket W. Warrick, who develops an endearing friendship with Leia when he finds her wandering around the forests of Endor.
6 Bib Fortuna
The opening act of Return of the Jedi introduces Bib Fortuna as Jabba the Hutt’s fiercely loyal right-hand man. The post-credits scene of The Mandalorian’s second-season finale revealed that after Luke brought down Jabba’s criminal enterprise, Fortuna took over his throne.
While Bib Fortuna isn’t given much specific characterization in Jedi, his beady yellow eyes and the fleshy ponytail that snakes from the back of his head around his neck give him an unforgettably creepy appearance, which is an appropriate look for the guy who greets people at the door of Jabba’s palace.
5 Mon Mothma
Ahead of the Rebellion’s final victory, Return of the Jedi introduced their leader, Mon Mothma. Without Mon Mothma, there wouldn’t be a Rebel Alliance, and without a Rebel Alliance, the galaxy would have to just give up hope and put up with Imperial rule.
Mon Mothma only appeared briefly in Jedi to explain the plan to blow up the second Death Star, but she’s since reappeared in such beloved Star Wars projects as Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, and The Clone Wars, and she’s set to have a supporting role in Andor.
4 Nien Nunb
The Millennium Falcon would normally be piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca, but in the final battle of Return of the Jedi, they were busy down on Endor, so Han handed over the keys to his pal Lando Calrissian, who chose Nien Nunb as his co-pilot.
Brought to life by masterful puppetry, Nunb is an arms dealer from Sullust who quietly gets on with his job. Despite the language barrier, he’s shown to have a playful, friendly relationship with Lando.
3 Admiral Ackbar
Although the backstory filled in by subsequent media took him back to the Clone Wars, Admiral Ackbar was introduced as the mastermind behind the attack on the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi.
Ackbar managed to become one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars canon with a single line: “It’s a trap!” This is one of the saga’s most heavily memed quotes, and that’s saying a lot because just about every single quote from the saga has been turned into a meme at this point.
2 Jabba The Hutt
Jabba the Hutt was first introduced as a human in a deleted scene from the 1977 original that was included in the much-maligned Special Edition, with CGI awkwardly plastered over actor Declan Mulholland. The character’s true introduction, both on the big screen and as a Hutt, came in Return of the Jedi’s opening act when the Rebels showed up to save a frozen Han Solo from his wall.
Most of Star Wars’ most memorable villains are Sith Lords, but Jabba managed to intimidate audiences with gangland power alone. He chains up Leia, feeds Luke to a rancor, and ultimately forces them all to walk the plank over the Sarlacc Pit. Jabba has one of the most memorable — and most poetic — Star Wars character deaths, as Leia strangles him with the chains he put her in.
1 Anakin Skywalker
Technically, Star Wars fans were introduced to Anakin Skywalker in the original movie, but he was confined to the Vader suit until he was unmasked at the end of Return of the Jedi. Seeing his puppet-master Emperor Palpatine blast his long-lost son with Force lightning inspired Anakin to return to the light side and kill his master.
Vader isn’t redeemed for years of war crimes and mass murder, but he is redeemed in his son’s eyes. Luke believed there was still good in his father and, in his final moments, his father proved him right. Sebastian Shaw plays the scene beautifully as he asks to look at his son with his own eyes before he dies. When Vader was introduced as a symbol of evil, fans had no idea they’d be so moved by his death.
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