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12 of the Most Underrated 'Star Wars' Characters of All Time

Lucasfilm

The galaxy far, far away is full of beloved and well-known characters. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader are just a few of the names that are not just famous in the Star Wars universe but in our world as well. But what about some of the underrated Star Wars characters that are great in their own way, however, might not get the same amount of attention as those listed above.

It is a galaxy full of Jedi warriors, Sith evildoers, Rebels, smugglers, and more, so it's only natural that there would be plenty of characters that have gone a bit overlooked.

Here are our picks for 12 of the most underrated Star Wars characters of all time in no particular order.

1. Ahsoka Tano

ahsoka tano star wars the clone wars uhdpaper.com 4K 7.997
Lucasfilm/Disney+

If you're as big a Star Wars fan as I am, it's kind of hard to call Ahsoka Tano underrated at this point. Originally appearing in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars as the padawan to Anakin Skywalker, she quickly became a fan favorite after a somewhat rocky introduction into the canon.

Originally voiced by Ashley Eckstein since The Clone Wars, she appeared in Star Wars: Rebels and made her live-action debut in season two of The Mandalorian, where she was played by Rosario Dawson. She made a surprise appearance in The Book of Boba Fett as well.

Ahsoka is still underrated in our mind because she is only just now entering the general pop culture consensus, and the more casual fan is just now learning about her. She'll appear in her own live-action series on Disney+, which will start filming this year and hopefully air sometime next year.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: Rebels
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (voice cameo)

2. Max Rebo

book boba fett max rebo
Lucasfilm

The Star Wars galaxy's most popular musician (or at least we think so), Max Rebo, has made background appearances in numerous movies and shows. He is most often seen playing in nightclubs, and the hideouts of gangsters like Jabba the Hutt but Max Rebo and the Max Rebo band are vastly underrated as characters.

Who is Max? How did he come about? Do we need a Max Rebo origin story? We think so.

Appearances:

  • Return of the Jedi
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: Rebels
  • The Book of Boba Fett

3. Savage Opress

Savage Opress
Lucasfilm

Introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Savage Opress is the legendary Sith Warrior Darth Maul's brother. Captured by the former apprentice of Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress, to be her servant, Opress was taken by the Nightsisters of Dathomir and twisted into an incredibly dangerous servant of the dark side.

Upon finding his brother Maul, who had survived his confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo, the two embarked on a dangerous campaign across the galaxy in a quest for power. Unfortunately for Opress, he was eventually killed by Darth Sidious, who came to kill his former apprentice, Maul.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars

4. Cad Bane

CadBaneTBoBF
Lucasfilm

Fans of The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch know all about the dangerous Duros bounty hunter named Cad Bane. A man capable of standing up to both criminal and Jedi alike, Bane has fought his way across the galaxy, working for crime lords, the Sith, the Empire, and everyone in between. If a job pays, Cad Bane took it.

He made his live-action debut on The Book of Boba Fett, working for the Pyke Syndicate on Tatooine, where he squared off with both Cobb Vanth and Boba Fett. He bested Vanth and Fett at first but was eventually killed by Boba's gaffi stick. However, rumors persist that Bane may have survived his encounter with Boba, but we will have to wait and see on that one.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett

5. Plo Koon

PloKoonCardTrader
Lucasfilm

Jedi Master Plo Koon is from the planet Dorin, serving admirably during The Clone Wars and becoming a vital member of the Jedi Council throughout the conflict. He was also the master responsible for the recruitment of Ahsoka Tano into the order. Although she became Anakin's apprentice, the two maintained a close bond over the years.

He was one of the more skillful warriors in the Jedi order and was the leader of the 104th Clone Battalion, known as the Wolf pack. They fought together throughout the war and became extremely loyal to one another. Tragically, when Order 66 was enacted, the clones turned on Plo Koon and shot his starfighter down.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars

6. Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui Gon Jinn Headshot TPM
Lucasfilm

Jedi Master to Obi-Wan Kenobi and the man who discovered a young Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, Qui-Gon Jinn is as underrated as it gets when it comes to Star Wars. Not only was he responsible for Obi-Wan becoming the Jedi he was, but Qui-Gon was also one of the people who managed to figure out the whole "force Ghost" thing. We'd go on to see Yoda, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa use this power during the series.

A rebellious Jedi, he was never afraid to question the teachings of the Jedi Order and, in many ways, instilled this type of attitude in Anakin unintentionally. Many of these beliefs inadvertently led to Anakin's fall to the dark side, so Qui-Gon's importance to the saga cannot be understated.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Voice cameo)

7. Hondo Ohnaka

Profile   Hondo Ohnaka
Lucasfilm

Legendary space pirate and frenemy to the Jedi, Hondo Ohnaka first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and quickly became a fan favorite amongst viewers of the show. He's charming and hilarious but is also, you know, a pirate. He fought with the Jedi on a fairly regular basis but also helped them a fair amount of times as well.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: Rebels
  • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

8. Kit Fisto

Kit Fisto
Lucasfilm

Jedi Master Kit Fisto first appeared in Attack of the Clones, where he fought in the arena skirmish on Geonosis and the ensuing battle following it. Following it, Fisto would become one of the best warriors in the Jedi order, regularly leading clone troops into action and fighting some of the most dangerous enemies in the galaxy. He also nearly defeated General Grievous in a lightsaber duel but found himself outnumbered by the cyborg and his troops, forcing a retreat.

Fisto was one of the Jedi who went to arrest Chancellor Palpatine at the end of Revenge of the Sith but tragically fell to the Sith Lord's blade.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars

9. Shmi Skywalker Lars

ShmiSkywalkerDatabank 28Repurposed29
Lucasfilm

Put some respect on Shmi's name!

The mother of Anakin Skywalker played one of the most critical roles in the entire Star Wars saga. She and Anakin were enslaved people on Tatooine for much of her son's childhood, and with Anakin being conceived directly through the force, she had this responsibility thrust upon her.

She allowed Anakin to be taken by the Jedi Order to be trained and was eventually kidnapped by Tusken Raiders 10 years after leaving her on Tatooine. Her death caused Anakin to lose himself in his anger and vengeance as he massacred an entire village of Tusken Raiders.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (A vision)

10. Bossk

Bossk
Lucasfilm

Bossk'wassak'Cradossk, better known as just Bossk, was a Trandoshan who was one of the bounty hunters tasked by Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back to find Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. Although he wouldn't complete that contract, Bossk would remain a figure within the Star Wars universe, including as a mentor to a young Boba Fett during the Clone Wars.

He would work with the Empire and Jabba the Hutt during the original trilogy, and the last we see of him was in Jabba's palace before the yacht battle in Return of the Jedi.

Appearance:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

11. Captain Rex

Star Wars The Clone Wars Rebels Captain Rex
Lucasfilm

Anakin Skywalker's second in command and the leader of the 501st Battalion during the Clone Wars, Captain Rex is just about as loyal as they come. He fought side by side with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka throughout the Clone Wars, and as Order 66 kicked in, he nearly killed Ahsoka due to the inhibitor chips that were present in all of the Clones' heads.

She managed to remove the chip before he was able to do so, and he went on to become a member of the Rebel Alliance during the war against the Empire. He even served at the Battle of Endor during Return of the Jedi.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch
  • Star Wars: Rebels
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

12. Mon Mothma

Genevieve OReilly as Mon Mothma in Rogue One A Star Wars Story
Lucasfilm

One could argue that Mon Mothma is the most underrated character in all of Star Wars. Why? Well, first of all, she was the main architect of the entire Rebellion, and despite not making her first canonical appearance until Return of the Jedi, she served as the Rebels' leader behind the scenes.

Thanks to appearances in Clone Wars and Rebels, we now know that Mon Mothma was utterly fearless in taking on the Empire, being against them right from the start. Not only that, but she even called Palpatine a "lying executioner" so that everyone could hear her. Mon Mothma was the epitome of what it meant to be a freedom fighter.

She also served as the first chancellor of the New Republic following the Alliance's victory over the Empire.

Appearances:

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: Rebels
  • Star Wars: Rogue One
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
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