Star Wars One-Hit Wonders

Earlier this year I discussed characters that have been in four or more Star Wars films. Some of these characters looked quite similar throughout the years (Yoda, Chewbacca) while other characters were shown from their infancy to their mature adult years (Leia, Luke).

This month I’m taking a look at Star Wars one-hit wonders. Characters that only appeared in one Star Wars feature film. Some of these characters played much larger roles than others — in fact one character only made a very brief appearance — but they all stood out for one reason or another. Even though these characters only appeared in one film, they all made appearances in other Star Wars media — from books, to comics, to video games. More information can be found about all of these characters in Wookiepedia and the StarWars.com Databank.

You never know when a minor character might come back in a television show or even another feature film, so dive in with me now to take a closer look at some Star Wars characters that only appeared in one film. Note: There are far more characters who fit this one-hit wonder description that I have listed in this article. Make sure to mention your favorite one-hit wonders in the comments section!

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

Yaddle

Pop quiz. What species is Yoda? Feel stumped? Don’t be, because somehow the Star Wars universe has not revealed that information. One thing we do know is that whatever species Yoda is, he is not the only one of them. In Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace another Yoda-like creature not only appeared, but she had a seat on the Jedi High Council.

Viewers only get a few small tidbits of time with Yaddle in The Phantom Menace and then she isn’t seen or mentioned in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. If you’d like to learn more about Yaddle’s life pre or post The Phantom Menace, you’ll have to seek out some Legends materials. In Star Wars Tales 5 Yaddle’s Tale: The One Below, you can learn about Yaddle’s early life and how she got her position on the Jedi High Council. And in Death Jedi Quest: The Shadow Trap, which preceded Attack of the Clones, you can discover how she died, which explains her lack of appearances in future Star Wars films.

Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

 

 Zam Wesell

Who was the first female Star Wars baddie? Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, had a brief glimpse of the con-artist Tonnika Sisters (or perhaps two women masquerading as them), but they didn’t do anything sinister in the Mos Eisley Cantina. The Phantom Menace had a short glimpse of bounty hunter Aurra Sing, but again, we only know she’s a villain from Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, not from anything we see in the film.

Arguably the first female character in a Star Wars movie in a villainous role is Zam Wesell in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. Wesell was a female Clawdite shape-shifter who was hired by Jango Fett to assassinate Senator Amidala. Zam Wesell was the first female bounty hunter who had a substantial role in a Star Wars movie and was a great example of a character who wasn’t necessarily fighting for the light or dark side. Wesell was always on her own side — and would work for the highest bidder.

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Breha Organa

Family, and parentage, is such a central part of the seven Star Wars film’s storylines that it’s a bit shocking how little is known about Leia Organa’s adopted mother, Breha Organa. A quick search on the internet (she doesn’t even have her own listing in Ultimate Star Wars!) brings up precious little information about Breha. We do know that she is the Queen of Alderaan and the wife of Senator Bail Organa who worked closely with Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi to save the offspring of Padme Amidala from the hands of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.

We see Breha cradle a tiny Leia in her arms at the end of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, but that is the only glimpse we have of her in a Star Wars film. The only way you can find out more about Breha Organa right now is from the Star Wars: Princess Leia limited comic series, which includes flashbacks to Alderaan when Leia was a young girl. Getting to know Breha and Bail Organa more as characters makes the destruction of Alderaan that much more devastating to Star Wars fans. There’s so much more to be discovered about Breha. How great would it be to see her pop up in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and learn more about her life?

Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Jek Porkins

Garven Dreis, Jon “Dutch” Vander, and Jek Porkins. What do these three Star Wars characters from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope have in common? They were all rebel fighters in the Battle of Yavin. However, only the most dedicated Star Wars fan will be able to remember any of these three pilots’ names beyond Porkins. You could say that Porkins is remembered for all the wrong reasons. The actor was a bit heavy-set and had the name of, well, Porkins. But that’s not the reason Porkins has rised above the rest of the minor pilot characters in fame. William Hootkins (also a fantastic name), the actor who played Porkins, gave his performance the energy and spirit it deserved.

Porkins may have only appeared briefly in a Star Wars film, but he is mentioned in many, many Star Wars Legends books. Any time a character is remembered for literally decades after his original performance it is something to be celebrated. Here’s to you, Jek Porkins!

Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Lobot

Lobot didn’t say a word in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, but he sure left an impression on moviegoers. A human aide to scoundrel Lando Calrissian, Lobot served as a computer enhanced right hand man on Bespin. Lobot could communicate everything you needed to know about him with a glance of his eyes. He was as loyal to Lando as Chewbacca was to Han Solo. There wasn’t really anything all that special about Lobot, but he had an air of mystery to him that struck a chord with moviegoers.

Perhaps it was Lobot’s calmness in dangerous situations, the silliness of his headpiece, or just his name (which yes, was a reference to the word ‘lobotomy’) – but if you mention Lobot’s name in conversation it’s likely even a casual Star Wars fans will know who you are talking about. If you’re looking for more Lobot in your life, check out Marvel’s Star Wars: Lando comic series which debuted in 2015.

Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi

Oola

The original Star Wars trilogy was so low on female characters that any new female character was bound to stick out. In the opening sequence of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi in Jabba’s palace, viewers were treated to several new female characters. The most notable of these characters was Oola, a green skinned Twi-lek slave to Jabba himself.

Oola was memorable partially for her provocative outfit, but more importantly she was the first noticeable female alien character in Star Wars, along with band singer Sy Snootles. Several female alien dancers were added into the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi so it’s easy for more recent fans to not realize the uniqueness of her character at the time of the film’s original release. Oola was also the first of many female Star Wars Twi-leks including Aayla Secura and Hera Syndulla.

It’s truly a shame that Oola never got to say a word in Return of the Jedi, even after her part was expanded for the Special Edition.

Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens

FN-2199

While Star Wars fans were waiting for more scenes with Captain Phasma in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, they were surprised by another scene stealing First Order trooper. In the battle on Takodana, Finn finds himself face to face with a trooper he used to fight with just a short time ago. This trooper also has an eye-opening Z6 riot control baton instead of a simple blaster at his side. It’s always fun to see a new fancy weapon and FN-2199 whipping out that baton and yelling only “Traitor!” added a jolt of excitement to an already entertaining battle sequence.

FN-2199’s only line also started a wave of Star Wars ‘traitor’ jokes such as Matt Martin experienced when he moved from the StarWars.com team to the Star Wars Story Group.

You can read more about FN-2199 in the novel Before the Awakening.

The Cantina Cast

The wretched hive your Jedi Master warned you about!

*Amy Richau can be found on Twitter . She’s also a contributor to  FANGirl Blog and writes about the Broncos on .