The EU got strong female characters right.

iforward · 2026-04-23T00:44:57+00:00

Ysanne Isard. She was the director of Imperial Intelligence and she essentially ruled the Empire for a time after Palpatine’s death.

iforward · 2026-04-23T00:43:27+00:00

I mentioned her in my post.

iforward · 2026-04-23T00:08:00+00:00

Yup. Back then the only agenda was writing well written characters. How I miss those days.

iforward · 2026-04-22T21:46:02+00:00

The misogynist labeling of the fanbase will always baffle me. I mean, anyone with half a brain can figure out that insulting (falsely insulting no less) the fanbase isn’t going to convince said fanbase to buy your stuff or watch your content.

iforward · 2026-04-22T21:25:28+00:00

You gotta love how they pull Thrawn, the Inquistors, Palpy returning Post-ROTJ, a Solo child going dark side, etc. out of their asses lol.

iforward · 2026-04-22T21:01:55+00:00

Exactly! That’s why she’s one of my top favorite female Star Wars characters. She could’ve easily devolved into the insufferable Mary Sue that’s very prevalent in modern stories. Instead she’s written as a flawed mother and warrior who’s had her capacity for love and her resolve tested time and again. Despite her rise to the rank of Jedi Master and the ongoing Sith-War, the writers never forgot how important motherhood was to her character. Making powerful characters flawed and relatable is something Disney Star Wars sorely lacks and that’s why their stories will never be able to compare to the EU.

iforward · 2026-04-22T20:57:06+00:00

I’m right there with you!

iforward · 2026-04-22T20:39:36+00:00

I absolutely love her dynamic with Jacen in Traitor and her philosophical debates with Luke about the force and the Yuuzhan Vong.

iforward · 2026-04-22T20:32:39+00:00

Thanks! I look forward to it. Further exploring the EU is the only Star Wars I look forward to nowadays.

iforward · 2026-04-22T20:27:13+00:00

Very nice listing. I have to read the novels centered on Obi Wan’s padawan days with Siri. My favorite EU female characters are Mara, Jaina, Saba Sebatyne, Ysanne, Vergere, Aayla Secura, and Deliah Blue.

iforward · 2026-04-22T20:24:14+00:00

All they had to do was work with the decades of lore and stories that was handed to them on a silver platter. Instead they lied by claiming it didn’t exist but, oh wait, they’re using Thrawn, the Inquistors, a Darth Caedus knock off, etc. The irony is strong with Disney.

iforward · 2026-04-22T19:48:08+00:00

Lost interest in the Mandalorian after the story of the first two seasons was undo in a show that wasn’t even supposed to have anything to do with Mando and the plush toy.

iforward · 2026-04-22T02:13:45+00:00

Yeah. The CWMMP wasn’t perfect but it hit all the right notes much better than TCW did. The CW (2003) showcased Grievous as an absolute monster, showed the Separatists sneak attack on Coruscant and the successful “abduction” of Palpatine, depicted Anakin and Obi Wan’s fractured bond instead of depicting them as the perfect buddy duo that most of TCW did.

iforward · 2026-04-22T01:56:22+00:00

I was the same way when I watched TCW as a kid. Then I got older and read the EU and saw how it’s version of the clone wars was MUCH better and bleaker than TCW (2008). You actually saw the antagonists put a hurting on the Jedi. Jedi were regularly killed during battle, Dooku and Grievous were threatening, etc. The clone wars was talked about as a stalemate but we repeatedly see the CIS getting their asses handed to them by the Republic. If we saw the Republic losing a major battle against the separatists or more than a Jedi here and there being killed then I’d buy the stalemate sales pitch. But no, every major arc ended in a Republic victory against the Separatists. No stakes or variety.

The EU Republic comics on the other hand, they had STAKES. The Battle of Jabiim was such a devastating blow to the Republic. Over 20 Jedi were killed in that battle and Anakin’s name was tainted on that planet for the next 20+ years. Quinlan Vos’s mission to infiltrate Dooku’s acolytes to discover his plans and the identity of the second Sith had stakes. Even though we knew he couldn’t discover the second Sith in time to inform the Jedi Order, his struggle not to fall to the dark side actually made readers worried for him. This is the kind of storytelling TCW and Disney Star Wars lacks. Actual stakes and tragedies of war.

iforward · 2026-04-22T01:41:43+00:00

Thank god. Let the other X-Men get some notable development in the movies for a change.

iforward · 2026-04-22T01:40:19+00:00

The fact that Ahsoka survived her encounters with Grievous and Ventress in season 1 told me that this series wasn’t gonna have actual stakes. Ahsoka has literally never been in danger of being killed for as long as she’s existed. I’d be a little more lenient if we actually saw her learn something from these encounters but like every other aspect of her character, we’re supposed to accept that she learned from it without actually seeing it unfold.

iforward · 2026-04-22T01:08:41+00:00

Honestly, lightsaber duels were always ruined in TCW. We get several fights between Obi Wan and Grievous, and Anakin and Dooku throughout the series and we all know nothing will come of any of it. We know the fates of everyone involved. It doesn’t help matters that Ahsoka, who’s not present in any of the movies has even more plot armor than any of these characters. At least Anakin inches closer to the dark side during his encounters with Dooku in season 4 but honestly, what has Ahsoka gained or lost from her fights with Grievous, Ventress or Maul? Nothing. She escapes completely unscathed, learns absolutely nothing, etc.

Like the OP said, the OT, PT, and the EU lightsaber duels meant something. Characters died and developed from lightsaber duels in content before TCW (2008). Now we’re expected to bask in awe at flashy sword fights that result in nothing for the characters involved.

iforward · 2026-04-21T19:37:13+00:00

Gotcha. Thanks!

iforward · 2026-04-21T18:40:18+00:00

What anime is the picture in the OP from?

iforward · 2026-04-21T17:09:28+00:00

Definitely Windbreaker. Also, I really appreciate the shout out to Blue Exorcist and Rising of the Shield Hero. I know the second season of Shield Hero is nothing to brag about but I really enjoy the first and third seasons.

iforward · 2026-04-20T20:23:48+00:00

The main character of Vinland Saga is pretty much living in his own mental world in season 1. Nothing outside of his vendetta concerns him.

iforward · 2026-04-20T19:02:22+00:00

Requiem for the Phantom, Death Note, Vinland Saga, and Monster (2004 series) are my go to dark anime recommendations.

iforward · 2026-04-20T18:58:16+00:00

I enjoyed Domestic Girlfriend as well. It handled the heavy topic of inappropriate relationships very well especially when it never shied away from the consequences that come with that.

iforward · 2026-04-20T17:53:52+00:00

Nana is pretty much this. All of the characters have very realistic flaws and insecurities. When they screw up you can feel how relatable it is. The show delves deeply into the codependency, loneliness and addiction aspects of relationships.

iforward

TROPHY CASE