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Those Star Wars characters that were taken way too soon!
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Admittedly, some deaths are definitely necessary along the way when telling such an epic tale like the ones found in Star Wars
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With the loss of powerful Jedi Masters, despicable villains and lovable rogues
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helping to add emotional weight or delivering a much-needed win in various projects over the years
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But then there are those sudden fatalities that just felt like a gigantic waste of some of the coolest and most intriguing figures this franchise has ever known
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So I'm Gareth, this is WhatCultureStarWars, and here are 10 Star Wars deaths that should never have happened
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10. Val Introduced during the spin-off tale known as Solo, A Star Wars Story, Val was a rather spiky criminal seen working alongside the likes of Tobias Beckett and Han Solo early on in the flick
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But then, just as viewers were beginning to warm to the initially quite cold but undeniably cool scoundrel
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Val suddenly sacrificed herself in order to give her team the best chance of completing the mission to steal some coaxium off a transport
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This wasn't actually the original plan, though. According to the terrific Tandyway Newton, the star bringing Val to life on screen
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her character actually survived in the script, instead just falling away and disappearing after the aforementioned explosion
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so she could potentially show up in another Star Wars story. In the end, the fact that moment was too huge a set piece to create
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resulted in a change of plan. It was simpler to just have Val die instead, as Newton recalled
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But it's hard to argue with the actor's opinion of the entire thing being a big, big mistake
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After Star Wars finally opted to introduce the first black woman with a quote-unquote real role in one of these movies
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only to stupidly kill her off within the first 40 minutes. Now I want to know who was your favourite character in a Star Wars spin-off story
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Was it Val before she was stupidly killed? Or somebody else? You let me know in the comments section down below
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9. Maroc From the moment a certain red spinning lightsaber-wielding figure popped up during the trailers for Disney Plus' Ahsoka series
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folks began speculating about exactly who this potential Inquisitor was. Said mystery continued on throughout the first few episodes of The Marvelous Show
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with the spooky helmet-wearing mercenary known as Marok, largely just knocking around with Balen's skull and Morgan Elsbeth
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or clashing with Ahsoka Tano, all without officially revealing who slash what was underneath said mask
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Would Marok ultimately reveal himself to be one of Ahsoka's old enemies from her past
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or even a more recognisable and shocking face like Ezra Bridger? Sadly not
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He was just unceremoniously killed during his second duel with Anakin Skywalker's apprentice in Episode 4
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with the only real clue as to who Marrock was coming in the form of the green mist and screams that escaped his body
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after Tano unleashed the fatal blow. Was he actually a night brother all along
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That green gas certainly looks similar to the magic used by the Nightsisters seen elsewhere in the series
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a power that has also been used to bring the dead back to life. Perhaps Dave Filoni and Cole still have plans for the strange force-sensitive villain in the upcoming Season 2
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and will find a way to reanimate one of the biggest mysteries in recent Star Wars history
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If not though, most would likely agree the intriguing new antagonist was taken way too
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soon, being disappointingly cut down without ever fully explaining what in the hell Maroc
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even was 8 Admiral Ackbar The iconic fish Star Wars military commander who famously let audiences know it was a TRAMP during the original trilogy had a decent old run in the Skywalker saga
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but you would be lying if you said you weren't even a little bit frustrated about the way the great Admiral Giel Ackbar's time in the galaxy far, far away was brought to an end
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After surviving the Clone Wars, helping the Rebel Alliance take down a Death Star
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and eventually going on to serve in Leia Organa's resistance, the Mon Calamari legend was swiftly murdered in the most underwarming way
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imaginable in Episode VIII, The Last Jedi. When said daughter of Vader was blasted out of the Rattus by the First Order
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Akbar was among the many blown to smithereens during that shocking attack
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That was it. One of the most respected military leaders ever to fight the good fight in Star Wars
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just gone. And with only a throwaway line acknowledging his sudden death
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Though Akbar was never a starring figure in those original flicks or his TV appearances
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he definitely deserved a more dramatic and emotional send-off or sacrifice than the waste of an off-screen end he was given in the sequels
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Fans aren't the only ones who were annoyed by the way this death went down either, with Tim Rose, the man inside the suit
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also expressing disappointment over such a lackluster conclusion for the rebel hero
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7. Captain Phasma Another eye-catching antagonist dispatched way too early into their run in the galaxy far, far away
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popped up during the sequel trilogy, with the shiny badass known as Captain Phasma instantly turning heads
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from the moment she popped up in Episode 7 The Force Awakens promotional material
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I mean, just look at her. A rather uneventful showing in that first sequel flick got her off to a pretty poor start
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as supposedly one of the First Order's most intimidating leaders. But there was still hope she could redeem herself after it was revealed
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she'd survived the destruction of Starkiller Base in the 2017 follow-up. Sadly though, Phasma's return didn't last all that long
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and she was ultimately beaten by Finn in what ended up being her only real duel in the series
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Had Phasma somehow found a way to cheat death once again after her Episode 8 The Last Jedi Fall Through the Flames
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then perhaps there's a world where Episode 9 ended with one hell of a rematch between the Chrome Captain and Finn
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Watching a scarred and unhinged Phasma wrecking everyone in her path to finally get revenge on the traitor who ruined her life would have made for a seriously compelling addition to the poorest entry into the sequel series
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It also would have kept the Stormtrooper from becoming yet another utterly wasted villain
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6. Supreme Leader Snoke Whilst on that subject of completely fumbled bad guys in the Star Wars sequels
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arguably the most unexpected and annoying murder of the entire Skywalker saga went down during Episode 8, The Last Jedi
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After being built as the series' new big villain to be feared in the prior flick
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and putting in a frightening shift during his first few moments in Rian Johnson's follow-up
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the unsettling Supreme Leader Snoke appeared to be the real evil deal
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Despite years of fans dreaming up compelling scenarios where he would have been revealed as Palpatine's master Darth Plagueis
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or perhaps even the Mortis god known as the Sun though, Snoke was eventually chopped in two before those answers could be revealed in Episode 8
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Then, if not getting the chance to see Snoke really flex his muscles as the galaxy's latest seemingly unstoppable villainous force wasn't bad enough
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Episode 9 The Rise of Skywalker ultimately came along, and completely ruined the character by simply letting folks know he was just an artificial strangcast used by the returning Emperor Palpatine to control the galaxy from a fair As the apparent top villain of the films Snoke was always destined to be struck down at some
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point of course, would have perhaps killed the need to foolishly resurrect old Palpatine as that
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final film's main antagonist, and perhaps save Snoke from one of the silliest and most
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dissatisfying origin stories in Star Wars history. Cheers for watching this video today
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Tap on that subscribe button down below for more WhatCulture Star Wars magic
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This is where the fun begins. Number 5, General Grievous From the sequel's completely wasted baddies
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to the prequel's collection of underutilized villains now, and to a merciless cyborg almost as formidable as Darth Vader himself
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Bursting onto the scene during Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith, the grotesque and sinister General Grievous simply commanded your attention right away
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his spluttering, cough-growling mechanical voice, and collection of lightsabers from many a defeated Jedi
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quickly had folks interested in this new monster of a Kaleesh. Before they could learn much more about him on the big screen, however
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Grievous was gunned down by a usually quite civilized Obi-Wan Kenobi. He would at least get a few more moments to shine in the Clone Wars animated series
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with that show even exploring the General's fascinating lair. But had Grievous managed to wiggle out of danger once again
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instead of falling to Kenobi after one of the more disappointing lightsaber duels of the prequels
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there's every chance the Jedi-killing general could have continued serving Emperor Palpatine's new empire throughout the Rebels series
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Imagine that! Or perhaps a magnificent clash with fellow cyborg Vader could have occurred
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after Darth Sidious decided Grievous' talents were no longer needed. Either way, there were still a few interesting Grievous stories left to tell before his rushed death on Utapau
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Number 4, Padme Amidala Padme Amidala's death was one of those that always had to go down at some point before the original trilogy got underway
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But Luke and Leia's mother dying due to the fearless senator losing the will to live
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was an utterly horrendous way to kill off the important figure, and should never have happened
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Instead, having Padme go into hiding, while still sending Luke off to be with his uncle
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and having the Organas look after Leia to protect her children from Darth Vader
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could have led to a far more emotional and dramatic end later down the road
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Amidala could have secretly helped build the Rebel Alliance that would oppose the oppressive Empire
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and possibly even checked in on young Leia from time to time too
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making the princess's eventual comments about her mother during Episode VI Return of the Jedi feel a little less odd in hindsight
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Vader would have then no doubt discovered her at some point, which would have led to another awkward chat with a lying Palpatine
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and perhaps a far more tragic death for Padme after she once again turned down the chance to join her hubby
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without Obi-Wan there to tell him to let her go. Vader's anger at being lied to and betrayed would have likely taken over
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before lashing out and killing his beloved in a fit of dark side rage
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Number 3, Cad Bane Thankfully, the baddest bounty hunter in the galaxy not named Boba Fett
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can still be found popping up in new Star Wars projects in the wake of his unexpected death in the Book of Boba Fett
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But even with Cad Bane being confirmed to return in the Bad Batch's third season
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set just after the Clone Wars, many are still upset over the fact this blue sharpshooter life was seemingly ended not long after his live debut Sure it was still awesome watching Fett clash with his old mentor during that aforementioned Disney Plus series finale
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However, if this death is actually final, then Boba's stabbing of the Juros Cowboy has robbed fans of a number of equally compelling showdowns
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Just imagine watching Bane exchange blaster fire with Din Djarin, clash with Ahsoka Tano once again
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or possibly even share the screen with fellow blue-skinned villain Grand Admiral Thrawn in live action during the New Republic timeline
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Hopefully then, like many of the other apparently dead Star Wars personalities over the years
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this isn't actually the end for the beloved menace. Because if it is, the coolest gunslinger out there being taken out this early into his live-action run would be seriously anticlimactic
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2. Morgan Elsbeth Hopping back to Disney Plus' latest live-action Star Wars TV adventure
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the first season of Ahsoka saw another enigmatic individual getting killed rather unexpectedly
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Before showing up in this show, Morgan Elspeth was last seen colliding with the titular Force Wielder during the Mandalorian's second season
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Here, Ahsoka defeated the Magistrate, leading to Tano requesting information about Grand Admiral Thrawn's whereabouts
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Jumping forward to the time of Ahsoka's first season, and after ultimately escaping the clutches of the New Republic
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and discovering that her master was trapped on the extra-galactic world of Peridia
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Elspeth eventually jumped to that galaxy to rescue Thrawn. And after all that hard work, she was then rewarded with the gift of shadows and powerful blade of Talzin
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before agreeing to stay behind and keep Tano and co. from thwarting Thrawn's plans to get off-world
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But it was that move which eventually resulted in this spooky Nightsister suddenly being taken out by Tano
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after yet another wonderful duel between the two in the show's finale. Not long after seemingly being given a boost by the Great Mothers
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and handed such an impressive weapon. Elsbeth was just given the same treatment as Marok
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sliced through the stomach before she could ever really grow into a properly terrifying threat
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which was a bit of a letdown, really. Again, Night Sister magic could help reverse her death
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some feel was a waste of the character's potential later on, but for now, it does seem like Elsbeth's story has come to a frustratingly premature end
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Number 1, Mace Windu After just being swatted away by the dark side duo of Darth Sidious and Anakin Skywalker in Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith
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the chance to have the magnificent Samuel L. Jackson dust off his cloak in future installments as the unforgivably wasted Mace Windu
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was seemingly and rather infuriatingly shot out of the window too. Making it so, this one-armed Windu instead fell from this great height and remarkably survived though
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After all, Jedi can fall from amazing distances according to the actor himself
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before then going into exile like Obi-Wan and Yoda did, could open up the opportunity for one last terrific ride for Jackson
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in one of Star Wars' upcoming live-action series. Who wouldn't want to watch a live-action, grizzled old Windu
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interacting with an older Ahsoka Tano? Or the son of the bounty hunter he decapitated on Geonosis all those years ago again, eh
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As recently as 2022, Jackson was also talking about trying to convince Bryce Dallas Howard
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to get him into the Mandalorian series. telling the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he was ready to return
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and could learn lightsaber left-handed. So what are you waiting for, guys
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It's time to undo one more Star Wars death and bring some mace back to this place


