Admiral Ackbar Is More Than Just A Meme – He's A Truly Great Star Wars Character
40 years ago, "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" hit theaters, bringing the original trilogy to a conclusion and putting a bookend on one of the most significant events in pop culture history. Yes, we got plenty of Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in the movie, but we also got plenty of new characters for fans to obsess over. Jabba the Hutt, Mon Mothma, Wicket the Ewok, Nien Nunb, and even Jabba's weird little right-hand alien companion Salacious Crumb, to an extent. Arguably, however, the greatest of the new characters introduced in "Episode VI" was none other than Admiral Ackabar, the Rebellion leader who helped take down the second Death Star, putting an end to Palpatine's reign.
For so many of us, Ackbar's name carries some weight. Even those who aren't all that into "Star Wars" will undoubtedly connect him with the infamous line immortally uttered by the brown-skinned amphibious alien: "It's a trap!" And while that line is absolutely deserving of immortality (more on that in a moment), it's almost a shame that the character is, broadly speaking, only really remembered for that line, relegating him to meme status above all else. Four decades removed, though, I believe it's high past time we recognize Gial Ackbar as the great "Star Wars" character he truly is.
The makings of a great Star Wars character
One of the things that helped "Star Wars" endure as an ongoing pop culture concern well beyond the lobby of the movie theater is the fact that the galaxy George Lucas created is so dense. Everyone on screen has a story that is seemingly worth exploring. That's precisely what helped make Boba Fett one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise, despite having right next to no screen time in the original trilogy. In some ways, these relatively minor characters who capture the imagination of fans are the lifeblood of the whole thing. Admiral Ackbar is the pitch-perfect representation of that.
The characters with relatively little screen time (compared to heavy hitters like Luke Skywalker) that catch on tend to have a unique and otherwise interesting look to them. It's fair to say that Ackbar, along with the entire Mon Calamari species he belongs to, does indeed have a compelling appearance. There's also his voice, with Tim Rose playing the character on set and Erik Bauersfeld capturing his unmistakable vocals. Indeed, there's something about that wise, gravely, no-nonsense tone that makes him feel like a leader — someone you would follow into battle without a moment's hesitation.
Speaking of that voice, "It's a trap!" is remembered arguably for the wrong reasons. For one, it's the perfect line at the perfect time, ranking as a truly memorable moment in "Return of the Jedi." Beyond that, it's a genuinely fantastic line reading that was delivered perfectly, allowing that moment to achieve some form of internet immortality in the first place. If the line and execution were not great, that meme status would not have been possible. Even the meme-able moment, in itself, is bigger and better than the meme.
Leave 'em wanting more
During the Disney era, certain "Star Wars" characters have been leaned on an awful lot, with the legacy characters such as Han Solo still anchoring the franchise. But it's a big galaxy with much to explore. Part of what makes Admiral Ackbar great is, particularly isolated to his appearance in "Return of the Jedi," it leaves one wanting more. Seeing him show up in "The Force Awakens" was a real treat for people like me because he had appeared so infrequently over the years. "The Clone Wars" did some work in exploring his heroic past as well, but not everyone digs into the animated side of a galaxy far, far away.
Ackbar's relatively minimal appearances have given more weight to the moments he does get on screen. Maybe that's why his sudden, unceremonious death in "The Last Jedi" felt truly impactful – and why his final words, "It's been an honor serving with you all," which were revealed in the official comic book adaptation of that movie, hit so hard. Ackbar did his duty to better the galaxy, and did so without all of the glory that someone like Luke Skywalker gets for his participation. For decades, he served the greater good thanklessly until his final moments.
But even if we relegate Ackbar to "Return of the Jedi," the movie is made greater for his presence in it. Imagine that movie without his iconic line. Imagine watching the Super Star Destroyer plow into the Death Star without seeing his relieved reaction to this minor victory in a sea of chaos. Try and picture Lando coordinating the single greatest space battle ever committed to film while communicating with someone else. It doesn't work nearly as well, and that's because Admiral Ackbar represents that magical something unique to "Star Wars" that makes it truly great. It's better off with him in it.