Star Wars Characters That Are More Important Than You Knew

The "Star Wars" universe continues to expand. Ever since Lucasfilm was officially sold to the Walt Disney Company for over $4 billion in November 2012, it seems like there has been another announcement about the galaxy far, far away almost every day. In the past decade, we've seen all-new "Star Wars" films and a plethora of shows on Disney+.

Although there is more content than ever before, the "Star Wars" universe is larger than some fans may realize. The first "Star Wars" spinoff novel, "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," was released in 1978. Alan Dean Foster's book was the first addition to the ever-growing Expanded Universe. A majority of the content released before 2012 is now deemed non-canon as part of the Legends rebranding. Many of the characters in both the Legends and modern canon have had a major influence on the rest of the "Star Wars" saga.

These "Star Wars" characters are more important than you know.

One of the best scenes in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy is the moment when Darth Sidious-Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) tells "The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise" to Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Palpatine explains that an ancient Sith Lord named Darth Plagueis was able to "influence midi-chlorians to create life" and learned the secret of immortality.

In canon, Darth Plagueis isn't quite as ancient as Palpatine suggests. Palpatine is the apprentice in the story that he tells Anakin. James Luceno's Legends novel "Darth Plagueis" explains the history of their relationship. Palpatine is merely an ambitious politician on Naboo when Plagueis recognizes that he is strong in the force. The Sith have been in hiding for over 1,000 years. Plagueis decides that the only way for them to make a resurgence is to influence the Galactic Senate. He helped orchestrate events that lead Palpatine to become the new Supreme Chancellor. The events of "Darth Plagueis" take place before and during "The Phantom Menace."

However, Palpatine deceives his master. He secretly begins training Darth Maul as his apprentice. Although Plagueis has begun to experiment with midi-chlorians, Palpatine kills him before he unlocks immortality.

Dave Filoni's animated series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," helped initiate a new generation of "Star Wars" fans. However, it was not the first "Star Wars" television show that was set between the events of "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." An animated micro-series, simply titled "Star Wars: Clone Wars," was created by "Samurai Jack" and "Dexter's Laboratory" showrunner Genndy Tartakovsky. Tartakovsky's "Clone Wars" ran for three seasons on Cartoon Network from 2003 to 2005. Similar to Filoni's show, "Clone Wars" explores the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other Jedi Knights during the war against the Separatists.

"Clone Wars" features many of the most popular characters from the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, but it also introduces a few new faces to the franchise. Durge is one of the fiercest opponents that Obi-Wan ever faced. Durge is a member of the Gen'Dai species, a seemingly indestructible alien race that has advanced healing capabilities. Even after Obi-Wan slices him open with his lightsaber, Durge can regrow his limbs and sew his body back together. Dooku employs Durge as a commander in his army of droid forces.

Although Obi-Wan seemingly defeats Durge in "Clone Wars," he managed to survive in the "Republic" comic series. Ultimately, Anakin destroys Durge shortly before the events of "Revenge of the Sith." "Clone Wars" is no longer considered part of canon, but Durge was reintroduced in the new "War of the Bounty Hunters" storyline from Marvel Comics.

There is no "Star Wars" project that is quite as notorious as "The Star Wars Holiday Special." Aired only once on CBS in 1978, "The Star Wars Holiday Special" is a two-hour variety show featuring celebrities like Art Carney, Jefferson Starship, Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, and Diahann Carroll. The story revolves around Luke (Mark Hamill), Han (Harrison Ford), Leia (Carrie Fischer), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) as they celebrate a Wookiee holiday called "Life Day." Chewbacca is desperate to get home to his home planet, Kashyyyk, so he can celebrate with his wife, Mallatobuck (Mickey Morton), also known as "Malla."

"The Star Wars Holiday Special" was such a disaster that Lucasfilm has never officially released it in any format. The only evidence that it exists is a brief animated segment, titled "The Story of the Faithful Wookiee," that was added to Disney+'s "Vintage Star Wars" tab. Before the rise of the internet, the only copies of the special were bootleg tapes of the original broadcast. Malla is still considered to be Chewie's wife in the official canon. She is included in the 2021 anthology book "Life Day Treasury," which pays homage to the holiday from the famously derided television special.

The main storyline for "Shadows of the Empire" presented a challenge for the "Star Wars" creative team. Who would fill the cynical yet heroic role left in Han's absence? Dash Rendar was essentially a new spin on Solo. A fellow Corellian smuggler, Dash helps Luke, Leia, and Lando search for Boba Fett. Like Han, Dash is a flying ace and inherently doesn't trust joining a cause like the Rebellion. However, he is no friend of the Empire. Dash fearlessly sacrifices himself so that the "Millennium Falcon" can avoid its Imperial pursuers.

Despite their similarities, Dash is described as being Han's biggest rival. In the 2011 novel "Shadow Games," Dash reluctantly aids Han and Chewie in a story set before the events of "A New Hope." While "Shadows of the Empire" and a majority of the older "Star Wars" books exist only in Legends, Dash was added to the modern canon thanks to a reference in "Solo: A Star Wars Story: Tales from Vandor" by author Jason Fry.

Claudia Gray's 2019 novel "Master and Apprentice" is one of the best modern "Star Wars" novels. The book provides important insights into Obi-Wan's relationship with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Although the two Jedi appear to be friendly with each other in "The Phantom Menace," they did not always see eye-to-eye. Eight years before "The Phantom Menace," Qui-Gon is invited to join the Jedi Council. Although he is honored, Qui–Gon realizes that if he accepts the invitation, it would mean giving up Obi-Wan as his apprentice.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's relationship becomes even rockier when they are joined by another Jedi Master, Rael Averross. Like Qui-Gon, Averross was trained by Dooku. Averross attempted to teach an apprentice of his own, but his student was tragically killed. When Qui-Gon sees Averross' faults, it strengthens his desire to teach Obi-Wan. He rejects the offer to join the Jedi Council and accepts that his true role is to be Obi-Wan's master. Obi-Wan is impressed by Averross' skills in combat but recognizes that not every Jedi is cut out to be a teacher.

Dark Horse Comics' "Star Wars: Legacy" series is one of the most ambitious storylines in the Legends canon. The series takes place over 100 years after the events of "Return of the Jedi." The Jedi Order has regrouped on the planet Ossus. A Sith army led by Darth Krayt massacres the temple, initiating a new Jedi Purge. Krayt invades Coruscant and takes over the galaxy. Unlike Darth Sidious or Darth Bane, Krayt does not believe in the Rule of Two. He creates a massive legion of Sith Lords known as the "One Sith."

Krayt was once known as A'Sharad Hett, the apprentice of Ki-Adi-Mundi during the Clone Wars. A'Sharad survived Order 66 but turned to the dark side. A'Sharad takes up the ways of the Tusken Raiders. He attempts to kill an infant Luke, but Obi-Wan defeats him in combat. He holds on to his bitterness. A'Sharad remains in hiding and prepares to get revenge on the Jedi Order.

The destruction of the second Death Star plunges the Galactic Empire into chaos. With no centralized leader, the Empire is divided into various fleets, each following a different commander. Grand Admiral Thrawn makes a valiant effort to wage war against the New Republic, but he is killed at the end of "The Last Command." Thrawn's second-in-command, Gilad Pellaeon, is left to lead what remains of the fleet.

Unlike Thrawn, Pellaeon is open to the idea of peace. He served in the Galactic Republic before it became an Empire. In Timothy Zahn's novel "Vision of the Future," Pellaeon brings the war to an end. He signs a peace treaty with the New Republic. Surprisingly, Pellaeon becomes one of Luke's allies in the "New Jedi Order" series. He leads the Imperial Remnant forces to protect the galaxy when the villainous Yuuzhan Vong army invades.

Pellaeon was added to the modern canon thanks to "Rebels." His voice is heard in the episode "Family Reunion — And Farewell."