Star Wars The Last Jedi Character Review - Captain Phasma (Spoilers)

Summary

In this video review, the reviewer discusses Captain Phasma's disappointing portrayal in *The Last Jedi*. While the character, played by Gwendoline Christie, had great potential as a strong antagonist, the film fails to deliver on that promise. Phasma's role is underutilized, with a brief, anticlimactic fight with Finn and minimal character development. The reviewer highlights how Phasma, like Boba Fett, suffers from excessive hype but lacks meaningful screen time. Despite enjoying the character's design and the actress's performance, the review expresses frustration with the missed opportunity for a deeper, more impactful storyline.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phasma was an exciting character introduced in *The Force Awakens*, with high potential due to her cool design and Gwendoline Christie’s performance.
• 😀 Phasma’s role in *The Last Jedi* was disappointing, with her character underused and her potential squandered.
• 😀 Despite her fierce armor and high expectations, Phasma's character never gets the chance to develop in a meaningful way in *The Last Jedi*.
• 😀 The rivalry between Phasma and Finn felt overhyped and was never fully realized, with their conflict only briefly touched upon in *The Last Jedi*.
• 😀 Phasma’s fight with Finn was short and lacked emotional depth, making her defeat feel unearned and unsatisfying.
• 😀 The reviewer notes that Phasma had minimal screen time and dialogue, contributing to the sense of wasted potential.
• 😀 Phasma's background, which was explored in the *Phasma* novel, is largely ignored in the film, making her feel like a missed opportunity.
• 😀 The marketing around Phasma, particularly with her shiny armor, was designed to sell toys, but the character was not given a strong narrative presence.
• 😀 The reviewer compares Phasma to Boba Fett, pointing out that both characters were hyped despite being underutilized on screen.
• 😀 Ultimately, Phasma's death in *The Last Jedi* feels anticlimactic and serves no real purpose in the larger story, leaving fans disappointed.
• 😀 The review concludes that *The Last Jedi* struggles with character development, with Phasma’s wasted potential being a prime example of this issue.

Q & A

Why was Captain Phasma considered a missed opportunity in *The Last Jedi*?

Captain Phasma was considered a missed opportunity because, despite her promising introduction in *The Force Awakens*, she was underused and lacked significant character development in *The Last Jedi*. Her role was reduced to a short, unremarkable fight with Finn, and she was killed off quickly, leaving her potential unrealized.

How did *The Force Awakens* contribute to the hype surrounding Captain Phasma?

In *The Force Awakens*, Captain Phasma was introduced as a mysterious and visually striking character with impressive armor and an aura of authority. However, despite the hype, her screen time and impact in the film were minimal, with her being relegated to disabling shields and then quickly disposed of in the trash compactor.

What was the nature of the conflict between Captain Phasma and Finn in the films?

The conflict between Phasma and Finn was based on Finn's desertion of the First Order. Phasma, as a commanding officer, held a personal grudge against Finn for betraying the First Order. However, the feud was underdeveloped and not explored in depth, leaving their interactions shallow and lacking intensity.

How did Captain Phasma's fight with Finn play out in *The Last Jedi*?

Phasma’s fight with Finn in *The Last Jedi* was brief and unsatisfying. She was captured, and the two had a short, standard fight, with Phasma being defeated by Finn and other Resistance fighters. The fight lacked the stakes and emotional weight one would expect from a character of her potential.

What was the audience’s general reaction to Captain Phasma’s portrayal in *The Last Jedi*?

The audience generally felt disappointed with Phasma's portrayal. Many felt her character was overhyped but ultimately underused, with her development being minimal and her death anticlimactic. This disappointment was especially felt by fans who were excited by her potential following *The Force Awakens*.

Why does the reviewer compare Captain Phasma to Boba Fett?

The reviewer compares Captain Phasma to Boba Fett because both characters were hyped as iconic figures but were ultimately underused and given little screen time. Phasma's hype was particularly intense before her appearance in *The Last Jedi*, similar to how Boba Fett was popularized through his mysterious presence in the original trilogy.

How did the reviewer feel about the book *Phasma*?

The reviewer appreciated the *Phasma* book, as it provided more background and development for the character that was missing in the films. However, they were frustrated that this additional depth didn’t translate into the movie, making the book feel irrelevant since the character's film portrayal was underwhelming.

What role did marketing play in the portrayal of Captain Phasma?

Marketing played a significant role in creating hype around Captain Phasma, especially with her striking armor and strong presence. However, this marketing oversold her character, leading to disappointment when her actual role in the film was minimal, and she was killed off without much development.

What does the reviewer suggest could have improved Captain Phasma's storyline?

The reviewer suggests that Captain Phasma's storyline could have been improved if she had been given more screen time, character development, and a more significant role in the plot. A more intense and meaningful conflict with Finn, as well as a deeper exploration of her background, could have made her a more compelling antagonist.

What overall criticism does the reviewer have about *The Last Jedi* in terms of character development?

The reviewer criticizes *The Last Jedi* for its failure to properly develop characters, especially those like Captain Phasma and Snoke, who had potential but were mishandled. The film is seen as lacking in character resolution and failing to build on the development introduced in *The Force Awakens*.