Phasma is a great Star Wars villain. Too bad she is underused.
PERSPECTIVE | What the First Order leader brought to the Star Wars universe
This post contains spoilers for “The Last Jedi.”
Captain Phasma, the chrome-wearing first female villain of the “Star Wars” universe, has died much too soon.
Phasma served faithfully under the Supreme Leader of the First Order General Snoke, alongside General Armitage Hux and Kylo Ren. The loyal captain is presumed dead after an incident that took place during the destruction of Supreme Leader Snoke’s Destroyer ship.
Phasma will be missed among the Star Wars fandom. It is not known whether she has any surviving relatives because her backstory was not revealed in “The Force Awakens” or “The Last Jedi.”
The only problem with Phasma’s appearance in “The Last Jedi” is that she was not on screen enough.
With little to go on, one may wonder why Phasma made such an impression among Star Wars fans. To understand Phasma’s appeal, you have to remember this is a fandom that is just as likely to idolize its heroes as much as its villains. The most quotable lines from the original films came from the iconic Darth Vader, after all. The villains are just as important, if not more, than the heroes.
The actress who played her, Gwendoline Christie, perfectly personified the 6-foot-5 no-nonsense First Order leader, even though she was required to act through her helmet.
“It was an interesting acting experience as well as a fangirl’s dream,” Christie told Entertainment Weekly in 2015.
Phasma was as capable on screen as any male captain before her. Phasma expected the very best from her stormtroopers and did not tolerate traitors, especially FN-2187, or Finn.
Her final line in “The Last Jedi” was to tell Finn he was “always scum.”
Her signature plated uniform was was made of chromium, a practical material that protects from the elements. The armor was not shaped in the mold of the female form, instead it provided the same ambiguous shape of her fellow stormtroopers. She was rarely, if never seen with her helmet off. Like the bounty hunter Boba Fett, who had few scenes on screen but still enjoys a rabid fanbase, part of her appeal was in the mystery.
The only problem with Phasma’s appearance in “The Last Jedi” is that she was not on screen enough. While fans can learn more about her backstory in a comic and novelization based on her character, the reality is that the majority of fans will only watch her on the big screen. It’s a shame that filmmakers were not able to include more about Phasma than what ultimately made it into the movie.
Though little was known of Phasma’s origins, she undoubtedly made an impression on Star Wars fandom.
