Most Important Star Wars Characters For The First Order
Written by on June 6, 2023
The story of Star Wars was far from over even after the fall of the Galactic Empire. In the wake of the Empire’s fall, the First Order rose in its place, continuing to torment the galaxy decades after the events of Return of the Jedi, acting as the main antagonists throughout the sequel trilogy until their defeat in The Rise of Skywalker.
The First Order’s rise didn’t happen overnight but was rather the result of hard work on the part of certain former Imperial figures who refused to let the Empire die. In fact, the formation of the First Order can be largely attributed to a handful of key individuals hidden throughout the Star Wars franchise.
10 The Leaders Of The New Republic
In some ways, the New Republic is proving itself to be the real villain of The Mandalorian, as it becomes increasingly clear that they are not as competent a governmental institution as they should be. The leaders of the New Republic have proven themselves to be lazy and complacent in their duties, making way for the rise of the Imperial remnant.
Although certainly not intentional, the New Republic has made it incredibly easy for the remaining Imperial warlords like Moff Gideon and Grand Admiral Thrawn to consolidate power in the aftermath of the Empire’s fall. Despite warning signs in the Outer Rim, the New Republic has allowed the foundation of the First Order to rise right under their noses.
9 Commandant Brendol Hux
Commandant Brendol Hux, portrayed by Brian Gleason, was the father of General Armitage Hux, who was a leading figure in the First Order during the events of the sequel trilogy. Before the official start of the First Order, Commandant Hux was a member of the Shadow Council of Imperial warlords seeking to overthrow the New Republic under the leadership of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Hux’s contributions to the First Order have not yet been fully explored, though future seasons of The Mandalorian are sure to expand on this area. However, it is known that Hux was one of the First Order’s earliest leadership figures, who helped consolidate power for the Imperial remnant when it seemed as though they were doomed to obscurity.
8 General Armitage Hux
General Armitage Hux, played by Domnhall Gleason in the sequel trilogy, was a commanding presence in the First Order. Following in the footsteps of his father after orchestrating his death, General Hux quickly ascended the ranks of the First Order, feeding his ego all the more with each new position he earned.
By the time of The Force Awakens, Hux was the highest-ranking military officer in the First Order, answering directly to Supreme Leader Snoke. Hux’s passion project was a new breed of stormtrooper, indoctrinating his soldiers from birth to follow the First Order’s every command. In addition to commanding its infantry, Hux also had command over Starkiller Base prior to its destruction.
7 Captain Phasma
Gwendoline Christie’s Captain was a featured character in the sequel trilogy, where she was shown leading the First Order’s stormtroopers under the command of Kylo Ren and General Hux. However, Phasma, a novel centered around her character, indicates that she was far more important to the First Order’s rise than the films showed.
Phasma was responsible for training stormtroopers from birth, becoming one of the most important figures in building the First Order’s army. She also helped Armitage Hux murder his own father, rewriting the power structure of the First Order in its early days. With her contributions to this rising regime, Phasma should be considered one of the strongest female characters in Star Wars.
6 Captain Gilad Pellaeon
Captain Gilad Pellaeon made his live-action debut in the seventh episode of The Mandalorian‘s third season, with The Walking Dead actor Xander Berkley portraying the Imperial warlord. Pellaeon was a member of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Shadow Council and one of his most staunch defenders.
Although much of Pellaeon’s story has yet to be written, it is clear that his support of Thrawn will make him a key figure in the Heir to the Empire’s rise. In the wake of Moff Gideon’s apparent death, Pellaeon will no doubt become a key figure in helping Thrawn consolidate power among the Shadow Council, paving the way for the First Order’s rise.
5 Moff Gideon
Giancarlo Esposito’s villain, Moff Gideon, was one of the leading Imperial figures in the years after the Battle of Endor. Intent on proving that the Imperial Remnant was stronger than even the Mandalorians, Gideon established his home base on Mandalore, using his resources to further the Empire’s continuing interests.
Not only did Gideon severely weaken one of the biggest threats to the First Order in the Mandalorians, but his scientific experiments may also prove central to the Imperial remnant’s purposes. As the season 3 finale of The Mandalorian showed, his work in cloning will inevitably lead to the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine via Project Necromancer, as seen in The Rise of Skywalker.
4 Kylo Ren
Although not present for most of the First Order’s early years, Ben Solo, later known as Kylo Ren, was an integral figure in helping the Imperial remnant remain in power. After being corrupted to the Dark Side by Supreme Leader Snoke, Adam Driver’s fallen Jedi became the First Order’s most powerful enforcer.
Upon joining the First Order, Kylo Ren became the leader of the Knights of Ren, an elite group of warriors that completed dangerous missions for Supreme Leader Snoke during the war. Ren and his Knights squashed any rebellion to Snoke’s rule, making it increasingly difficult for the First Order’s enemies to fight back.
3 Grand Admiral Thrawn
Grand Admiral Thrawn is one of the greatest villains in Star Wars Legends who has finally been adopted into canon once more in the television series Star Wars: Rbeels and Ahsoka, wherein he is portrayed by Lars Mikkelsen. In the days after the Emperor’s death, Thrawn earned the title of “Heir to the Empire” as he began to form what would later become the First Order.
Thrawn was the commanding figure that the Imperial remnant needed to draw itself out of obscurity and once more seize control of the galaxy. It would appear that multiple upcoming Star Wars projects will be devoted to Thrawn’s rise, showcasing just how essential he was in preserving the might of the Empire even after its initial fall.
2 Supreme Leader Snoke
Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) was the ultimate commander over the entire First Order, as shown in the first two episodes of the sequel trilogy. The mysterious Force-sensitive being was the highest power within the First Order, serving in the same role that the Emperor had in the Galactic Empire.
Although Snoke was later revealed to be an agent of Palpatine himself, he was still instrumental in building and retaining the power of the First Order. Like the Emperor before him, Snoke used fear to keep the galaxy in line, even recruiting former Jedi Ben Solo to become his enforcer. When it comes to the rise of the First Order and the fall of the New Republic, there are few more responsible than Supreme Leader Snoke himself.
1 Darth Sidious
Ian McDiarmid’s villainous Emperor Sheev Palpatine was by far the individual with the most influence over the rise of the First Order in Star Wars. Believed dead, Palpatine orchestrated events from the shadows in his resurrected clone body, using proxies to build up the Imperial Remnant with designs on taking over the galaxy once more.
The Rise of Skywalker revealed that Palpatine had been behind Snoke all along, using the Supreme Leader to further his interests and bide time until the Final Order was completed on Exegol. Ultimately, the First Order’s rise can be entirely attributed to the very man who had once ruled the Empire.
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