We rank the 50 most memorable Star Wars deaths ever
By Ryan Wrenn
35. Ratts Tyerell
When Did They Die: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Who Were They: Tyerell was among the participants in the Boonta Eve podrace on Tatooine that a young Anakin Skywalker would eventually win.
How Did They Die: His podracer exploded when it proved to be too large to navigate the tight confines of the cavern portion of the Boonta Eve race.
It seems actually pretty shocking that anyone died in the Boonta Eve race, right? Like Lucas spends so much time sanitizing the Star Wars universe that it’s weird to think he would allow anyone actually die, particularly a effectively innocent bit player like Tyerell.
And even in the context of the movie itself, it seems strange that Tyerell is the only casualty of what we’re told time and time again is a suicidally dangerous enterprise like podracing. Sure, almost all the racers have their pods dented, shot through or elsewise wrecked, but even the villain of that arc of the movie – Anakin’s primary rival Sebulba – survives despite his pod’s engines literally disintegrating in front of him.
So what do we learn from Tyerell’s death? Not much, beyond, you know, making sure that your podracer can actually fit through every part of the upcoming podrace you’re about to engage in.
Next: 34. Opee Sea Killer