Between 3 live-action series and a rich variety of animated content, 2022 was an unprecedented year for Star Wars television. Regardless of what someone enjoys most about Star Wars, there was something for everyone when it came to Star Wars television this year.
While the live-action The Book of Boba Fett and Tales of the Jedi (along with the other animated content) mostly relied on established characters, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor introduced many new characters who quickly became fan-favorites. These characters were captivating to watch and enriched the stories and themes of their respective series.
This list will cover some of the best new characters in 2022 Star Wars television, beginning with characters from Obi-Wan, and then focusing on characters from Andor.
16. Haja Estree
Kumail Nanjiani plays Haja Estree, a con man pretending to be a Jedi. This is a fascinating idea to explore, especially within a post-Order 66 galaxy. The humor that Nanjiani brings to the role feels refreshing amidst the often heavy and dark tone of the Obi-Wan series. Haja is much more than comic relief, though.
He is the audience’s introduction to the Path and begins to show why the Path is important. His character also fits perfectly with the show’s focus on how regardless of the mistakes one has made, it’s never too late to try and be a better person. Haja is an entertaining character who has a satisfying arc that fits with the core themes of the series.
15. Tala Durith
Indira Varma plays Tala Durith, a former Imperial officer who is now a vital member of the Path. Tala was only shown in her Imperial uniform in the trailers for Obi-Wan. It was a satisfying surprise to learn that she was operating undercover and was not the villain that everyone assumed her to be.
There have been many Imperial defectors over the years in Star Wars, but what makes her story unique is seeing the impact she has on a young Leia. She shows Leia the power of pretending and working undercover, and that even when it is frightening, it is worth it to help people in need.
When Reva asks Tala if it was worth it to betray the Empire and everything she is, Tala declares, “This was never who I was.” It is a powerful moment for Tala and her character development and asks the question of whether Reva is truly the ruthless individual she has become.
14. Reva
Star Wars has told stories before of Inquisitors and of Jedi younglings who survived Order 66. Bringing both of those threads together into a single story was an excellent move that fit perfectly with Obi-Wan‘s exploration of trauma, grief, revenge, and regret. Reva surviving Anakin Skywalker’s slaughter of the younglings during Order 66 makes her character and her role in the story feel much more personal and tragic than if she’d just been a regular Inquisitor.
Moses Ingram does a masterful job of proving how merciless and formidable Reva can be, while also showing that Reva is a deeply traumatized and frightened individual still dealing with the unspeakable trauma she endured as a child.
The ending of Obi-Wan feels complete and the show does not need a second season. However, the character of Reva does deserve to be followed further in future Star Wars stories, especially given the way her story ends.
13. Eedy Karn
The grating mother of Syril Karn is only in a few scenes, but whenever she appears, Eedy Karn always steals the show. In her first scene alone, Kathryn Hunter is flawless, and tells the audience everything you need to know about her character when Syril shows up on her doorstep.
She never ceases in her overbearing, constantly judgmental ways, whether she is talking about what Syril should do with his future or critiquing the way he dresses and carries himself. Eedy and the relationship she has with her son helps the audience better understand why Syril is so desperate to prove himself, why he always has a chip on his shoulder, and even how his “mommy issues” contribute to his creepy behavior and fixation on Dedra Meero.
12. Arvel Skeen
In episodes 4 and 5 of Andor, Arvel Skeen (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) seems like the member of the Aldhani heist that Cassian Andor will need to win over. Skeen seems to be a tough and pragmatic character who sees through Cassian and is reluctant to trust him.
What makes Skeen so compelling is that instead of being the one Cassian needs to win over, in episode 6, Skeen becomes a foil to Cassian, showing the worst version of what Cassian will become if he doesn’t change himself.
While all the other members of the Aldhani heist rise to the occasion, Skeen is much more cowardly and selfish during the heist, such as when he is supposed to cover Taramyn Barcona and instead chooses to protect himself, which leads to Taramyn being shot and killed.
Of course, the biggest moment for Skeen’s character comes after the heist when Skeen suggests that he and Cassian escape with the credits taken from the heist and split it 50/50, thus betraying a dying Karis Nemik, Vel, Sartha, Luthen Rael, and the growing rebellion. When Cassian questions Skeen about his supposed belief in the rebellion and the story he told about the Empire destroying his brother’s life, Skeen makes it clear that he is a rebel, just that it’s him against everyone else, and he also says, “I don’t have a brother.”
Cassian killing Skeen is symbolic of Cassian killing the worst parts of himself. Yet, Andor doesn’t make it a triumphant moment as it never confirms whether or not Skeen was telling the truth and leaves the audience to decide for itself whether what Cassian did was justified, especially as he takes his cut and then runs back to Ferrix.
11. Syril Karn
After being the primary antagonist in the first three episodes, Syril is largely pushed to the sidelines of Andor. It might seem strange to keep him around as most of his scenes for the rest of the season involve him being verbally beaten down by his mother or him being creepy around Dedra Meero.
The point of Syril’s character is to show how an everyday person can be radicalized by a fascist regime and even want to be part of that fascist system. He is a foil to Cassian, an everyday person who becomes inspired to rebel and realizes that he must taken an active stand against fascism.
Kyle Soller’s performance makes Syril feel all too real in a unsettling way. A lot of his story in Andor is clearly setup for season 2 where Syril will likely become part of the Empire (maybe even part of the ISB), showing what happens when someone as radicalized as him gets in a position of power. Season 1 needed to take the time to show his journey with the full payoff likely coming in season 2.
10. Vel Sartha
Even though Vel (Faye Marsay) is initially presented as the no-nonsense leader of the Aldhani heist who is loyal to Luthen, Andor digs much deeper into her character. Vel is a strong leader and her leadership is one of the reasons that the Aldhani heist gets pulled off and 80 million credits are stolen from the Empire.
Meanwhile, Vel and fellow rebel Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) are the first openly LGBTQ+ relationship in live-action Star Wars (unless you count that 2 second kiss between a Resistance commander and pilot in The Rise of Skywalker). Both Vel and Cinta care immensely for each other, but it is Vel who wants to take time to enjoy the relationship and spend time with each other while Cinta is mostly focused on the rebellion.
Vel gets even more interesting when she is no longer a rebel in the field but is shown to be a member of high society. Despite theories that she was Luthen’s daughter, Vel is revealed to be Mon Mothma’s cousin. Much like Mon Mothma, Vel has the challenge of being around family and high society while having to hide her true loyalties and beliefs, though at least for Vel it is not quite as public as it is for Mon Mothma.
This gives Vel and Mon Mothma a unique understanding and connection that they don’t have with anyone else. They come from a world of privilege where people condone or don’t care about systemic oppression and the suffering it creates. Instead of contributing to those problems or ignoring them, Vel and Mon Mothma have decided to do something about it.
Challenging Vel even further is Luthen and Kleya pressuring her to find and kill Cassian after the Aldhani heist, something that Vel clearly doesn’t want to do and does not believe is right, which raises more questions about what it means to be a rebel.
9. Cinta Kaz
It is important that while Cinta and Vel are the first openly LGBTQ+ characters in live-action Star Wars TV, both characters are quite different from each other. Cinta genuinely cares for Vel, but as someone whose family was slaughtered by stormtroopers, Cinta’s primary focus is always on the rebellion and hurting the Empire.
Cinta’s character explores the dangers of what happens when rebellion becomes too much about vengeance and being willing to hurt innocent individuals for the greater good. When the Imperial engineer tries to play the hero and save the life of Commandant Jayhold Beehaz’s son on Aldhani, Cinta is the one to shoot the engineer in the back and kill him without hesitation. Cinta is also the one who keeps Beehaz’s wife and son hostage during the heist and is ordered to kill them if Beehaz doesn’t cooperate.
It’s not confirmed what happened to Beehaz’s wife and son, but given that Cinta walks away from the heist with tears in her eyes and Beehaz’s family are never shown again, it is strongly implied that Cinta killed them to ensure there wouldn’t be any loose ends.
Unlike Vel, Cinta doesn’t seem to have as many qualms about finding and killing Cassian in the aftermath of the heist. When rebellion breaks out on Ferrix in the season finale, Cinta confronts ISB Attendant Corv, thrusts a knife into his rib-cage, and kills him. In many other stories, this moment would feel triumphant, but in the more grounded narrative of Andor, it feels more hollow and meaningless as the death feels more like blind revenge than accomplishing something for the rebellion.
8. Karis Nemik
Real-world rebellions are often rooted in compelling political ideologies. Through the character of Karis Nemik (Alex Lawther) and his in-depth political ideology, Andor provides a more philosophical look into the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. It is fascinating and refreshing to see someone so invested in the rebellion from such an intellectual standpoint.
From the things he says in person to Cassian to what Cassian hears in the manifesto Nemik leaves for him, Nemik proves to be an incredibly influential character who is wise beyond his years.
Lines such as “It’s easier to hide behind 40 atrocities than a single incident” or “oppression is the mask of fear” are thought-provoking and insightful not just in the context of Andor, but in the real world as well. He arguably better than any other character articulates how fascism comes to exist and how it can endure, even when the masses know it’s wrong.
The beauty of Nemik’s character is that his words and ideas are not just theoretical. His belief in taking old things that the Empire has pushed people to forget, learning how to use them, and then modifying them gives the rebels the safe path they need to escape the TIE fighters and escape Aldhani with the stolen credits. His beliefs also inspire Cassian to stand up against the Empire and to do the right thing in the final episodes and will continue to inspire Cassian, all the way to Cassian’s ultimate sacrifice in Rogue One.
7. Brasso
Brasso (Joplo Sibtain) is the ultimate friend. He is endlessly supportive and helpful and is not afraid to tell his friends the hard truths they need to hear. He treats his friends and their families like they’re his own family. All of this is evident in the way he interacts with and treats Cassian, Maarva Andor, B2EMO, Bix Caleen, and practically everyone on Ferrix.
He’ll do small things like check in on his friends and encourage them to make their homes warmer, or bigger things like sabotaging a corporate authority vehicle to help his friend escape, or looking after a friend after one of their loved ones pass away.
Not only is Brasso a good friend, but he is a pillar of his community. When Captain Tigo pushes B2EMO over at Maarva’s funeral after playing her speech, Brasso immediately attacks Tigo and the other Imperials, even hitting one of them in the face with Maarva’s funerary brick. He doesn’t hesitate to protect those he cares about and doesn’t tolerate fascism, with his actions and Maarva’s speech inspiring the people of Ferrix to finally rebel against the Empire.
6. B2EMO
Just when you thought Star Wars had enough lovable droids, Andor dared to introduce B2EMO. By making B2EMO like a family dog, the droid instantly captured the hearts of all fans. His adoration and loyalty toward all members of the Andor family is palpable, as is his excitement every time Cassian comes back, and his disappointment every time Cassian leaves. B2EMO’s stutter also adds to the endearing nature of his character.
Maarva’s death hits even harder than fans expected because it is initially revealed to the audience through the perspective of B2EMO. The loss is essentially seen through the eyes of a family pet losing their beloved owner after many years together, making it all the more touching when Brasso stays with B2EMO to comfort him and not leave him alone after Maarva’s passing.
By making him such a pure and lovable character, Captain Tigo pushing B2EMO over at Maarva’s funeral became the perfect catalyst for the people of Ferrix to rebel, the ultimate injustice for which the only response is justified outrage and rebellion.
5. Bix Caleen
Women are often not portrayed as multi-dimensional characters in media. They are often reduced to a single role that define them entirely, whether that’s being the love interest, the badass rebel, the hardworking woman with a business of her own, or being hunted and taken by sinister forces for something she knows.
Andor‘s Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) is a refreshing character because she is all of these things and more. She is a hardworking woman running a business, but she also has a side hustle selling stolen Imperial items to Luthen Rael. She is shown early on to be a businesswoman and a rebel while also showing her relationship with Timm Karlo and that she and Cassian still have feelings for each other. None of these things solely define Bix–they are all part of her identity and her life.
She is the one who has to help bail Cassian out of trouble in the first arc and it is clear this is not the first time she’s had to do this for him. She loses Timm, a loss made even worse knowing how he betrayed her trust, but she soldiers on, only to be hunted, captured, and tortured because she is the only one who can identify the rebel leader the ISB refers to as Axis (Luthen Rael). Bix is saved by Cassian in the finale, but it doesn’t feel like a damsel in distress situation given all the times she’s had to save Cassian, and given how well the rest of her character is fleshed out.
4. Maarva Andor
The Empire ultimately fails for many reasons, one of the most important being that they underestimate those who pose the greatest threat to them. Played by Fiona Shaw, Maarva Andor is a perfect example of this as the Empire continually underestimates her and the people of Ferrix, yet it is Maarva who galvanizes the citizens of Ferrix to finally take a stand against their oppressors.
The Empire dismisses any threat that Maarva could pose because they see her as old and frail, with Dedra Meero even saying as much in an ISB meeting. Dedra and other Imperials merely see her as bait to lure Cassian back to Ferrix. The Empire anxiously waits for her to die so she can serve her intended role and then when her funeral comes, they try to control that as well.
The Empire realizes how brittle their control is too late as they are unable to control the funeral and the words of Maarva during her funerary speech that lights the spark of rebellion, making it clear that they should have been fighting all along, and that it is important to start now before it is too late. It is empowering to see an older woman be so respected and loved by her community and to see her be the symbol of rebellion for Ferrix.
Maarva is also a beautiful character for how fiercely she loves Cassian and how she inspires him, making it all the more tragic that she does not live to see him become a full-fledged rebel making brave sacrifices to save others and the galaxy itself. Yet, there is also beauty in knowing that the actions of Cassian and the other members of the Aldhani heist rekindled the spirit of rebellion in Maarva, even if she didn’t realize Cassian was involved in the heist.
Without Maarva’s influence, Cassian would not have become the man he needed to be.
3. Dedra Meero
The brilliance of Dedra Meero is that Andor found a way to make the audience initially root for her, despite being part of the ISB and the Empire. As a hardworking and perceptive woman being disbelieved and disrespected by her predominantly male peers, she began Andor as an underdog.
It was frustrating to see her being mistreated and having to prove herself, something that her male peers did not have to go through, especially since the audience knew she saw the truth of an organized rebel network that no one else could. It even felt satisfying to see her outsmart her ISB rival Blevin and to win the support of Major Partagaz.
Of course, when Dedra went to Ferrix and begin interrogating and torturing likable characters such as Bix, it was a sobering reminder that despite being a former underdog who had to fight her way to the top, she was still a fascist. Nothing and no one makes fascism justifiable and Dedra is a sobering reminder of that.
It is chilling to see how Dedra revels in torturing Bix and treats the people of Ferrix as if they are nothing more than disposable pieces in her hunt for Axis. Denis Gough delivers a riveting and commanding performance in every scene she appears, making her initially easy to root for, and later on making her a terrifying villain.
2. Kino Loy
As a character who was not featured in any of the marketing and who was not introduced until episode 8, few could have predicted how Kino Loy would sink into our hearts. At first, it seemed like Andy Serkis was just playing an antagonist who would be an obstacle Cassian would have to overcome in the prison arc.
However, instead of just being an obstacle, Kino became an ally, and underwent one of the most unexpected and moving arcs in all of Star Wars. Serkis stole the show in episode 9 and then somehow raised the bar even further in episode 10, delivering a performance filled with incredible heart and tragedy.
Part of the magic of Andor is seeing regular, everyday people becoming extraordinary. Kino is just a regular prisoner who bought into the system and supported it, but when he realized how broken and futile the system was, he used his leadership to rebel against it. He knew he would ultimately be unable to escape the prison like his fellow inmates, yet he stepped up anyway and led the charge to freedom, teaching Cassian and the audience that it is never too late to change and to do the right thing.
1. Luthen Rael
The enigmatic Luthen Rael played by Stellan Skarsgård is the Batman of Star Wars, a man with multiple identities living multiple lives. Part of what makes Luthen the best new character introduced in 2022 is that there are so many layers to him, and even after 12 episodes, it feels like Andor has only scratched the surface of who Luthen really is.
In a show that explores the sometimes uncomfortable truths of revolution, it is fitting to have a character like Luthen who fights for a noble cause, yet is willing to play with and sacrifice the lives of others as if they are pieces in a game of chess, a belief that is usually more associated with villainous individuals.
He believes that others must suffer and is willing to make their suffering worse if it hurts his enemies and is another step toward a stronger, more organized revolution. He spends the second half of season 1 trying to find and kill Cassian simply because he sees Cassian as a loose end and even among his allies, Luthen does not take credit for the Aldhani heist that he masterminded.
The character of Luthen begs the question of whether someone like him is necessary for a revolution to succeed. His methods are morally questionable to say the least, and yet, there is no denying the results he gets.
He is not just a ruthless and calculated revolutionary, though. His scenes with Kleya, the monologue he delivers when Lonni Jung asks him what he sacrifices, and the way he reacts to Maarva’s speech shows that he is filled with regret and his own doubts and that he may even be capable of change.
Who was your favorite new character introduced in Star Wars TV in 2022? Let us know in the comments!