7. Lando Calrissian
Smuggler. Gambler. Scoundrel. Those are some of the ways Han Solo describes his erstwhile friend, Lando Calrissian. But more than anything, Lando comes across as a galactic pimp, a flamboyant character straight out of a Seventies porn film. He can be suave and charming, but with an unctuous tone that leaves an oily taste in your mouth. Leia immediately distrusts him, and so do we. Yet we want to believe as Han does that Lando has become "respectable." We hope he will honor their old friendship by helping Han repair the wounded Millennium Falcon. Of course, Lando turns out to be not just a traitor but a coward. To protect his own interests, he allows Darth Vader to capture and torture Han, his alleged "buddy." Lando is not merely spineless but naïve. He thinks that if he cooperates, Vader will just go away and leave him alone. The reality of the situation doesn't sink in until Lando sees Han's face frozen in carbonite. By then, it's too late. Lando does try to make amends, piloting the Falcon to rescue Luke. Later, he joins the Rebel Alliance and helps destroy the second Death Star. Lando saw an opportunity to prove he's not such a bad guy, and he took it. Give him credit for that. But does he deserve a third chance in the spotlight? Probably not. Of all the characters from the original trilogy, Lando seems the most dated. He's not the right person to headline a bold new chapter of the Star Wars story.
Debbie Gilbert
Debbie Gilbert is an award-winning journalist who's been writing for magazines and newspapers since 1988. A Memphis native who grew up near Graceland, she became a Star Trek fan in 1975.
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