Have you ever conducted a Google image search of "Mara Jade"?

Yes. But I mean the description of her in the books.

He is right, she was dressed my like Sarah Conner in T2 than the outfit she is known for.

Rey and Kylo are the new "Solo kids". No, Rey is not Hans daughter, but I'm pretty sure she'll be related to Luke. Star Wars has become very blue blood.

The first 6 movies are basically about the Force equivalent of dynastic succession. I don't know why people expected the sequel trilogy to be anything but!

Wouldn't it be nice to have something different? Yes, Luke was changed to be Darth Vader's son in Ep V and then Leia was added into the mix in Ep VI (a dumb decision), but Vader never ran the empire, and Luke wasn't related to the Emperor. Luke was succeeding Yoda in starting a new Jedi order. I'm certainly not saying they had to follow the Thrawn trilogy, but they could have gone in a different direction and had the hero NOT related to anyone. Like, maybe, hmmmm, Kyle Katarn? Oh, I forgot, it all about making a statement. Kara Katarn, then she could have the same name as that other gender-bender science fiction character that was an utter abomination.

Wouldn't it be nice to have something different? Yes, Luke was changed to be Darth Vader's son in Ep V and then Leia was added into the mix in Ep VI (a dumb decision), but Vader never ran the empire, and Luke wasn't related to the Emperor. Luke was succeeding Yoda in starting a new Jedi order. I'm certainly not saying they had to follow the Thrawn trilogy, but they could have gone in a different direction and had the hero NOT related to anyone. Like, maybe, hmmmm, Kyle Katarn? Oh, I forgot, it all about making a statement. Kara Katarn, then she could have the same name as that other gender-bender science fiction character that was an utter abomination.

I have no idea who you are talking about with that last sentence.

Probably Starbuck, from Battlestar Galactica.

I have to agree that Mara Jade was more than just T&A. Her backstory and interactions with Luke were what made me like her long before there was even a picture of her to go around (at least that I was aware of). Yeah, I got a thing for redheads. Yeah, an ***kicking force-chick was cool. But her personality was what sold it for me. She was formidable, both physically and attitudinally. But she was the first Imperial we see having to find her own place after the Empire was crushed. We see an alternative perspective on the Empire.

That being said... There has never, in the history of cinema, been a good representation of a redheaded heroine. Jean Grey? Not a chance. Mary Jane? Not even close. Closest we got was Scarlet in GI Joe.

I thought Mara Jade was interesting enough, but Thrawn... Thrawn was a glorious character. I'll spare the elaboration, but he was just awesome.

I thought Mara Jade was interesting enough, but Thrawn... Thrawn was a glorious character. I'll spare the elaboration, but he was just awesome.

Yeah, I admitted I had a thing for red-heads, but guys with red EYES!!!! Through the roof!

I think the best thing about the Thrawn trilogy was that they dealt with things realistically as far as the power vacuum, the difficulties in bringing new worlds into the republic, dealing with the legacy of Vader, needing to establish ties with supply chains, etc. It all made sense, was interesting (despite everyone's gripes about politics when it comes to the prequels), characters were more than 2-dimensional archetypes (except maybe C'baoth), and it was DIFFERENT. Zahn didn't just redo the trilogy, he came up with something new that broadened the trilogies established scope.