The Star Wars universe is a place full of smugglers, gamblers, bounty hunters, space-monks, and their broody evil counterparts. It's safe to say that it can be a dangerous place with all those kinds of people around, but somehow, the films and the TV shows make them all look cool.
Heck, sometimes even the morally evil ones all draped in black brandishing red glowy things look more interesting than the goodie-two-shoes types. Of course, there are also those on the good side of the Force who are no pushovers and have their own style. They don't only look formidable but have also done their share of incredible feats in the universe. Here are 10 of those unforgettable characters around half of which probably deserve their own spin-off.
DARTH MAUL
For a character with no dialog, Darth Maul makes a pretty big impression on the viewers. Granted, when you look like a demon from Insidious, you don't really have to say a lot for your enemies to get the message. Darth Maul was Darth Sidious' apprentice and that Sith Lord is usually picky with his lieutenants.
This makes you think of Maul's potential and aptitude for the Dark Side for him to be chosen by Sidious. Well, he did defeat and kill Qui-Gon Jin in single and fair combat, not many can do that to an accomplished Jedi Master. Even after Obi-Wan Kenobi seemingly killed him, Maul managed to survive and went on to grow old (at least old enough to face old man 'Ben' Kenobi again).
HAN SOLO
Han Solo has had a long journey ever since he was born and it was breathtaking, to say the least. He was an orphan who became a street rat who then became a soldier before finally becoming a smuggler... and then turning to a Galactic hero afterward who was also instrumental in the Empire's downfall. It's safe to say that the life Han lived was the most fulfilling of all the characters in Star Wars.
His experiences have also made him one of the most clever scoundrels in the galaxy-- of course, he had to be, especially in the company of creatures like Jabba the Hutt and his cutthroat thugs. Han's the most memorable smuggler ever when it comes to pop culture.
MACE WINDU
Most members of the Jedi Council are usually judgy irritating stuck-up old men who were primarily responsible for turning Anakin to the Dark Side. Then, there's Mace Windu, the best Jedi ever when it comes lightsaber combat. He's even better than Yoda in lightsaber-- the purple saber color should be indicative of that enough.
In any case, managing to nearly defeat Darth Sidious single-handedly is no small achievement. Not to mention channeling the Dark Side of the Force while restraining yourself just so you could have your own lightsaber fighting style is a feat no other Jedi could have done.
COUNT DOOKU
Maul might have been the swaggier apprentice to Sidious, but Tyranus was the more successful one. We also know him as Count Dooku, played by none other than the late and great Christopher Lee. Under Sidious' instructions, it was Dooku himself who raised a threat big enough for the Jedi to push back with an army of their own.
In this regard, Dooku himself has proven that he is capable of such impressive leadership for the Droid Separatist army. Let's not forget that he wiped the floor with an Anakin and Obi-Wan duo (the first encounter) and even managed to defend himself against Master Yoda. Anakin still did get his revenge on Dooku; oh well, twice the pride, double the fall.
THE FETTS
Seeing as Boba Fett is a direct and untampered replica of Jango Fett, let's assume both are the same person. Boba Fett is the more memorable character between the two and for good reason. He was one of the few people in the Empire who can talk back to Darth Vader with an attitude. Also, it was Vader himself who hired Boba to capture one of the slickest smugglers ever, Han Solo.
Meanwhile, Jango Fett is no slouch, he even has better achievements than his "son". Jango made for the perfect template for the clone army; the Republic (or even the Sith) basically owe him a lot. Jango himself also gave Kenobi a hard fight and competitively stood against Mace Windu. It's too bad his legacy went down the drain (or the Sarlacc pit) without dignity.
LEIA ORGANA
Trade Star Wars' sci-fi setting for a fantasy one and Leia Organa would still be a princess who still needs rescuing, except she wouldn't be a gun-toting and independent princess, so her being in Star Wars is one of the best things ever. This right here is a princess who probably didn't even need rescuing (probably because it's her father who kidnapped her, but whatever).
To this day, Leia remains Carrie Fisher's best role; she became one of the flag bearers for the women of sci-fi. Even in her wizened state in the newest trilogy, she's still a general of the Resistance who's also Force-sensitive.
LUKE SKYWALKER
Like his best friend Han Solo, Luke started off humbly on some backwater moisture farm in the desert planet of Tatooine. Little did he know, he was going to save the Galaxy and become a Jedi Master. That's one heck of a promotion from his small beginnings as a farm boy. Of course, Luke was destined for this, but the way he handled it deserves more than a pat on the back from this dad... oh wait.
Anyway, bringing balance back to the Force was not something you do without the risk of dying. Luke did with no small cost; he lost his arm and his father in doing so. Sadly, he ruined the Force again once he became old after trying to kill his nephew; he did some awesome stuff afterward with the Force projection, though.
YODA
Being a 900-year-old Grandmaster of the Jedi Order is probably the hardest job ever in the Galaxy. Yoda, however, surprisingly did it without much stress and somewhat successfully... for a time. There was even a moment of peace within the Jedi Order with their perceived absence of the Sith, and this happened under Yoda's rule.
Despite losing to the Sith and the most meme-able Sith Lord ever and becoming tiny Shrek in a swamp, Yoda's reputation remains big as ever. Without him, Luke would never have been able to defeat the Sith and bring back balance to the Force. Besides, ever seen Yoda with a lightsaber? He's adorab-- er, unstoppable!
OBI-WAN KENOBI
General Kenobi! We're betting you came in this list with the intention of seeing Obi-Wan Kenobi-- the famed General Kenobi who led the Clone Wars into victory after victory. Well, here he is, bask in his radiant meme-able glory and know that we're getting more of him in Disney's TV show.
There's no doubting Kenobi's accolades in all Star Wars films. He defeated Darth Maul; unearthed the Clone Army; taught Anakin much, and then defeated his rogue pupil. Afterward, he went on to tutor Luke and became instrumental in bringing back balance to the Force.
DARTH VADER
No one could have predicted that a 7-foot tall wheezing man in black with a Nazi-inspired helmet would go on to become one of the most liked villains ever, but here we are. Darth Vader, formerly Anakin Skywalker, is an oddly likable antagonist. Beneath that evil machine facade is a tortured soul who has also done many great things.
Alongside those great things are also evil ones... like wiping out the Jedi Order to the last child and making Darth Sidious the Emperor. Thankfully, Vader redeemed himself by destroying the Emperor and technically bringing balance to the Force as well as freeing people from the Empire's grasp. Even Yoda and Obi-Wan couldn't do that.