When Star Wars: A New Hope released in the summer of 1977, it immediately became a hit worldwide. So that meant for the sequel, 1983's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, things were cracked up several notches. It's a blockbuster full of twists and turns, particularly the memorable revelation that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father. And it contains a plethora of fantastic characters, too, from the Sith Lord and Jedi Knight respectively to the likes of Han Solo, Leia Organa and Lando Calrissian as well.
Therefore it's time to examine George Lucas' movie and take a closer look at those who made it so special. After all, it's still arguably the best the franchise has ever had to offer...
Yoda
The galaxy far, far away is full of some rather strange people. And one who falls under that category is Yoda, who Luke Skywalker counters for the first time after being sent to Dagobah by the late Obi-Wan Kenobi, who appears as a force ghost early on.
Yoda is quirky and amusing but, given fans had expected a really powerful Jedi Knight, he was still regarded as something of a letdown. It wouldn't be until the prequels where his character really improves, showing just how fierce a warrior he is on the battlefield. Yoda is a good mentor for Luke but doesn't appreciate the young Jedi's love for his friends, making him pretty unrelatable in the process.
Bossk
Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. That's certainly the case for Bounty Hunter Bossk, who dangerously hisses in true villainous fashion at an imperial guard terrified by his very appearance. He's part of the group Darth Vader hires to hunt down Luke Skywalker and, though he only gets a fleeting cameo, he's become popular in the years since.
Bossk appears in Star Wars: Battlefront and Star Wars: Battlefront II respectively, pops up in The Clone Wars for several episodes while also being used in several other forms of media. His fate is currently unknown and it'll be curious to see if he appears in another title further down the line.
Palpatine
Fans leaving the movie theatre after seeing A New Hope could be forgiven for thinking Darth Vader was the big bad guy of the galaxy. But those who listened closely will hear 'The Emperor' mentioned, with Palpatine himself then appearing for the first time in The Empire Strikes Back. It's just another brief introduction yet it shows he's the true mastermind of the whole evil operation.
He speaks ruthlessly about Luke, making it clear he mustn't become a Jedi. And he refuses to acknowledge Vader and Anakin Skywalker are the same person, consequently building up more excitement for the twist that comes later. He's used well throughout the original trilogy but it's the prequels where Ian McDiarmid's character really shines.
C-3PO
C-3PO can't help but irritate the main heroes in pretty much every Star Wars movie he appears in. But this makes him all the more amusing as a result and, in Episode V, his comedic mannerisms enhance him considerably.
It's the droid who disrupts the kiss between Leia Organa and Han Solo on the planet of Hoth and he's always detrimental to R2-D2. Seeing him carried around by Chewbacca after being ruthlessly shredded down is his personal highlight, with the two emerging as a hilarious double act.
Chewbacca
While Chewbacca may look big and scary as a 2.3m 'walking carpet,' he's actually a big softie with a heart of gold. That's evident in The Empire Strikes Back, with the Wookiee's emotional side spilling out when Han Solo is tragically encased in Carbonite before being whisked off to Tatooine in order to sit as Jabba the Hutt's prized possession.
He helps his friends throughout the movie, too. Chewie aids C-3PO when he's broken up, comforts Leia after Han's imprisonment and is flying the Millennium Falcon when Luke loses his epic lightsaber duel with Darth Vader. He does come close to killing Lando Calrissian, however, after learning of his betrayal.
Lando Calrissian
When the Millennium Falcon finds itself being relentlessly chased by the Empire, Han Solo takes the iconic ship to Bespin to hide. Once there, he enlists the help of Lando Calrissian - who seemingly has good intentions. However, he then betrays the main gang by selling them out to Darth Vader. This act is why Han ends up with Jabba the Hutt and also why Luke Skywalker quits his training on Dagobah.
Lando is a key part of the plot but, with Billy Dee Williams' charm shining through, still emerges as likable. He'll later play a big role in rescuing Han from Jabba and also made appearances in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Han Solo
While Han Solo is obviously beloved, he doesn't rank at the summit when it comes to the best characters in Episode V. That's through no fault of the character, with the only blotch on his record being the fact years of dodgy acts come back to bite him when he falls into the clutches of Darth Vader, Boba Fett and later Jabba the Hutt.
Compare that to A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, where everything he touches seems to come to gold, and it's definitely a blockbuster where the character experiences a major setback. This makes his actions in the sequel even greater, showing he's overcome big adversity to step up and help the Rebel Alliance in their hour of need.
Leia Organa
Another memorable character from The Empire Strikes Back is Leia Organa. She's just as plucky as in A New Hope but, this time, she really gets stuck into the fighting, almost taking charge after Han Solo's Carbonite ordeal and helping the heroes flee Bespin. Furthermore, her character is evolved when she's able to sense a desperate Luke Skywalker through the Force - helping him out of a rough spot following his duel with Vader.
This upped the mystique and intrigue over her character, hinting big revelations lie ahead. This is also helped by Yoda's 'there is another quote,' where the Jedi Master suggests Luke isn't the only one in possession of the force capable of saving the galaxy. Leia would never become a Jedi like her sibling, but the potential was certainly there.
Darth Vader
Darth Vader was arguably the best character in Episode IV, immediately becoming an iconic villain the minute he steps out on the Tantive IV ship. And he's even better in The Empire Strikes Back, posing a constant threat and chasing down the main heroes throughout the whole movie. He's obsessed with catching Luke Skywalker, having been impressed by the way the young Jedi destroyed the Death Star, and comes extremely close to bringing Mark Hamill's character to Palpatine.
Then there's his admission that he's Luke's father, a stunning turn that took the story in an exciting new direction. This upped the stakes for Return of the Jedi and also provided a new layer of depth to Vader's villainy. This wasn't just a bad guy hunting down a good guy. It's a father hunting down his son in the hope of turning him to the dark side.
Luke Skywalker
When A New Hope released, Luke immediately became a poster boy for Star Wars. And that meant that, for Episode V, his story was even more fleshed out. He begins in trouble on Hoth, with Han Solo coming to his rescue after he comes precariously close to being eaten by a Wampa. But, by the end of the movie, he's very much a Jedi Knight - albeit a defeated one.
Luke's recklessness and courage shine throughout, with young Skywalker never afraid to do the right thing - no matter the potential consequences. And, when he learns Vader is his father after an epic lightsaber duel, it shows his journey still has many miles left to run. It's a slog to becoming a Jedi, and by no means guaranteed he'll stop the Empire given their vast strength and resources.